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Travel + Leisure
14-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
The New Trains in Central Asia Travel Back in Time to Breathtaking Sights Along the Silk Road
In Central Asia, the new trains travel back in time. As early as the second century B.C., an important network of trading routes known as the Silk Road linked Europe and East Asia. Now, in Uzbekistan, the region's first high-speed railway system is making it easier to visit that part of the route. Italian photojournalist Francesco Lastrucci switched between these new trains—which are on par with France's TGV or Portugal's Alfa Pendular—and the slower Soviet-era trains. He traveled from the capital, Tashkent, to Khiva—with stops in Samarkand, Uzbekistan's second-largest city, and Bukhara. On board, Lastrucci encountered few tourists and even fewer English speakers. From left: The showroom of Bukhara Silk Carpets; Kukaldosh Madrassa, in Bukhara. Buy rail tickets à la carte at starting from $21, or join curated Silk Road trips, such as this 17-day Silk Road Through the Caucasus itinerary with tour operator Abercrombie & Kent. Here, Lastrucci recounts his three days on the Silk Road, complete with his best recommendations in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Tilla-Kari Madrassa, in Samarkand's Registan Square. En route from Samarkand to Bukhara on a modern train. Day 1: Samarkand 'When I arrived in Samarkand, a city in east Uzbekistan that was a major stop on the Silk Road, I headed to Registan Square, which is arguably the most iconic site in the country. It started raining on my walk, so I ducked into Siyob Bazaar, a covered market with two levels and vendors selling food, pottery, and spices. A woman was selling bread, which, in Uzbekistan, is round like a wheel—although the decoration changes from region to region. In Registan Square, there are three madrassas, or religious schools, including Tilla-Kari Madrassa, which is connected to an ornately decorated mosque. I then took a fast train from Samarkand to Bukhara. Looking south, I could see mountains in the distance, bordering Turkmenistan. When we stopped at a station in Navoi, I peeked out the door and saw only locals.' From left: Bread for sale at Siyob Bazaar, in Samarkand; the Sherdor Madrassa in Samarkand, reflected in a shop's mirror. From left: Posing in front of Khiva's Ichan-Kala West Gate; Kalta Minor, an unfinished minaret in Khiva. Day 2: Bukhara 'Bukhara is known for art and hand-woven textiles. I started my day at Bukhara Silk Carpets, in the city's old town, which has a huge showroom and a workshop behind it, where I met about 20 kind, welcoming women making rugs. Artisans set up stalls at the entrance of the ancient Kukaldosh Madrassa, many painting Persian miniatures, which are small pieces with intricate details. For lunch, I sampled the pumpkin manti, a classic Central Asian dumpling, and beef soup at Jam, a restaurant close to the madrassa. My visit fell right before Nauruz, the Persian New Year; many locals were preparing for the celebration. These women were dancing while cooking sumalak, a sweet paste made of sprouted wheat.' 'The train from Bukhara to Khiva was older than my first train. The landscape between the cities is all desert. For me, looking out at that expanse was hypnotic; like a form of meditation. When I got on the train, I was given a pillow and sheets and made my bed in the car, which I shared with three other people—two women, who only spoke Uzbek, and a university math professor who spoke English. We chatted the whole trip, and he even invited me for lunch at his house.' From left: Inside Kuhna Ark, in Khiva; passing by the Paklavon Makhmud Mausoleum. Women dancing in the streets of Bukhara. Day 3: Khiva 'Khiva is smaller than Bukhara. The main attraction is the unfinished Kalta Minor minaret, which I visited early in the morning to photograph. My fingers were freezing as I took pictures, but it was worth it to have no one else around. In the late afternoon, I had tea at Terrassa Café & Restaurant, which has breathtaking views over Ichan-Kala, Khiva's Old Town. Away from the big crowds of Samarkand, my stay felt quieter, more intimate. I continued on to Paklavon Makhmud Mausoleum, the tomb of Khiva's patron saint, which has a magnificent turquoise dome and a blue-tiled façade. Kuhna Ark citadel feels like a city within the city of Khiva. It was built in the 17th century by the khan of Khiva and is surrounded by fortified walls and watchtowers. I climbed one of them and found the best view of Khiva.' Terrassa Café & Restaurant, in Khiva.
