A chance to see what is faster a Clio R27 or the Eurostar/Ice train

[Pacman.]

I'm returning home from Germany for a spot of leave and Iv'e decided to give the European Train system a try instead of flying. And I thought this would be a good experiment to see what will get me home faster the Clio or the Train!

The plan.

Homeward Leg

1. Train from Gutersloh to Koln which will be a Ice Regional Train.
2. Ice 3 train from Koln to Brussels
3. Eurostar to London St Pancreas
4. Underground to Tottenham Hale
5. Train from Tottenham Hale to Harlow Town and Finish

Price of Tickets= 115 Euros

Outward Leg

1. Harlow Town Station to Dover
2. Ferry from Dover to Dunkirk
3. Dunkirk to Gutersloh and Finish

Price of Ferry £29 + Cost of Fuel as yet unknown

What do you reckon will be quicker?

Bet now!

 

[chris_p]

Clarkson will win

 

[Munson]

ICE trains are pretty f**king quick!

 

[Pacman.]

According to the Bahn.de Website it will take 8 hours 11 mins to London plus say 45 mins to my front door from there.
According to Google Maps total Driving time is 7hrs 52 mins from Door to Door but that does not include fuel stops and traffic.

Pretty Close according to the figures.

 

[LiamR172]

Nothing better than a TG race! I reckon the car will come out on top, as always

 

[d4nmc]

I vote train , will keep an eye on this I'm interested to see!

 

[Munson]

Been on the ICE trains a fair bit. In fact I took one from Köln to Amsterdam. Pretty close to 300kph IIRC. They are fast. Plus 1st class is pretty comfy but still reasonably priced. I'd be taking the train!

 

[Knuckles]

Jeremy rafmatt will win.

Even if you don't, you'll probably enjoy it more and spend a shed load more on fuel than you would on a ticket lol

 

[Pacman.]

I'm looking forward to posting the travel diary on this. Never been this far by train before and as it was so cheap for the ticket its worth it over flying IMHO. Also a chance to ride some of the fastest trains in the world hopefully this time next year they will have started the Ice trains service from London. London to Berlin on one train should be interesting!

 

[Munson]

I can't see ICEs being used in the UK.

I may be wrong but our idea of a fast train is an Intercity 125 from the 70s.

 

[Pacman.]

No it is happening and has already been to the UK it will be using the Eurotunnel line. as seen below

 

[Munson]

Sweet, but don't bet on anything happening anytime soon. The UK is a dump, mate. Full of excuses and idiots. In my experience, most of Europe is so far ahead, it's embarrassing.

 

[Pacman.]

Hopefully it will come to fruition as I expect there to be a lot of money made by the company taking people to Amsterdam and Frankfurt and perhaps further a field.

 

[Pacman.]

I wonder when I get to the German border and refuel with some lovely V power racing how much of a difference it will make over the bog standard super 95 fuel in terms of mpg and performance on the autobahns ?

 

[Pacman.]

UPDATE-

I've completed the 1st leg of the Clio v Train time trial!!

After getting to the Train station at exactly 8:08am I waited and boarded the Regional Express from Gutersloh Hbf to Koln Hbf. The train was very quick and I got to Koln in just over 2 hours and 30 mins. I must say the German railway network is very quick and easy to use. Once at Koln I had to wait about 45mins for the ICE3 train. This was the Train which was going to make the difference once on board the train was awesome very comfortable and modern.

This train is much better in terms of speed and comfort then any other railway I have ever been on the time flew by. At one point we were travelling way over 200mph which was very smooth and quiet! The Germans certainly know how to build a train! I got to Brussels midi which is where I was going to board the Eurostar to London after waiting an age to get through security and passport control and the unique way Europeans queue just pushing in!! I got through to the departure lounge and had to wait about an hour to leave, which was a welcome chance to have a slash and some Red Bull.

Once boarded the Eurostar I couldn't help think that the Eurostar is starting to look dated and worn out. It could do with a major upgrade and modernising, with a bit more seating space. We set off a few minutes late because of the queues getting through security and passport control.

We set off and I just turn on my Ipod and listened to some tunes as we ripped through France and the Tunnel. We stopped at least 3 times to let people on and carried on to London. Once there I disembarked and then entered the nightmare that is the London Transport system!!
With most of the lines shut and the normal route of getting home I had to go a different slower way home which added an hour onto my original expected time. The prices for trains in the UK is ridiculous and the time keeping is poor compared to our German Friends.

My review is that the Germans know how to run a well organised, quick, modern and cheap railway system. The Eurostar could do with modernising and better security and passport control and the London underground is a joke at times and we need to do some serious updating if we are to be on par with our European rivals.

I arrived back at home 10 hrs and 30mins after I left my base in Germany which is a good time and possibly beatable in the Clio.

Pictures will follow once I have uploaded them.

 

[Pacman.]

IMG_0100 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0102 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0104 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0113 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0116 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0118 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0120 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0124 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0126 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0128 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0132 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0134 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0136 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0138 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0140 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0148 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0150 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0152 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0156 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0158 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0163 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0166 by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

 

[jonesyblue87]

my brother is based in Guttersloh too

 

[Pacman.]

what camp?

 

[jonesyblue87]

PRB. Hes in the RLC just got back from Afghan today, thankfully!

 

[Pacman.]

Same as me i'm at PRB with 1 aac. thats good dude bet he is going to love the time off !

 

[jonesyblue87]

ye, he comes home Good Friday for 5 weeks, I'm not entirely sure thats a good thing but at least he's out of harms way now!

 

[Pacman.]

Race Results

Trains = 10 hours 30 minutes (delayed by a hour because of the useless London underground!!)
Clio R27= 9hrs 15 minutes

Clio wins it!!

However I still much rather get the Train then drive the Clio that sort of distance in one go. As you can relax watch a film, play some video games and basically chill the whole way there on the trains.
My Clio has H&R springs and Strut braces which make the ride a bit bumpy. Also my exhaust is quite loud and the interior has lots of buzzing and knock sounds which is annoying after 9 hrs.
The ferry was a bit choppy which made me feel a bit sea sick and don't get me started on European drivers! The trains were also the cheapest option by about 40 quid.

a few pics

IMG_0499[1] by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0140[1] by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0497[1] by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0501[1] by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

nearly run this over in the services

IMG_0500[1] by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

IMG_0498[1] by rafmatt1984, on Flickr

 

[TimR26]

So not much in it then, did you have to drive quite fast?

 

[Pacman.]

About 70-80mph all the way. Until I got to the autobahns then it was 90-120 for the last hundred miles, I had to balance speed for fuel saving as the Clio is one thirsty thing.