https://hitchwiki.org/en/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Smaua&feedformat=atomHitchwiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T13:00:42ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.32.3https://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Talk:Train&diff=92613Talk:Train2018-12-27T14:36:35Z<p>Smaua: </p>
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<div>hey sorry just to say i find it really hard to read this space, especially when its talking about dancing but it means jumping trains. its really inaccessible for me, and so i edited it to use the words that make more sense. appreciate all the work put into writing stuff, hope its ok to keep it without metaphors so i can read it easier. thanks - user smaua</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Brighton&diff=92612Brighton2018-12-27T14:29:26Z<p>Smaua: </p>
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<div>{{Infobox Location<br />
|country = United Kingdom<br />
|state = South East England<br />
|map = <map lat="50.837053523299225" lng="-0.12917031738280688" zoom="12" view="0" float="right" /><br />
|pop = 156.000<br />
|plate = <br />
|motorways = <br />
}}<br />
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'''Brighton''' is a city on the south coast of [[England]].<br />
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Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove (formed from the previous towns of Brighton, Hove, Portslade and several other villages) on the south coast of Great Britain. Formerly part of the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex, it remains part of the ceremonial county of East Sussex, within the historic county of Sussex.<br />
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== Hitching out ==<br />
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=== North towards [[London]] ===<br />
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Take the Bus 5A towards Patcham and get off at Ridgeside Avenue. Follow the road Northwards (the direction the bus was going if you came from the city centre) until you get to a big roundabout. You want to take the A23 towards London. Several spots are available to hitchhike from, with space for cars to pull over. <br />
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There is also a modestly frequented petrol station, if you want to talk to people.<br />
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Also can not take the bus and found it very successful. Walk from the top end of London road (Preston Circus). Walk up the road with Barclays on one side and the pub "Preston Circus" on the other. Just keep walking up that road for 15-20 minutes. Or just ask someone for "Preston Road" that is the road you want to be walking along. You will be walking past a park on one side and Travel Lodge and other various buildings on the other side. Hitch from the rock garden opposite the park just by traffic lights, there is a side turning for cars to turn into. Its just before the Shell petrol station. Just write London on your sign.<br />
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=== East towards [[Dover and Kent]] ===<br />
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Walk from the top end of London road (Preston Circus). Walk up the road with Barclays on one side and the pub "Preston Circus" on the other. Just keep walking up that road for 15-20 minutes. Or just ask someone for "Preston Road" that is the road you want to be walking along. You will be walking past a park on one side and Travel Lodge and other various buildings on the other side. Hitch from the rock garden opposite the park just by traffic lights, there is a side turning for cars to turn into. Its just before the Shell petrol station. Write "M25 West" on your sign. Its pretty easy all the way to Clacket Lane - just make sure they are going that far. If going to Calais its often quicker to get a lorry and you get free coffee and tea in the Lorry Lounge on the ferry. Its paid per vehicle not per person on the Calais ferry, Lorry drivers will mostly likely know but cars normally don't <br />
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You can get dropped off in one of the laybys on the A23, before it turns into the M23 and from there you must '''only''' accept a lift that's going at least as far as Clacket Lane Services. Clacket Lane is an excellent place to hitch from, as is Maidstone Services further on. These are the only two service stations between Brighton and Dover (apart from [[Pease Pottage]], but that's no good going in that direction, only to be used hitching ''to'' Brighton)(Disputed). Do not get out anywhere other than these service stations and you will move quickly. In the service stations just walk up to people and ask "Are you by any chance driving in the direction of Dover?" or something similar. Super-quick hitching guaranteed.<br />
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=== West towards [[M4 (Sipson (for grow heathrow), Bristol, South Wales)]] ===<br />
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Walk from the top end of London road (Preston Circus). Walk up the road with Barclays on one side and the pub "Preston Circus" on the other. Just keep walking up that road for 15-20 minutes. Or just ask someone for "Preston Road" that is the road you want to be walking along. You will be walking past a park on one side and Travel Lodge and other various buildings on the other side. Hitch from the rock garden opposite the park just by traffic lights, there is a side turning for cars to turn into. Its just before the Shell petrol station. Write "M25 West" and make sure the driver is going past Cobham service station.<br />
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=== M25 Service stations ===<br />
Although it is better to go to said service stations, as long as you end up at either one you are fine. Cobham services is a service station for both sides and Clacket Lane Service station has a bridge as you walk towards the exit so you can go to other side. It is just easier to get to said service station for your direction as it will mean you are likely to have to get a lift to other service station (e.g. Cobham to Clacket and via versa) so it just means an extra ride but as there close together many are going your way.<br />
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== Free Train ==<br />
The train route between London and Brighton is very rarely checked. It is even more rare that it is checked after 9pm at night. There are 2 companies which do this route. Thameslink and Southern. Southern is checked more, Thameslink very rarely. Theoretically you don't need to have a ticket if you travel after 9pm any day. <br />
