Beijing Bound

 To be honest, it is slightly annoy to approach Tiananmen Square due to many security check. There are many normal policemen and armed policemen every 20 metre.  However, many tourists seems to enjoy taking photo there.

Tiananmen Square

In each tube station, there are X-ray inspection in order to prevent terror.

Smart card for Beijing Tube

Beijing Tube

Now Beijing Tube has the third longest network in the world after Seoul and Shanghai　(442km).

At the long-distance station in Beijing

In 1970s, British musicians might have some sympathy with Yellow River. They sang humorous song....

Yellow River (LIVE) (1970) preformed by Christie_(band)

Yellow River (2008)

(2014/05/12)

Railway Canon (in St. Petersburg, Russia)

The part of  former Warsaw Train Station (metro stations Baltiyskaya or Frunzenskaya) changed to the exhibition about railway.

Railway gun TM-3-12

Explanation of railway gun TM-3-12

According St. Petersburg Steam site,  The gun was built in 1938 using guns from a withdrawn battleship. They were used in World War II until captured by the Finns who then restored and used them in turn. They were maintained in operational condition until 1991

Shopping mall and  entrance of the exhibition

Other useful link about the museum

The former Warsaw Train Station

German railway Canon in WW2 (Youtube)


(2014/04/30)

Tram in another Frankfurt

There is a small town called Frankfurt der Oder in the Far East Germany.

And there is a metre gauge tram network.

Frankfurt der Oder Hbf

Tiny tram network still exists even though eastern part of network was abandoned due to the result of WW2 and the change of belonging from Germany to Poland.

So, the line for Dammvorstadt could not run through. Now the town called as Słubice...

Two cities were one community in the past..... and after applying Schengen Agreement, people can pass without passport control....So now the two cities become one zone again!

Moreover, there might be debate about re-building tram way for Słubice (the article suggested in German language)

The border bridge

The city centre has already modernised due to re-construction after heavy air-laid during the war.

Some buildings still exist as same as pre-war age...

Frankfurt der Oder

Map of the twin city

Słubice(Poland)

Someday, I'd like to visit and ride the tram of the twin city...

(2014/04/05)

Tram Construction in Lviv, Ukraine

In Lviv, the city centre was under the modernisation of Tram and  water/sewage services. Most of the Tram lines including the connection for central station stopped running in October 2013.

Tracks were replaced to the ultra modern type.

According to Wikipedia, the tram was built in 1880, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1922, after the city became part of the Second Polish Republic were the tram lines switched to the right-hand-side system. It was metre-gauge system, even now. 

All the stone pavements were torn. 

First of all, water system was replaced

The buildings seemed to be built in 1920-1930s

A few years later, the area might be modernised. 

Instead of tram, sightseeing bus was running on the track in city centre.

 Pidvalna street  Tram-like cafe near the monument to Ivan Fedorov

Tram KT4SU

Low floor Tram and old one run near central station

Guide of Lviv Tram routes

(2014/03/23)

Twilight Express (Sleeper Train) in Japan

The Twilight Express is one of Japanese sleeper train and runs the longest distance in Japan.

Until expansion of Hokkaido-Shinkansen (Bullet train) to Hakodate, the express will stop running regularly.

Therefore, now is the chance for making a journey with Twilight Express, especially if you have JR-Pass.

EF81 (EL)

At Sapporo Station

Second class couchette (Japanese B-Shindai)

Restaurant Car

In the case of bound for Osaka, the restaurant offers French cuisine full course (12,000 JPY) during dinner time, which you should make a reservation in advance. After dinner time, it is possible to eat snacks and drink various liqueurs as pub time. If you want eat something in compartment or couchette, there is a kind of Bento for dinner as the room service. Breakfast is served at the restaurant car(1,575JPY). Both the Bento and breakfast are available to get if you order when the waiters/waitresses comes in each compartment or couchette.    

Type 24 fleets

If you have a chance to go to Japan, I highly recommend to get the train ticket and make a trip with the Twilight Express.

Announce in the train (Youtube)


(2/Feb/2014)