Euro 2012 Interrailing

the FitzGerald · 13-02-2010, 10:22

Main line x Belgrade v skopje and border(gevgelija) thessalonika. deviation se3condary line atg lapova vers kosovo&pristina (may be familiar names from de war?) to Skop:je. Main line has good connections at Belgrade, Nis (for Sofia-Bucharest or Instanbul).
For Tirane U will have to bus it but they are like Dublin taxis-everywhere an wow-wow! Time; well much same speeds as 1960 Irish Rail!
But a sight cheaper than flying and a lot safer than de bus!
But remember: it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive! Bon Voyage

Colm Moore · 13-02-2010, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by the FitzGerald

Time; well much same speeds as 1960 Irish Rail!

Slower than now?

ccos · 27-02-2010, 01:10

Rail in Albania is crazy, if you find a seat thats not broken keep it, use broken ones lying aroud to block holes in carraige, only 1 train a day to lake ohrid on Macedonia border and no trains from there to Skopje. 50 euros in a taxi, Theres a couple of trains daily from Belgrade to skopje including an overnight on that arrives in skopje around 9 altough it was quite late when I used it, this train goes thru to thessallonika so I assume it comes back that way, All trains are quiete cheap in Serbia and if you have railplus (I dont know if you can buy it in Ireland, comes with bahncard in germany and costs E15 in Holland) theres 25% off crossborder trains.
The line via Kosovo is closed and you cannot cross between Serbia and Kosovo anywhere. The Greeks aren´t big fans of Macedonia calling itself, well, aah, Macedoina so transport links aren´t as good as they could be.

Very good train service from Budapest to Bratislava and Vienna is only 45 minutes away, theres also plenty of trains from Prague
I dont think theres much in the line of crossborder trains between Armenia and Azerbijan, they still have some unfinished border business and I think the only train that far east in Turkey goes to Iran with a break to cross a lake. Coming from Russia via Georgia would probably also pose a problem due to some unpleasantness that occurred recently.

Plenty of ferries from Bari (where Santa Claus is buried) in Italy to Durres in Albania and its less then an hour on the train to Tirana which runs regularly, an experience that will make you look differently at 2900´s but one I highly recommend.

In General trains are very cheap in eastern Europe.

Direct regular express buses run from Toulouse to Andorra.

Anybody know wher I can find the fixture schedule as I wouldn´t mind going to Armenia meself?

Colm Moore · 27-02-2010, 03:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccos

Anybody know wher I can find the fixture schedule as I wouldn´t mind going to Armenia meself?

They may be working on it at the moment, this was put up last week. http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...22&It emid=31

Actually, its not here either: http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/sta...958/index.html so I wonder if they have decided yet.

on the move · 02-03-2010, 03:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccos

All trains are quiete cheap in Serbia and if you have railplus (I dont know if you can buy it in Ireland, comes with bahncard in germany and costs E15 in Holland) theres 25% off crossborder trains.
The line via Kosovo is closed and you cannot cross between Serbia and Kosovo anywhere.

Can't buy railplus in Ireland afaik, however IE might be able to do something for you regarding passes and tickets. I don't recognise Kosovo's "independence", however it might be possible to go up to the border and see the place where their refugees were dumped into Macedonia in the conflict. Thought about going into Serbia from Sofia last time, as it's only 90 minutes away, but apparantly Serbia isn't that easy a country to get into, and there is also a time difference between it and Bulgaria, and I wouldn't have much time there anyway, so I didn't bother. There is another time difference between Greece and Macedonia, but there don't appear to be any bureaucratic problems going in and out.

Quote:

Anybody know where I can find the fixture schedule as I wouldn´t mind going to Armenia meself?

The fixture list won't be released for another 2 weeks. It should have been sorted out by now, but the Russians dug their heels in and demanded they hold the meeting. The first sign of their stubbornness in the group.

on the move · 25-03-2010, 15:13

Finally they have been released. The away trips are Armenia in September and Slovakia in October, followed by Macedonia, Russia and Andorra next year.