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This info is out of date, in last year they've been checking ticket a lot more on both Southern and Thameslink...<br />
edit 2018 : Been taking Thameslink in the last year as well and it still is pretty relaxed with controllers. i.e. controllers don`t live on trains, so they get on and off between them on Thameslink. Basically it's like public transport in cities, you might find them but generally you will be okay, especially in the evening.<br />
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You can take a train from Preston Park(no barriers, one station after Brighton station, walkable from the center, takes 25/30 minutes) that stops at either Elephant and Castle(no barriers, south London) or Blackfriars(barriers open in the evening, a bit more central than Elephant, can change here and take a train to elephant if your initial train did't go there directly) or Farringdon(this HAS barriers but from here you can change between national rail and underground and try to get to another station without barriers in other parts of London. There is a lot stuff to know about free transport in London, best bet is to ask your local squatter.) <br />
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Hitching is still a great way to travel in this country, but hitching into central London is a pain and quite expensive depending on where you get dropped off. <br />
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{{IsIn|South East England}}<br />
[[Category:South East England]]<br />
[[trash:Brighton]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Talk:Train&diff=92611Talk:Train2018-12-27T14:19:53Z<p>Smaua: </p>
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<div>hey sorry just to say i find it really hard to read this space, especially when its talking about dancing but it means jumping trains. its really inaccessible for me, and so i edited it to use the words that make more sense. appreciate all the work put into writing stuff, hope its ok to keep it without metaphors so i can read it easier. thanks</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Train&diff=92610Train2018-12-27T14:16:09Z<p>Smaua: </p>
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<div>It's hard to hitchhike on trains. But there are ways to get free train rides. <br />
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Standing near the train track and be hitchhiking train ? It hardly.<br />
But we can succeed.<br />
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== If you're in an organised [[Hitchhiking competitions|hitchhiking competition]]... ==<br />
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[[File:Trainaschaffenburgtonürnberg.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Photo taken while train - hitchhiking a train in Germany. Translation: "All aboard! But please only with a ticket." ...heeheehee let's jump.]]<br />
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...then it is very possible. Choose your train and wait at the platform. When the train arrives, work out who the conductor is and run up to him/her. Explain your situation (using an 'international language' such as English often works best, often better than speaking the conductor's native language), show them some documentation for your competition and don't be afraid to beg. Telling a story about a dangerous experience two hours ago on the roadside (true or not...), and how much you want some safe and secure travel after the traumatic experience, works well. By this time, the train is now running nearly a minute late and there is a good chance that the conductor will say Yes, because he needs to end the conversation and keep the train moving. So get in, sit back and relax :).<br />
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[[User:tmoon|Tom]] and his two team-mates tried using this trick when train through the [[Netherlands]] and [[Germany]] on [[Sheffield]] University's 'Bummit' hitchhiking competition. 9 out of 13 conductors we asked said Yes, and let us travel as much as we needed on their trains. It didn't work when the train was either crossing an international border, or it was a high-speed train, or the conductor just didn't want to bend the rules...<br />
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== [[Train hopping]] ==<br />
In the [[United States of America|United States]], [[train hopping]] is still quite popular. In many states it's easier than hitchhiking. This is advanced jump style. But be careful on this type of train. It is relative dangerous and failure can caused death and of course, you can get high penalty too (Pounds 1000 in United Kingdom). Threat is not only penalty like inside train for passengers.<br />
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== General train styles and guidelines ==<br />
Train hopping in Europe is generally easy as countries don't have a good system to track fines. This means that if you have for example a Spanish passport and got a fine in France, you won't get the fine ever, except if you move to France one day and get a job etc.<br />
There are different approaches to train hopping but it's good to keep in mind that the ticket inspectors are aware of all tricks and games. You can try and stay in the toilet for the whole journey but in some countries and trains they can unlock the toilet if they suspect you don't have a ticket, especialy in central Europe (Czech, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary). There are toilets checked by controller often especially in long-journey trains (EC, IC, SC). You could leave the door unlocked to try and fool them but that means every passenger would open the door as well... You can run around the train as well, trying to avoid the ticket inspector which may or may not work. These techniques may get you into more trouble and are generally not pleasurable but are very important for people with no ID since if you get caught and the ticket inspector wants to write you a fine, they will ask for a passport and if you don't have one or refuse to give it it is very likely that they call the cops.<br />
