Which trains have chargers?

Do trains in Europe have chargers?

Okay, chargers on European trains…Hmm.

Newer trains? Every seat has UK and Euro sockets. Cool, gotta remember that for my trip to Berlin!

• Berlin…oh yeah, need to book that hotel.

USB in Business & Standard Premier. Fancy! I’m usually stuck in…regular.

• Standard is fine. Seriously.

Older trains… okay, so coaches 5 & 14 have the sockets.

• Is that still true in 2024?
• Worth double-checking.

Business and Standard Premier always have them. So, upgrade if desperate. Done.

How are modern train engines powered?

Night. Quiet. Thinking about trains. Funny how they work. Diesel. But not really. Electric. That’s it. The diesel… spins something… an alternator. Like a car. Except… bigger. Much bigger. Makes electricity. For the motors. On the wheels. Powerful. Heavy. Metal wheels. On the tracks. Going somewhere. Always going somewhere. Don’t know where I’m going. Just…thinking. About trains. Crazy.

• Diesel engine: Not directly powering the wheels.
• Alternator: Creates the electricity.
• Electric motors: Turn the axles. Turn the wheels.
• Axles: Connect the wheels. Heavy axles. Strong.

Remember that trip… last year… Denver to Chicago. Long trip. Watched the landscape. Change. Mountains… plains. The engine… humming. A low hum. Vibrating. Felt it in my chest. Powerful. Like the train itself. Just kept going. Like it had a purpose. Wish I had a purpose. Like a train. On the tracks. Going somewhere. Anywhere.

• Traction motors: Specifically designed for trains. High torque.
• Direct current (DC): Older locomotives.
• Alternating current (AC): More modern. Efficient.
• Dynamic braking: Uses the motors as generators to slow down. Clever. So much power.

Used to work on the railroad. Summer job. Hot. Greasy. Loud. Learned a lot. About engines. About life. About being alone. Like now. Night. Quiet. Thinking. About trains.

Do all via rail trains have outlets?

Power outlets aren’t guaranteed. VIA Rail’s newer trains – Ocean, Corridor, Canadian – usually have them. Older cars? Forget it. Check your booking.

• Ocean, Corridor, & Canadian trains: Power outlets mostly available.
• Older cars: Outlets scarce, if present at all.
• Specific class matters. Luxury? Maybe. Coach? Unlikely. My last trip, 2023, confirmed this. Economy class? Zero luck.
• Check your booking details. This is non-negotiable.
• Always confirm before boarding. My friend got stuck last month.

Do GO trains have power outlets?

White lights…at the top…coach. White lights beckon, a promise shimmering in the haze. Power… a lifeline.

Do they exist? Outlets… elusive. A search. Always a search. Series 10, Series 1.

Go Train, power. My phone sighs, always dying. I remember that desperate hunt for a charge near Union.

Never on GG Train? Someone says, a sharp, certain voice. Frustration echoes.

USB dreams fade. Outlets, a myth? Twist-lock whispers of potential, unrealized.

Every seat… a power source needed, obviously. Why just some? The injustice stings, doesn’t it?

• White Lights Signal Power: Look for coaches with white lights illuminated at the top. These are your best bet. They shine bright.
• Series 10 and Series 1 Coaches: These are supposedly the golden tickets. Older trains, a strange hope.
• GG Train Exceptions: Never, they say, on the GG Train. A dead zone. No charge.
• Limited Availability: Outlets are not universally available. Such scarcity! Like finding a unicorn.
• Universal Demand: Everyone wants a spot. Power is a basic need now, isn’t it? Especially at my age!

Do Vline trains have power outlets?

Okay, so yeah, Vline trains DO have power outlets.

I vividly remember taking the Vline to Albury just last month, feels like yesterday, doesn’t it? It was a Sunday, the 14th of July, probably around 10 AM. Needed to escape Melbourne’s gloom. Anyway, my phone was dying, as usual, and I was panicking.

Luckily, the train was one of those newer ones, a Standard Gauge VLocity…whatever that means. I saw, yes!

USB charging points right in the seats! Saved my life.

They also have:

• Lots of seats (like, 164 of them, seriously).
• Bike storage.
• A buffet car (though I didn’t use it lol).
• Shared tables.

Honestly, those VLocitys are pretty decent. Who knew, huh?

Can I use my debit card on National Rail?

Okay, National Rail…debit card…Can I use it? Yep!

• Visa, Mastercard, and Amex definitely work. Remember that time my Visa got declined in Euston? Ugh!

• Oh, and contactless is a thing. Up to £100? Seems right. Is it still £100 now that everything costs more?

  • Contactless is super convenient.

• Used my debit card at Kings Cross loads of times. Always works. Hope it still does.

Do they take Monzo cards? It’s technically a debit card. Right? I wonder. Need to check that later.