Whatever about Armenia, Slovakia is accessible from Vienna, Budapest, or Prague. However, the game there could be moved to Zilina in the North of the country, where Krakow is within reasonable reach.

on the move · 07-10-2010, 07:27

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10131 1%3Afai-arrange-free-train-transport-for-supporters&Itemid=122

on the move · 18-11-2010, 04:45

Went on the Slovakian leg of our campaign, and everyone who did go, got their own experience of travelling by rail in the country.

I stayed in nearby Vienna for the duration of the trip, and my first journey was to go by rail from Vienna to Bratislava, to see if tickets could be sourced for the game next day, and also to see how to get from there to Wolfsthal if needed the night after. With no joy on the ticket front on Day 1, a taxi driver took me the 10 kilometres back over the border to Wolfsthal, which would be needed if I came back from the game on the FAI boozecruise. The border between Slovakia and Austria symbolised a war for 50 odd years, but as we went back into Austria, the border posts are now unmanned and permanently open, due to Schengen. Apart from Kittsee, Wolfsthal is the Eastern outpost of the Austrian rail network, 2 kilometres from the Slovak border. The station is tiny and remote, yet it would have facilitated the 80 minute journey back to Vienna at 4am if required the night after.

On gameday, I left Vienna for Bratislava at Stadlau station, a new stop on the Vienna Metro network. It's a 14 Euro journey, and tickets had to be checked by both countries rail ticket inspectors. Upon arrival in Bratislava, a fair few Irish were milling around the station, until an FAI official moved us on and asked us to sign up to their free train. With no guarantee of game tickets, I set off on the earlier, more direct 13:15 train from Bratislava to Zilina. Having paid the standard 9 Euro fare for the journey, I went off to board, where I was to fall foul of a non-English-speaking ticket inspector 3 times. Apparantly because there was just one stop until Zilina instead of every station as normal, there was a different fare which I wasn't aware of at the time. At the third time of asking, the issue was sorted at another 5 Euro expense.

Upon arrival in Zilina, the hunt for game tickets resumed in the team hotel nearby where extra tickets were found by Delaney and a raffle held to distribute them. When my name came out, that issue was finally sorted. Just over an hour later, the boozecruise arrived, and those on it, were met by a display of the full armour of the local cops, though thankfully they didn't lash out with them. After the game, headed back to the station to see if it would be possible to find a spot on the FAI return train, but despite waiting around for an hour, our only company in the station was the police, who came prepared again for every non-existent eventuality. Instead those of us not on the FAI train wanting to get back to Bratislava and beyond, had to wait until the regular normal fare 02:40 train back to Bratislava which was a sleepy 3 hour journey. With the Wolfsthal option now irrelevant, I got the next train back from the main station to Vienna at 6am and arrived back 90 minutes later.

Our next away qualifier is in Macedonia in June, a trip that presents another set of rail challenges, however it's done.

13-02-2010, 10:22	#1
the FitzGerald New to the board Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bases Belfast, Burgundy, Antywerp but might be anywhere Posts: 3	theFitzGerald-himself Main line x Belgrade v skopje and border(gevgelija) thessalonika. deviation se3condary line atg lapova vers kosovo&pristina (may be familiar names from de war?) to Skop:je. Main line has good connections at Belgrade, Nis (for Sofia-Bucharest or Instanbul). For Tirane U will have to bus it but they are like Dublin taxis-everywhere an wow-wow! Time; well much same speeds as 1960 Irish Rail! But a sight cheaper than flying and a lot safer than de bus! But remember: it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive! Bon Voyage __________________ The FitzGerald-himself Charles of that ilk!

25-03-2010, 15:13	#6
on the move Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 176	Finally they have been released. The away trips are Armenia in September and Slovakia in October, followed by Macedonia, Russia and Andorra next year. Whatever about Armenia, Slovakia is accessible from Vienna, Budapest, or Prague. However, the game there could be moved to Zilina in the North of the country, where Krakow is within reasonable reach. __________________ "We'd like to apologise for..."

07-10-2010, 07:27	#7
on the move Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 176	http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10131 1%3Afai-arrange-free-train-transport-for-supporters&Itemid=122 __________________ "We'd like to apologise for..."