So for people with ID, who are foreigners in the country, in most cases it is OK simply to find a quite place on the train, wait for the ticket inspector and kindly explain to them your situation (imaginary or not). In a lot of countries the law says they are obliged to write you a fine (which you will never have to pay as long as you give a fake address or say you don't have one) but they may kick you off. They may also threaten to call the police. It depends on each person how they prefer to deal with this - whether to argue or not, whether to plea or not but just keep calm as if you get aggressive it is a valid reason to get the cops on you. In case that a ticket inspector actually calls the police without a valid reason (no ID, being aggressive) don't panic, the most that can happen is they search you and/or escort you off the train station.<br />
Generally, when choosing which train to take, opt for express trains - those with fewest stops, as you are unlikely to get far with regional ones - and you may get stuck in a station where almost no trains stop. It's very useful to memorize (or write down) the timetable, so that you instantly know which is the best train to take after you get kicked out of the previous one.<br />
In central Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania...) - you can use jump style tat is called short distant ticket trick. Conductor usually check only new passengers and he do not remember their final destination. So you buy ticket only for short distance and you show it to conductor. But after final destination on the ticket you continue journey, sit and sleep. This is not complete free, but cheap. More difficult jump style is similar. Blue jumpr come and he check new passengers. You are new but you do not respond (sleep, look out of window, read a book).<br />
Around some big cities - like Stockholm, Helsinki, Oslo - there are local trains without regular checking, only sometimes groups of inspectors in uniforms come. It is easy with these trains. These trains has lot of stops and trains go often (once a 10-60 (120) minutes, close to Helsinki even once a 5 min, around Stockholm once a 30-120 minutes, around Oslo L trains once a 30-120 min).<br />
High-speed trains are good, because they have big distance between stops 50-200 km or more = (Pendolino, IC, EC, SJ SnabbTaag, TGV, Freccigarossa, Treno Italo, ICE, night trains). But ticket checking is usually harder (conductors in both sides of wagon and toilet checking too - in Italian Treno Alta Velocita). Usually they kick you out or they ask for ID. Sometimes, they call police or they make extra stop for you in small station with not so many local trains (without waiting room) or even in fields. It happens rarely, if you have bad luck for conductor or if you are too rude. And sometimes they give echo to conductors in next high-speed train.<br />
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== Searching for train connection and stops during journey ==<br />
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PeterOB tried to write some schedules for trains in Nordic countries, where trains does not go so often. But the schedule can change and some countries (Sweden) has difficult schedule. '''Important is to find stops during journey, where you can be kicked out'''<br />
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'''Every country has their own web for searching connection''' (Buses, Trains, City public transport), or more web pages. The web pages for searching train connection are '''vr.fi''' in Finland, '''sj.se''' in Sweden '''nsb.no''' in Norway '''dsb.dk''' in Denmark, '''jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlaky/spojeni/''' and '''cd.cz''' in Czech-Slovakia (you are welcome to add more pages). But these web pages can be with lot of JavaScript and difficult can be even switching to English. It is possible to find stops during journey there usually, but it can be quite difficult find, how to do. PeterOB tried to find stops at ''sj.se'' without success, but there is way, how wind stops during journey.<br />
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'''There are some web pages for whole Europe, where you can find train connection''' for example '''eurail.com''' But there are not regional or commuter trains so good (if any in some regions). And you can not find stops during journey.<br />
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'''There is another page, where you can find all train connections include stops during journey for all Europe'''. It is Czech web for searching connections is Czech-Slovakia (all city transport, buses, trains, planes). But there is trains connection for whole Europe on this web. The link for searching train connections is here '''jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlaky/spojeni/''' But there is no English. '''It is possible to find stops during journey on this web''' But it is not possible to find, if station has waiting room, or when waiting room will be closed. Buses are there for Czech and Slovakia only, except few buses in Europe (these buses are usually connected with train company). There are distances in km for every stops Czech and Slovakian buses and trains that go through Czech-Slovakia.<br />
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'''Translation for searching connection''' (''Vlaky'' = Trains ''Autobusy'' = Buses, ''MHD Vsechna'' = all city public transport, ''MHD'' = city public transport, ''Odkud'' = from, ''Kam'' = to, ''Datum a cas'' = date and time - two edit fields, ''Pouze přímá spojení'' = without train (or bus) change during journey, ''Pouze vlaky bez povinné rezervace'' = only trains without seat reservation obligatory, but it usually does not show many trains, especially long-journey ones).<br />
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'''Errors during request for searching'''<br />
''Zadání není jednoznačné, upřesněte prosím zadání'' - the station or city - town - village is not specified exactly (more stations with this name), write it more exactly.<br />
''Objekt nebyl nalezen'' = this station or town or city or village is not in database<br />
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'''If you click for complete train, you get list of stops and schedule''' Translating: ''Stanice'' = station ''Příj'' = arrival ''Odj'' = departure ''Pozn'' = notes for this stop Km = distance in kilometers from begin of train journey to this station (Distances in km are aviable only for trains that goes through Czech Republic and Slovakia). (''zastavuje jen pro nastup'' = only for boarding, ''zastavuje jen pro vystup'' only for getting off, but it is only for ticket-reservation possibility, you can get in-off or be kicked out anywhere).<br />
