Well no surprise here.... www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Had this response from Eurostar. They are going on the same lines as what has been announced by the EU - i.e. fully up and running with European Entry/Exit (EES) system by 10 April. That's less than two weeks away.

And will it be .co.uk or .gov.uk?

I wonder if those from European Sleeper kept quiet during this presentation yesterday about carriage 33 (regular seats) on last night's Paris to Berlin was defective. Passengers emailed just 6 hours ahead.

How would this work for non-EU passport holders with an EU residency? Is there a possibility for non-EU travellers to opt-out from biometrics, as it has been possible until now in airports?

Well I had an opportunity to pass through St Pancras. No further progress with EES. All three areas still locked up. Details in the alt-text. One unconfirmed source saying staff have been hired for the kiosks & are being used elsewhere while everyone waits for the French govt authorise their use.

Anyone with a non-EU passport travelled on Eurostar recently? I've not had a look around St Pancras in the last month or so. Last time I passed through none of the 50 or so EES terminals were switched on. And only three weeks to go before its fully implemented. www.bbc.co.uk/travel/artic...

Our ticketing systems in Britain are pretty basic when it comes to this. In France or Germany for example, your Railcard is linked into an online account and you can only buy reduced fares if the system knows your reduction card is genuine. AFAIK same for station self service ticket machines.

Maybe put Watford Junction into Zone 9. But asking for it to be moved to zone 6 will mean other station closer to London like Bushey will need to re-zoned? And who pays for this? It's certainly not for the tax payers of London to subsidise fares outside. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I'm feeling sorry for the thousands who are stranded in countries in SE Asia, Australia etc. if they are booked with Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates via Dubai. EU261 if flying back to the EU or UK won't apply as they are non-EU airlines. Outbound from EU/UK is fine.

It's those that were in transit in Dubai etc. when all this kicked off are the ones that might regret the decision to have booked that route. Insurance for consequential loss (hotels, meals) whilst stranded unlikely to be covered. Airlines like Emirates will be snowed under for months with claims.

Spring has definitely arrived in London. I've a liking for a lot of styles of houses built in the early 20th century. I wandered around East Finchley this morning. Some lovely art deco style and houses with mock Tudor design.

11 car clas 755 - are these normally diagrammed for a Norwich to Liverpool Street working? www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-n...

Just had a load of UK gov foreign travel advice alerts. All relate to entry requirements. They seem to be referring to full operation of #EES by 10 April. That was the original date. Other media sources saying delayed until September. So what's going on?

Smart cards do have their uses. Especially in the city etc you live in. In fact I've two for London. Over 60 one plus 75% off rail and Underground as get rail staff concessions. The over 60 doesn't kick in until 0900/0930 Mon-Fri so both gets used! And smart cards are good for period season tickets

Despite good news about getting into Türkiye by rail shared earlier, domestic local public transport ticketing is clumsy. In Izmir and local public transport seems to be a smart card only. Getting a smart card itself at short notice proved impossible.

Finally, the overnight train between Instanbul & Sofia in both directions can be booked online with the TCDD ticketing website and app. Just the all in fare plus res, those travelling with InterRail will need to use more conventional options. @jon.gruene.social.ap.brid.gy @seatsixtyone.bsky.social

Well this doesn't come with any surprise at all. To think it was going to be ready by April with everyone who needs to have this done would have to have biometrics captured was optimistic to say the least. www.schengentracker.com/en/posts/eu-...

Bit surprised that its buses all the way from Sheffield to Cleethorpes and Lincoln. I thought trains could terminate/start back from Worksop?

Well this letter came in today's post. Other than a(nother) reminder "I'm getting old", not so sure about using the word "invitation" is all that great. A bit condescending in fact. Yes, there's the option to defer it, but with extremely unfavourable terms for most people.

A trip to St Pancras today to purchase Eurostar tickets (more about that later). Thought I would check up on what's happening with #EES And basically sod all. Zone A (near the Thameslink entrance) had the shutters rolled up but glass doors locked and terminals powered off.

#InterRail #DataBreach Not had the email yet, but this has been a well discussed topic over the last few days. Worrying to say the least. I've changed my password, but what the heck are we supposed to do if your passport data was compromised?

Was so fond of British prog rock band, Renaissance, back during 1970s. Just learned that their drummer from the 1970s, Terence Sullivan, has passed away. Just Annie Haslam left now. I'm sure many remember their hit single Northern Lights back in 1978. www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Qi...

As a London resident for the last 25+ years and just coming up to State Pension Age, this isn't good news at all. Fair to say, I've made good use of the TfL managed Oyster 60+ for the best part of 6 the last years. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Passed through (not travelling) St Pancras yesterday. With a bit of spare time I checked up on the progress of #EES Not looking good albeit not a busy day. Zone B (7 terminals) near check-in closed. I know currently only for Premium ticket holders and can be done at the French immigration booths.

Northstar Line, a single route Commuter Rail operating into Minneapolis closes on 4 January. Only been in operation for 16 years and one that has obviously never recovered its passenger numbers since the pandemic. Like so many other Commuter Rail routes its almost entirely aimed at just that.