South China Morning Post
30-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Woman getting off wrong train in China trapped by door
A woman getting off a high-speed train in central China's Hubei province ended up being trapped by a door. She had boarded the wrong vehicle. Advertisement
Times
27-05-2025
- Times
Eurostar guide: everything you need to know before you travel
For 30 years, Eurostar has been connecting passengers in the UK to hubs in continental Europe. Initially there were just two routes — to the French and Belgian capitals, Paris and Brussels — but now the company has services to the Netherlands and Germany too. The high-speed services are often more convenient than flying, transporting you to the heart of your destination without restrictions on liquids and with a far more generous luggage allowance. But there are many ways to make more of your journey — here's how. Direct trains link London to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. You can connect in any of the European stations and travel to other destinations across France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Some of the most popular routes include connecting at Lille for Disneyland Paris as well as the ski train to the French Alps in winter. It's also possible to book trains to other parts of Europe as part of your Eurostar ticket, such as Swiss cities Geneva and Zurich. These will be operated by a Eurostar partner, and will require a change at one of the main Eurostar hubs. • Best hotels in Paris• Best hotels in Brussels Eurostar recommends that you get to London St Pancras around 1hr 15min before departure. This will give you enough time to clear security and passport control (for both the UK and France), and then wait in the departure lounge until the platform is announced. It's best to stock up on food and drink in St Pancras station as the choice is limited inside the Eurostar terminal. If you're travelling in Business Premier you can enter via a fast-track entrance, so arriving an hour before will leave you with plenty of time to clear security and board the train. You will need your tickets, which can be downloaded on the Eurostar app or printed in advance at home, and your passport. Most journeys from London to Paris take 2hr 16min but some can be as long as 2hr 37min. The Eurostar typically takes 1hr 53min to Brussels; 1hr 22min to Lille; and 4hr 19min to Amsterdam. Previously, there were three classes to choose from on cross-channel routes (Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier) and three on Continental routes (Standard, Comfort and Premium). However, Eurostar has replaced these classes with three new unified travel classes: Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Premier. Eurostar Standard is the basic fare, which does not include food and drinks, while Eurostar Plus includes 'extra comfy seating', added space for working and a meal onboard including drinks. Eurostar Premier is the most flexible ticket, giving passengers an all-day boarding guarantee, a dedicated priority lane on cross-channel routes and premium food onboard. It also includes access to an exclusive lounge. Eurostar's luggage allowance is much more generous than airlines. Passengers in Standard or Standard Premier can take two pieces of luggage plus one piece of hand luggage, while those in Business Premier can take three pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage. Children can take one piece of luggage and one piece of hand luggage — a pushchair or pram does not count towards your luggage allowance. There is a restriction on size and weight of all luggage though. On trains to and from London, your bag can be up to 85cm at its widest point but on other services it's a narrower 75cm so this is worth bearing in mind if you're on a connecting service. There's also a weight restriction of 30kg per item. You can book separate spaces for bikes. Musical instruments smaller than 85cm long and guitars can travel with you as part of your luggage allowance on routes to and from London. There are lots of rules around sports equipment, such as skiing kit. If you're going camping then tents need to be packed in bags or cases up to 85cm long. Check Eurostar's website for more details. • Ski packing list: the clothes and equipment to bring• The best ski resorts in France Yes, you can buy drinks, meals and snacks in Café Métropole, which is reasonably priced. You're also welcome to bring food and drinks with you on board. Yes, unlike on flights there's no limit on the quantity of liquids you can take on board. There is, however, a restriction on the amount of alcohol you can bring. For consumption on board, Eurostar's alcohol limit is four 440ml bottles or cans of beer or one 750ml bottle of wine per person. If you're importing alcohol into the UK for personal consumption, the amount you're allowed to transport is determined by customs, and will depend on the type of alcohol you're bringing in. You can see more on the website. Among the items prohibited on Eurostar are unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and some relics from world war sites such as historical weapons, munitions and explosive devices; plus certain inflammable substances, flick knives, gardening equipment and furniture, e-scooters and perishable items