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'''Buttons under connections''' ''Zmenit zadani'' = Changing searching request ''Nove zadani'' = new searching request ''Trvaly odkaz'' =permanent link to connection, ''Hledat spatecni spojeni'' = searching for connection back, in another direction (from destination to start station). And '''buttons down-left''' ''Predchozi'' = three connections before, ''nasledujici'' = (three) connections after. At first request idos.cz will find three earliest connections after selected date and time.<br />
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'''Translation for connections that has been found''' And then you find connection, some notes are - ''Příští stanice'' = Next Station, ''Vlak se prave nachazi ve stanici'' = Train is now in this station, ''povinná rezervace'' = seat reservation obligatory, ''moznost rezervace'' = seat reservation is possible, ''jede'' = train goes at this dates, ''jede do'' = train goes until this date, ''jede od'' train goes since this date, ''od'' = since ''do'' = until, ''globální cena'' = global ticket price, not interesting for us, ''vozy 1. a 2. třídy'' = wagons with first and second class, ''pouze vozy 2. třídy'' = wagons only with second class.<br />
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And there are '''some symbols''', what is in train - like ''beds, restaurant, bar or bistro, car transporting, etc''<br />
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'''Error 1'''<br />
''Spojení nebylo nalezeno'' = Connection was not found<br />
''Možné příčiny'' = It can be caused by<br />
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''spojení v příslušném časovém období neexistuje'' = no connection exist in this time<br />
'' mezi výchozím a cílovým objektem neexistuje přímé spojení'' = there can be not direct connection (without changes), (if you have selected direct connections only for searching).<br />
'' spojení nelze realizovat povolenými dopravními prostředky'' = connection is not possible with selected type of vehicles due to our database status (if you have selected only trains, buses etc.)<br />
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This application usually marks most of regional-commuter trains like '''blue R''' some commuter trains are missing (commuter trains by Stockholm, P train in Helsinki), and it marks '''green''' all '''IC''', '''EC''' or '''high-speed trains''' with seat reservation obligatory. it shows seat reservation obligatory in all IC-EC trains. Only few international trainss are '''red''' like '''EN''' and '''INT'''<br />
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The '''semi-regional trains''' for longer journey are usually marked like blue too, but the letters are various, some are still like '''blue R''' (for example in Sweden '''OTU''' - Oresundstaag, in Norway '''REG''' trains are regional, not local trains). The '''long journey trains''' are usually green with letters EC, IC or specific letters ('''TGV''' in France, '''X2''' is ''SJ Snabbstaag'' in Sweden, '''S2''' is ''Pendolino'' in Finland, Green '''AE''' or Red '''INT''' is ''Allegro train'' between Helsinki and St. Pettersburk, '''FR''' or '''FA''' is high-speed train in Italy - Treno Alta Velocita, '''FB''' is something like IC train in Italy - FB FRECCIABIANCA). Some Night trains are marked '''ICN''' (green) and some night Trains like green '''NZ''' (Moscow-Helsinki), some night trains are red '''EN''' - Euronight. Many night trains (in Finland, in Sweden are marked like green IC or even blue REG in Norway)<br />
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But '''some Long Journey IC trains are still blue like regional''' (ICs in Norway are marked like blue REG, long journey trains from Stockholm to Narvik or (Goteborg) Stockholm-Lulea or Lulea-Narvik are marked sometimes like blue R Arcitic circle train)<br />
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Sometimes - '''one trains is marked like two another trains''' (R train Helsinki-Tampere, trains between Oslo and Goteborg), and some trains has two symbols (for example train between Helsinki and St. Peterburg is red INT or Green AE ). Even some high speed trains can be missing there (probably purple Treno Italio - AV train in Italy).<br />
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The most important for this Czech database is '''that you can find stops during journey''' Unfortunately - you can not find in this Czech application, which stations has waiting room, or when waiting room is closed.<br />
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'''jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlaky/spojeni/''' is only for trains, it is part of '''idos.cz''' , where you can find all buses and trains and city public transport in Czech Republic and Slovakia (not in Europe, you can find only trains and few buses in whole Europe). You can find all stops, time table (arrival and departure) and for Czech republic and Slovakia only - you can find length of journey between stations in km. Unfortunately - this page is not in English.<br />
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This application is created by '''CHAPS''' (software for transport schedules) and there is possible to download database of schedules and trips from '''chaps.cz''' like complete database, only trains (in Europe) or only buses (Czech and Slovakia) or city public transport for selected city in Czech-Slovakia. And there should be database of planes too. Unfortunately, English is missing.<br />
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== [[Austria]] ==<br />
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Austria is not so big country in the middle of Europe and big part of this country is with mountains – Alps. There is big motorway '''A1 from Germany to Hungary''' ''(Munchen – Salzburg – Linz – Wien – Budapest)''. You can easily hitchhike there at exit of fuel stations. Another motorway goes to south – not so far from '''Rosenheim''' (Germany), the A1 motorway split to '''Munchen''' and south branch to '''Insbruck''' and '''Kufstein'''. And around Insbruck – the motorway spilts too – one '''direction to west''' (Switzerland) and one '''direction to Italy''' (Brenero, Bolzano, Verona). Insburck is big crossroad with beauty-full mountains around (up to 3300 m.n.m.). One hitchhiking place is fuel station before Insbruck. Many cars go to Italy (Sea, Skying), but there are only few cars in this fuel station, few cars go to Italy, and many hitchhikers waited there very long (few hours or even two days). Another possibility is hitchhiking with sign ''(Italy, Switzerland, Salzburg, Germany)'' before entrance to motorway in east Insbruck. Hitchhiking to Italy or Switzerland can be really bad here. If hitchhiking does not work, you just go to train station. Is it easy to jump on city bus inside Insbruck and taking it for free. (or another city in Austria) (penalty in city public transport can be for example in Wien 103 Eur) and you can go to train station or big road at the end of city. <br />
