Trip Report: Berlin to Eindhoven by train
My train trip back to Eindhoven wasn't any more positive than the trip to Berlin (report here). Again, there was this big issue with some seats being reserved, others not. So this being the end of a long weekend, there were people walking up and down the aisles constantly with large bags looking for seats. Some had to sit on the floor, which was already crowded with large suitcases. I did not enjoy my aisle seat, being subject to bumping from said people carrying big bags.
At least on this train, when we boarded you could see a small display next to each seat, showing which ones were reserved and for how long. Problem is, these displays turn off after you leave the departure city, so people in between Berlin and Duisburg (in my case) would not know that I had reserved the seat, and that I was getting off in Duisburg. I was also really thirsty but didn't want to get out of my seat. I do feel less safe on the train because it's making stops along the way and you don't know if someone is going to grab your bag and leave the train before you get back from the bathroom or cafe car.
In Duisburg (still inside Germany), I transferred to the ICE - Intercity Express. It's the German version of the TGV or Shinkansen.
This trip began just as uncomfortably, because I was assigned the 5th seat in a five-passenger compartment, the other four seats being taken up by a family who had already hogged all of the storage areas and table. Thankfully they left after a couple stops, along with the kids who didn't have any sense of personal space.
The ICE trains are quite stylish - here's a view inside the toilet. There's simulated wood throughout the train; no more sea-green paint.
The interior design also liked to make use of curving lines, and I do think that it helped in creating a feeling of more space.