such as fish, meat and dairy products. Other items, including authorised firearms, some DIY tools and cut flowers and plants, are restricted. You can find out more about prohibited and restricted items here. Children under four can travel for free if they can sit on an adult's lap for the whole journey. If they need their own seat you'll need to buy a child ticket. In terms of luggage, you can take one pushchair and one car seat per child for no extra cost. Café Métropole is on board and handy if your little one wants to move around during the journey. Child tickets, for those aged from four to 11, are at least 30 per cent cheaper in Standard and Standard Premier. Eurostar also offers discounted youth fares for those aged from 12 to 15 but these are currently not available for trips to and from London. • How to travel with children• Ten tips for travelling with autistic and neurodiverse children Yes, there's free wi-fi throughout the train, though the signal can be patchy because it relies on mobile data — especially when going through tunnels. Head to settings, wi-fi, select EurostarTrainsWiFi and register your details when on board. Only guide dogs are allowed on board Eurostar trains. Adult single tickets start from £39 and it's usually a case of the earlier the better when it comes to booking, particularly if you want to travel over a weekend or on a bank holiday. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the cheapest days to travel. Eurostar advises that you book four months in advance for the best prices. You can change your tickets for free up to one hour before departure, so if you do need to change dates, or see a cheaper price, it's easy to amend your booking. You can also try your luck with Eurostar Snap, Eurostar's ticketing website for last-minute, non-refundable tickets. Tickets are only released on the site 14 days before travel, if there's availability, with prices starting from £35 each way. There is a catch though — you won't know which train you'll be travelling on until about 48 hours before your trip as it all depends on how busy the trains are. You'll typically be able to book Eurostar tickets six to eight months before you travel but some services have a shorter booking window. Refunds depend on which class of ticket you've booked. The most flexible tickets are Eurostar Premier. Eurostar Premier passengers can change or cancel tickets without a fee up to 48 hours after their departure date. After that the tickets become non-refundable. Passengers on Eurostar Standard and Eurostar Plus services can request a refund up to seven days before departure, charged at £25 each leg. These tickets can be changed as often as needed, without additional fees, up until one hour before departure. However, they might need to pay a fare difference. Note that changes made on the phone or at the station will incur a £12 fee per transaction. • Best hotels in Paris for families• How to do Disneyland Paris on a budget
CNA
16-05-2025
- General
- CNA
Cat on train tracks? 20 minutes to retrieve it, France says
PARIS: In 2023, a departing train in Paris ran over a cat that had escaped from a traveller's bag, in a case that caused an uproar in France. Despite requests from the animal's owners to delay the departure and rescue the animal, the Paris-Bordeaux high-speed TGV train with 800 passengers on board left, slicing Neko the cat in two. France's national rail operator SNCF insisted at the time that the animal was "not visible." After two years of deliberation, SNCF has now issued clear rules. If your pet escapes and falls onto the train tracks in France, a train can be delayed by a maximum of 20 minutes, according to the new protocol, a copy of which was seen by AFP. The protocol "formalises practices that have always been in place in this type of situation and are applied with common sense and humanity by our staff," a spokesman for the rail infrastructure management unit SNCF Réseau told AFP on Friday (May 16). The new rules were spelt out in a memo to SCNF staff on Thursday. Once a passenger has reported an animal missing, SNCF staff have 10 minutes to "clear up any doubts" by trying to spot the animal from the platform, according to the new rules. If the missing pet is spotted, staff have a maximum of 10 minutes "to remove the animal without entering the danger zone" and accessing the tracks. If the animal still does not emerge, the train is required to proceed at a very low speed to give it a final chance to escape. Neko's owners sued SNCF but lost on appeal.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Trains to Paris could soon get cheaper. Here's why
Double-decker trains are being considered for the London-Paris route through the Channel Tunnel. Alstom, the manufacturer of the Avelia Horizon, the world's only high-speed double-decker train, has confirmed discussions with several operators, including Eurostar and potentially Virgin Group. The move could significantly increase passenger capacity on the route. The Avelia Horizon can reach speeds of up to 200mph and would have a lower cost per seat than single-decker models, former Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge said. While the trains would need regulatory approval, which could take years, they are compatible with the Channel Tunnel's infrastructure.