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If you want '''escape from cold to Italy'''. You try to get to Insbruck and from Insbruck to Brennero and Italy. But hitchhiking does not work so good from Insbruck to Italy. '''Brennero-Brenner is border Austria-Italy'''. It is around 1200 m above sea, it is narrow valley between mountains. There is motorway and rail road. It is highest and coldest point of journey. There is snow usually from November-December to March-April. Mountains around are high – up to 3300-3700 m above sea. And there is already snow in July in some places up in mountains. There is a lot of police checking in Brennero because of migration (on direction from Italy to Austria). Train track goes not so fast downhill to Insbruck (around 38km long by road). And train track goes quite fast downhill to Bolzano with a lot of tunnels. There are EC trains wit few stops and Italian local train (Treno Regionale) with lot of stops, but there s almost ticket checking. There is warmer in '''Bolzano''' than in Isbruck or Brennero, but Alps are there still, mountains and hills continue to Tremto, Rovento. Just around 30 km before '''Verona''' is tunnel for train, it means end of hills and warm low-land with palms. And south from Verona to Sicily – temperature rises, but quite slowly. It is long journey and around 5-10 degrees difference between Verona and Sicily.<br />
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'''Train stations in Austria are quite good.''' You can find on the station all trains (arrivals and departures) with all stops for every train and time for arrive and departure in every stop during trip. It is important. Some small stations for local trains can be without waiting room, But big stations are open during night (just some sitting places are closed), because of night trains. But it can be quite cold in the stations too, not so good heating system can be there.<br />
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There is no ticket control during entering into station or entering into train. But if your appearance is like homeless or backpacker, conductor can ask you for a ticket while entering into night train. There are not so many passengers in night trains.<br />
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'''Conductor usually does not check toilets.''' You can try to hide there and does not lock the door. But do not stay in toilet too long, because another passengers can go there too. Stay there just when conductor is passing around. Or you can just play like you were already checked or you just hide between many passengers, especially close to bigger town. You tan try '''short distance ticket trick''' in regional trains R and REX. You buy ticket for 15-40 km (around 5-8 Eur), you let be checked and you continue much further after. But it is quite expensive in '''EC''' and '''RailJet''' trains with not so many stops. If you are captured, you can be simply kicked out, especially from regional train. There is bigger probability, that conductor write fine for you in EC, RailJet or night train. Or he just kick you out. Some Peter's friends was captured in Austria (Austrian residents too), and they sometimes got fine, which will be never paid, or they has been kicked out. Penalty is around Eur 103, but you don't need to pay, if you are not from Austria, or you can give fake address.<br />
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There are really a '''lot of police checking in trains from Italy to Austria and Germany''''' (especially direction to Germany), and maybe in trains from Wien to Munchen can be police too. They control everything on platforms and many times in train (especially close to Italy-Austria border), because of Immigrants. Police checks toilets, space under seats too. But they are searching for immigrants, they do not check usually European people. And they checks ID, not tickets. But they can check some drug smuggling too.<br />
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First type is '''regional train R'''. This train have a lot of stops, every 3-10 km. Interval to next train is usually 1-2 hours. PeterOB have not tried this train. There can be a lot of people inside close to big city and conductor can go only one time, or not so often. But it is dubious.<br />
The '''REX train''' is similar to R train. But distance between stops is bigger, around 15-30 km and interval to next train can be around 2 hour (include R trains shorter).<br />
You can try short distance ticket trick – you buy ticket only for short distance (around 15-30 km, it cost 6-8 Eur), you will show ticket and you will continue longer than destination in you ticket. Or you can try to hide between passengers close to big town or toilet tactic (you just sit on toilet when conductor goes around and you don't lock the door). You can play that you were already checked after first control too, when conductor goes around.<br />
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If you want to go to Italy, stops for REX train are: ''(Innsbruck Hbf, Matrei am Brenner, Steinach in Tirol, Brennero/Brenner – border with Italy, few stations to Bolzano (3 or 7))''. '''Between Brennero to Bolzano''' is easy to jump – Italian regional train goes there, usually without checking. From Italy to North – there is regional train (treno regionale) from Bolzano to Brenero once a hour. Conductor usually do not check tickets but police is searching for immigrants. There is truck stop with wingette selling for Austria and fuel station in Brenero. Really Lot of trucks are there. But you have to cross motorway with not so many cars. You have to be careful during this action. Or you can take EC train from Verona to Germany, it is one stop from Brennero to Insbruck, and conductor goes there (and police too). Then you take for free city bus to east Insbruck and there is entrance to motorway.<br />
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'''Night trains are good''', because '''they have not so many stops'''. But there are only beds with reservation and it is possible that you can't get inside coupe and you stay at corridor with backpack and conductor will see you. These trains are international, with police, and conductors too, of course. And conductor might ask you for a ticket during boarding. But these trains are quite long and you just get in as in shade as possible.<br />