18-11-2010, 04:45	#8
on the move Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 176	Went on the Slovakian leg of our campaign, and everyone who did go, got their own experience of travelling by rail in the country. I stayed in nearby Vienna for the duration of the trip, and my first journey was to go by rail from Vienna to Bratislava, to see if tickets could be sourced for the game next day, and also to see how to get from there to Wolfsthal if needed the night after. With no joy on the ticket front on Day 1, a taxi driver took me the 10 kilometres back over the border to Wolfsthal, which would be needed if I came back from the game on the FAI boozecruise. The border between Slovakia and Austria symbolised a war for 50 odd years, but as we went back into Austria, the border posts are now unmanned and permanently open, due to Schengen. Apart from Kittsee, Wolfsthal is the Eastern outpost of the Austrian rail network, 2 kilometres from the Slovak border. The station is tiny and remote, yet it would have facilitated the 80 minute journey back to Vienna at 4am if required the night after. On gameday, I left Vienna for Bratislava at Stadlau station, a new stop on the Vienna Metro network. It's a 14 Euro journey, and tickets had to be checked by both countries rail ticket inspectors. Upon arrival in Bratislava, a fair few Irish were milling around the station, until an FAI official moved us on and asked us to sign up to their free train. With no guarantee of game tickets, I set off on the earlier, more direct 13:15 train from Bratislava to Zilina. Having paid the standard 9 Euro fare for the journey, I went off to board, where I was to fall foul of a non-English-speaking ticket inspector 3 times. Apparantly because there was just one stop until Zilina instead of every station as normal, there was a different fare which I wasn't aware of at the time. At the third time of asking, the issue was sorted at another 5 Euro expense. Upon arrival in Zilina, the hunt for game tickets resumed in the team hotel nearby where extra tickets were found by Delaney and a raffle held to distribute them. When my name came out, that issue was finally sorted. Just over an hour later, the boozecruise arrived, and those on it, were met by a display of the full armour of the local cops, though thankfully they didn't lash out with them. After the game, headed back to the station to see if it would be possible to find a spot on the FAI return train, but despite waiting around for an hour, our only company in the station was the police, who came prepared again for every non-existent eventuality. Instead those of us not on the FAI train wanting to get back to Bratislava and beyond, had to wait until the regular normal fare 02:40 train back to Bratislava which was a sleepy 3 hour journey. With the Wolfsthal option now irrelevant, I got the next train back from the main station to Vienna at 6am and arrived back 90 minutes later. Our next away qualifier is in Macedonia in June, a trip that presents another set of rail challenges, however it's done. __________________ "We'd like to apologise for..."

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27-02-2010, 01:10	#3
ccos Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kazbegi Posts: 281	Rail in Albania is crazy, if you find a seat thats not broken keep it, use broken ones lying aroud to block holes in carraige, only 1 train a day to lake ohrid on Macedonia border and no trains from there to Skopje. 50 euros in a taxi, Theres a couple of trains daily from Belgrade to skopje including an overnight on that arrives in skopje around 9 altough it was quite late when I used it, this train goes thru to thessallonika so I assume it comes back that way, All trains are quiete cheap in Serbia and if you have railplus (I dont know if you can buy it in Ireland, comes with bahncard in germany and costs E15 in Holland) theres 25% off crossborder trains. The line via Kosovo is closed and you cannot cross between Serbia and Kosovo anywhere. The Greeks aren´t big fans of Macedonia calling itself, well, aah, Macedoina so transport links aren´t as good as they could be. Very good train service from Budapest to Bratislava and Vienna is only 45 minutes away, theres also plenty of trains from Prague I dont think theres much in the line of crossborder trains between Armenia and Azerbijan, they still have some unfinished border business and I think the only train that far east in Turkey goes to Iran with a break to cross a lake. Coming from Russia via Georgia would probably also pose a problem due to some unpleasantness that occurred recently. Plenty of ferries from Bari (where Santa Claus is buried) in Italy to Durres in Albania and its less then an hour on the train to Tirana which runs regularly, an experience that will make you look differently at 2900´s but one I highly recommend. In General trains are very cheap in eastern Europe. Direct regular express buses run from Toulouse to Andorra. Anybody know wher I can find the fixture schedule as I wouldn´t mind going to Armenia meself?