Until a few weeks ago, stations west of Istanbul to Sofia weren't listed in the International Tickets tab on the TCDD site. Now they are. No schedules/fares loaded yet. But hopefully there soon. Its one of very few trains that still can't be booked online. @jonworth.eu @seatsixtyone.bsky.social

Been busy over the last few months selling a lot of my old ppl 12" vinyl collection. eBay is rather addictive. EVRi seem to be the preferred delivery option (I offer RM too). 60+ sales in and had my first damaged item. Handled very well after the buyer filed a report. Buyer refunded in full.

Heading from Sivas to Kars. Early start (04:56) although we departed 50 mins late. I've done Turkish night trains before. I was more interested in the catering as that has seen some changes in recent years. Full restaurant car. One person serving and cooking the food.

After a night in Sivas I took the train to Samsun. 8 hours or thereabouts. 4 car diesel set which was less than half full. And this only runs three times a week each way. Buses are several times a day, take 5 hours but a quick check revealed the price was around 800 TL each way.

YHT High Speed Train from Ankara to Sivas where I stay the night. Fantastic food market.

Did Istanbul (Bakirköy) to Ankara today on the YHT with a detour at Arifiye to cover the short line to Adapazari. Very slow in the Istanbul area and several waits to cross over with another YHT. Only room for three tracks most of the way through the suburbs.

Once #EES is up and running for Bulgaria's only rail crossing out of Schengen, suspect process at Svilengrad non-EUs at least will need to detrain. I doubt there's portable EES equipment. Ironically the US does have that. Had biometrics done in the comfort of my seat on Amtrak's train in May

Finally got to cover the Sofia to Turkey sleeper train last night. Bulgarian border control was the easy one. Though I checked my passport when it was given back and no stamp. Fortunately officers hung around on the platform, so one went off and got it stamped.

Heading to Cornwall having just crossed the Royal Albert Bridge.

Thought I would pay a visit to St Pancras today to see what I could of the #EES I'm not travelling. Spotted that all 7 terminals near the Premier check-in weren't in use and the glass doors. E* have announced non-Premier pax won't be "invited" to do EES until next year.

Just booked my first of several journeys in Turkey on the TCDD website. Not exactly the most robust site. Payment success is best described as "wonky". Two "check payment details" to start off with. Then for no. 3 attempt (with same card) it wanted my banking app to verify.

Technically not #CrossBordeRail but this was on my travels today. Nowy Świętów to Głuchołazy Miasto. Been on my to do list for ages and worked out well as a route from Poland to Olomouc. Last night stayed in Nysa. Two round trips per day, Saturday and Sunday only but all year round.

Perhaps I'm a bit of a Google-holic, but Google Maps really ought to be the number one start point for planning city public transport. I'm 99%sure MPK Wroclaw was integrated with GM. Now they are not. Bit of a dismissive reply I thought.

Not done this for many years for European trips. I'm no fan of using cash, but always needed in case you end up at a place that doesn't accept cards. My bugbear nowadays is so many ATMs are charging a user fixed fee to withdraw cash.

I see this trial pass has just been launched. Global 7 days in a month or Italy only 4 days in a month. Includes cost of most seat res although with T&Cs. Approx extra €100 for Global pass though that will then include E*. plus.interrail.eu/en/interrail... @jonworth.eu @seatsixtyone.bsky.social

Why is the airline industry so bad at communicating details about what has or went wrong? If this was a major issue with rail infrastructure in the UK, Network Rail would be up there and explaining and apologising. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Will be exploring the effectiveness of VPNs to circumvent going through this. It's a step too far. As all I'm sure know for BS it's DMs only. Understand it may be needed for things like hobby forums which have a similar DM facility.

Whilst I'm no big user of buses, just over a year to go and I get an England bus pass. Biggest benefit is not having to work out the most applicable bus fare/pass rather than the actual cost it. Fortunately I already go free in London (after 09:00 Mon-Fri).

Trip to Aylesbury to visit a relative in Stoke Mandeville Hospital tomorrow. Local bus ticketing info sketchy. PlusBus not valid on the operator, Redline routes 130 & 300 between bus station in the town and hospital. Local £4 day pass strangely valid on the 130 but not the 300.

Just had my US eSTA approved. About 2.5 hours wait. I found it quite odd that the section to fill in for Social Media profiles still lists Twitter and not X. And Bluesky amongst not in the list of other SM sites.

I remember using Minitel and Chip and PIN in France when these things were unknown in the UK. France had a technological edge. Now, Paris shows itself to be decades behind.

According to @seatsixtyone.bsky.social RATP paper tickets for the Paris Métro etc. had gone in 2025: www.seat61.com/changing-sta... This page was shared today and surprised to learn they are still being sold until Tuesday 13 May: www.bonjour-ratp.fr/en/actualite...

I get an irate caller on my phone earlier who runs an apartment in Foggia. Stayed there a month ago. Had to register online including uploading passport page photos for Italian police before I arrived. Turns out he never got the photos. And he never bothered to check on the day or straight after.

It's early days yet, but many of our council seats are filling up with Reform candidates. Many I'm sure just volunteered to stand as a candidate and weren't selected by a referendum at local branch level. These new recruits with Reform badges on need scrutiny.