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If you want to go to Italy, from Insbruck – stops for EC and night trains are ''Munchen or Wien …...... Insbruck HBF, Brennero (border), Brixeno, Bolzano, Tremto, Verona …..… Rome, Bolonga or Milano or Venezia''.<br />
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'''R 409''' (red at idos.cz) is best night-day train from Moscow to France, it is the best, with fewest stops:<br />
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''Moskva Belorusskaja 11:18, Wjasma 14:10-14:36, Smolensk 16:33-16:38, Orscha Central 17:49-18:05, Minsk(BY) 20:22-20:37, Brest Central 0:24-0:50, Terespol 1:08-1:58, Warszawa Wschodnia 3:49, Warszawa Centralna 4:25, Warszawa Zachodnia 4:35 , Katowice 7:13-7:18, Zebrzydowice 8:22-8:23, Bohumín 8:43-9:07, Břeclav 10:50-11:18, Wien Hbf 12:27-12:41, Linz Hbf 14:19-14:26, Bischofshofen 17:37-17:41, Innsbruck Hbf 20:44-21:21, Brennero/Brenner 22:00, Bolzano/Bozen 23:53-23:55, Verona Porta Nuova 1:16, Milano Rogoredo 2:55, Genova Piazza Principe 4:34, San Remo 6:44-6:46, Bordighera 6:58-7:00, Ventimiglia 7:10-7:58 , Menton 8:08-8:10, Monaco-Monte-Carlo 8:19-8:21,Nice Ville 8:34''<br />
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But long journey train R409 does not go every day.<br />
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Next type is '''EC train'''. EC train goes usually once a 1 hour or once a 2 hour. Distance between stops are usually 30-80 km, conductor goes usually every stops. PeterOB tried only two EC trains for one stop only, he was hiding in toilet with unlocked doors when conductor pass around. But you can just play that you were already checked. Ticket for shorter distance than you go is possible, but not so cheap. And some EC trains (from-to Italy) are only with few passengers, these trains are quite empty. There are lot of coops in direction from Italy to Germany and they look everywhere (toilets, under seats), because they check immigrants.<br />
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There are EC trains between '''Munchen (DE)''' and '''Verona (IT)''' once a two hours, in both directions. Some trains continue from-to '''Venecia''' or '''Bolonga'''. Stops are: ''(München Hbf , München Ost, Rosenheim , Kufstein, Wörgl Hbf, Jenbach, Innsbruck Hbf, Brennero/Brenner, Fortezza/Franzensfeste, Bressanone/Brixen, Bolzano/Bozen, Trento, Rovereto, Verona Porta Nuova, Bologna Centrale, or erona Porta Nuova, Vicenza, Padova, Venezia Mestre , Venezia Santa Lucia)''. There are Italian conductors in Italy and probably German conductors in Germany.<br />
Situation between Insbruck and Rosenheim is better, because there goes '''RailJet train''' to Wien once a hour.<br />
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Next and best type of train is blue '''Railjet''', because of fewest stops. The distance between stops is around 40-100 km or even longer. There are usually two conductors and a lot of passengers. You can hide in toilet and play shitting when conductor is passing around, PeterOB already tried it successfully. Or you can try just be between passengers and play that you were already checked.<br />
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Railjet or EC train '''between Munchen (DE) – Wien (- Budapest)''' goes once a two hours, but '''between Salzburg and Wien''' more than once a hour: Journey Munchen-Wien takes only 4 hours and it is 2:40 hours from Wien to Budapest, stops are ''(München Hbf, Salzburg Hbf , Linz Hbf, St.Pölten Hbf, Wien Meidling, Wien Hbf )'' and some Railjet trains from Munchen continues to Hungary with stops ''( Wien Hbf, Hegyeshalom, Mosonmagyarovar, Györ, Tatabanya, Budapest-Kelenföld, Budapest-Keleti pu)''. The Night train '''EN 463 Kalman Imre''' has the same stops ''(München Hbf 23:35 …... Wien Hbf 6:35-6:39 …... Budapest-Keleti pu (9:24)''.<br />
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'''Wien – Budapest:''' The journey is around 2:40 hours, '''RailJet train''' goes every hour, stops are ''(München Hbf, Salzburg Hbf , Linz Hbf, St.Pölten Hbf, Wien Meidling, Wien Hbf )''. Railjet or EC trains usually begins at Munchen Hbf. Some EC trains continues behind Budapest, for example 4 hours more to Nyiregyhaza , stops are: (Budapest-Keleti pu, Szolnok, Törökszentmiklos, Kisujszallas, Karcag, Püspökladany, Hajduszoboszlo, Debrecen, Nyiregyhaza).<br />
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'''(Zürich HB - Switzerland) - Insbruck-Wien:''' It is around 4:15 hod long journey, '''RailJet''' trains goes every hour (from Zürich HB to Insbruck Hbf once a two hours). Some RailJets begin in Switzerland (Zürich HB) and some RailJet trains does not stops between Salzburg and Insbruck. Stops are: ''(Zürich HB , Sargans , Buchs SG, Feldkirch, Bludenz, St. Anton am Arlberg, Landeck-Zams, Imst-Pitztal, Ötztal, Innsbruck Hbf, Wörgl Hbf , Kufstein, Salzburg Hbf, Linz Hbf, St.Pölten Hbf, Wien Meidling, Wien Hbf, Flughafen Wien)''.<br />
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'''Wien – Bratislava SK:''' There are local trains from Slovakian train company, train runs once a 30-60 min from 4am to midnight. It is 66 km and 66 minutes and 7 stops. You can try just hide between passengers or in toilet. Short distance ticket trick can be more difficult. Stops are: ''(Wien Hbf, Wien Simmering, Wien Stadlau , Wien Hausfeldstrass, Siebenbrunn-Leopoldsdorf, Marchegg, Devínska N.Ves, Bratislava hl.st.)''.<br />
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'''From Graz to Wien and Czech Republic:''' There is RailJet train once a 2 hours ''(Graz – Wien - Prague)'', and few EC trains goes from Wien to Czech Republic. It is 90 km and 54 minutes from Wien Hbf to ''first Czech station Breclav''. Most of trains are RailJet and they continue to Brno, Prague. Stops are ''(Graz Hbf , Bruck/Mur, Kapfenberg, Mürzzuschlag, Semmering, Wiener Neustadt Hbf, Wien Meidling, Wien Hbf, Breclav, Brno hl.n., Ceska Trebova, Pardubice hl.n. Praha hl.n.)''. RJ from Wien 19:02 has four more stops in Czech – ''Blansko, Letovice, Svitavy, Kolin''.<br />
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There are EC trains, which goes''' from Wien to Breclav and Ostrava, Bohumin, Poland'''. EC 104 Sobieski 8:10 from Wien continue to Breclav, Hodonin, Ostravava hl.n. 10:59-11:01, Warszawa Centralna 15:04-15:20, Gdansk Glowny 11:11-18:14, Gdynia Glowna 18:36. From Wien 14:10 EC 102 Polonia continue to Warszawa, the same EC 406 Chopin from Wien 22:50 to Warszawa and D 100 Moravia (with beds too) from Wien 18:10 to Bohumin 21:08. But it os much more stops on the journey.<br />
It is ''only one stop from Wien to Breclav (CZ)'', ''8 stops from Breclav to Bohumin'' (last CZ station), ''9 stops from Bohumin to Warszawa Centralna'', ''6 stops from Warszawa Centralna to Gdansk Glowny'' and ''from Gdansk Glowny last 5 stops to Gdynia Glowna (18:36)''. Only train from Wien 8:10 continue behind Warszawa to Baltic sea (Gdansk).<br />
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There are local trains '''from Wien to Breclav''' too, they runs once a two hours, it is ''from Wien Hbf 1:29 hour and 9 stops in Wien, 14 more stops after Wien to Breclav''. This train can be with a lot of passengers close to Wien and conductor can go only 1-2 times. But it is much more better to take EC or RailJet train without stop between Wien and Breclav, than local train R or REX with lot of stops.<br />
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There are trains '''from Linz to CZ (Ceske Budejovice and Prague)'''. It can be only 5 stops from ''Linz'' to ''Summerau'' (last stop in Austria), next stop is ''Horni Dvoriste (CZ)'' and 10 more stops to ''Ceske Budejovice''. But some local trains from ''Linz hbf'' has 14 stops to ''Summerau'' and more 12 stops from ''Horni Dvoriste'' to ''Ceske Budejovice''. Many stops are Request only. '''REX trains''' has from ''Linz'' 5 stops to ''Summerau'' usually and stops in Czech: ''(Rubnik, Kaplice, Velesin mesto, Ceske Budejovice, Tabor, Praha hl.n., Praha Holesovice)'' – not so many stops in Czech Republic. There is usually one local train from Linz to Ceske Budejovice once a 2 hours and REX train from Linz directly to Prague only once 4-6 hours, these trains are best with fewest stops in Czech.<br />
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Last type is '''ICE train'''. ICE trains goes usually in Germany and only few ICE goes to Austria. One ICE goes '''from Wien to Munchen and Hamburg'''. Another ICE goes from Insbruck to Munchen and more further (Berlin, Hamburg). ICE has in Austria the same stops like RailJet or IC trains, but in Germany – ICE are faster (up to 300 kph) and with not so many stops. Distance between stops can be 100-500 km. Conductor check it in Germany very hard and you can get fine or conductor call the police. 'Germany is not recommended for BlackRiding. PeterOB's friend was two times captured in Germany (train and tram) and he was 14 days in prison. But it is probably not so hard now, it was few years back. Usually only one or two ICE a day gets from-to Wien or Insbruck.<br />
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== [[Belgium]] ==<br />
In Belgium you can get fined for not having a ticket, or not using the one that you have correctly. Taking a train from Charleroi to Brussels, a conductor issued a fine of 72 euros for a 12 euro journey, all because the details of the trip (a 10 journey pass) where written in pencil and not in pen. Be careful.<br />
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Regional trains are very bad, sometimes they're checked quite heavily, and, since they have so many stops you are unlikely to make it anywhere. There are non-Thalys TGV trains going to France from Brussels, although it may not be that obvious at first.<br />
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: Much to their own annoyance, '''Belgian railway staff do not have any legal right to ask for your ID''', so under no circumstances show it when they ask for it! [[User:Prino|Prino]] 09:58, 3 May 2011 (CEST)<br />
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== [[Czech Republic]] and [[Slovakia]] ==<br />
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There are many types of train in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This two countries are very similar about free riding in trains.<br />
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The local trains (OS) have many stops, distances between stops are usually 3-10 km. These trains have only few carriages and one conductor. But there are often small amount of people in this type of train. Faster local train is (SP - spesny vlak). This type is similar to local train (OS) but average distance between stops is about 10 mm. Local trains have many stops and relative short journey usually less than 100 km. The interval to next train is usually 1 to 2 hour.<br />
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The R-trains (and some ex trains) have stop usually once a 10-35 km, about 5-8 carriages and usually two conductors or only one conductor. The interval between trains s 1 or 2 hours but in the most frequent area (Prague-Olomouc) is the interval between trains 30-60 min.<br />
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The long-journey trains EC, IC, Ex (often international trains) have about 7-11 wagons, restaurant wagon and first class wagon .This type of train have large number of passengers and two conductors. The distance between stops is 40-70 km (25-50 km for EX trains) and especially in overcrowded trains conductor check tickets and the time interval to next control is long (30-60 min and more). But if you are captured, you will bee challenged to pay penalty or the conductor ask for your ID card. The time to next stop is long and conductor have enough time to write the penalty.<br />
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In Czech is the ticket price equal for all trains belongs CD (Ceske drahy). The speed train EX, EC, IC and R have the same price like OS.<br />
You have to buy seat reservation only in SC/Pendolino - [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] does not recommend it. But some EC/IC trains (Black Leo Express and yellow Regiojet, this trains belongs private company) have another special tickets and this trains are very difficult. In Slovakia R-trains are little bit more expensive than OS-trains and EC,IC trains are more expensive (difference is about Eur 2-4). Regiojet have yellow OS train in Slovakia and this type is OK.<br />
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'''Important:''' Do not use the speed long-journey train SC (Pendolino). It is expensive a you have to buy seat reservation. There are small number of passengers and big probability for get penalty. Be careful on the journey between Prague and Ostrava. The most of trains in Czech and Slovakia belongs to state company and trains that belongs CD are OK. But some IC trains (yellow Regiojet and black Leo Express) belongs private companies. Problems is that you have to seat reservation and the conductor have all reserved seats in computer and conductor do not ask for tickets. But if you are on the seat and the conductor's computer signalize free seat, but you are on the seat - this is problem. This is reason that you can use short-journey ticket trick or similar tricks. And black IC "Leo Express" is worst - you have to show ticket before boarding.<br />
Regiojet have some local trains in Slovakia. In yellow local trains is all OK. You can use the short distance ticket trick (see bellow). Unfortunately many stops and small amount of passengers is reason that travel complete free is very difficult.<br />
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'''Important:''' Conducter is in the train always except some local trains, '''but''' the inspector (reviser) randomly enter in trains, check the tickets (like in public transport), but he check too conductor's work and if the inspector find some person without ticket, he can give a penalty for conductor. The inspector check all - passengers, toilets, conductor's work. Some Person travelled from Prague to Ostrava and had ticked only for short distance (to Pardubice). But the ticket inspector came and gave them penalty for every stop (6 stops without ticket = 6 fines), the passenger showed the short distance ticket which end far away. Fortunately, the inspector in train is quite rare, once a 10 000 km. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] has travelled more than 70 000 km and meet inspector 5 times and paid only one penalty. The inspectors do not wear a uniform, conductors usually wear a uniform (blue suit, pink in region and black in Leo express). You can detect conductor relative easily.<br />
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Generally -there are few trick how to travel in train without ticket. I travel in Czech Republic in trains during years 2009-2014 more than 70 000 km and this contains 50 000 km without ticket. Because his appearance is not average, [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] does not travel without ticket complete, but usually uses short journey ticket trick. He paid penalty CZK 400 (USD 20) only once a time (the inspector came) but he had to leave the train about 10-15 times and had to buy ticket about 15 times (more expensive ticket, difference is CZK 40 CZK about USD 2, in Slovakia about Eur 2). He has met a train inspector 5 times.<br />
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The very successful method in not complete free but very cheap travel. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] used it for more than 70 000 km in last 5 years. For extreme case - he traveled 346 km and paid only CZK 26 / EUR 1. New record for one ticket is 447 km from Prague main station to Zilina (390 km without ticket). [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] have ticket only from Prague-Liben to Kolin - one station behind Prague (57 km / about Eur 2.2), he showed this ticket (before Kolin) and continued behind Kolin (Sleep, read a book, look out of window). In Horni Lidec (Czech-Slovakian border) conductors crew changed but Slovakian conductor went only one time to Zilina and PeterOB walked around the conductor. Important is that the conductor check only new passengers in the next control, usually ask who is new (Pristoupili?) You buy ticket only to short journey, conductor check you and you do not leave train in stop, where your ticket end, and continue the journey. Conductor do not remember terminal stations on passenger's tickets and look for new passengers. You can look out of window, "sleep" or read a book. If the conductor remember your terminal station, you tell that you do not know where is or tell that you asleep. Important is that the conducter must come before terminal station, which is written on the ticket. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] usually looks where the conductor is and the direction of inspection and goes near him. The optional distance is 10-20 km or 3-5 stops in local train OS (SP is similar), 1-2 stops or 20-40 km in R train and 1-2 stops or 50-80 km in speed long-journey train with restaurant (EX, EI, IC). The long-distance trains with restaurants have many carriages and two conductors. Because there are many passengers and you do not know the direction of ticket control, the situation is sometimes difficult. If you travel long journey, especially though big city - you can be surprised with conductors change. New conductor check ticket in all passengers (NOT only new passengers). You must have second ticket from the city where conductors changed to near stop.<br />
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The next tactic is for travel complete without ticket. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] has told that conductor check only new passengers and he ask, who is new (Pristoupili?) and you are new but do not respond. If the train have a lot of passengers, the conductor do not remember who is new (but if your appearance is not usual, there is big chance that conductor ask you for ticket). But many of local trains and sometimes too R-trains have small amount of passengers, especially in the night. In the long-journey trains with restaurant (EX,IC, EC) is this method very successful because there are a lot of carriages and passengers and too long time intervals between ticket inspection. Problem is starting the journey in first stop or conductor change. All passengers have to show ticket during first control (or new conductor). You can try go around conductor during ticket inspection and stay in area, where tickets have been already checked. You can go into this already checked area in a stop (get of board an boarding into optional area).<br />
In local trains near big city is too a lot of passengers and you can there use another trick. The train with name City Elephant have two floors. If the conductor walk though first floor through carriage, you can go though second floor and get behind the conductor in the zone where tickets were checked. You have to look when conductor is coming into your carriage. You can use similar in one floor long local train with many passengers near big city. Look which part of train is occupied with conductor and you can get off and boarding into opposite part of train in the stop. For example conductor is near first carriage and you go near last carriage.<br />
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If you are captured, you can buy the ticket (for short journey of course) in the train. This ticket is often more expensive (difference is CZK 40 or about USD 2, in Slovakia Eur 1.5), but if you remember the stations without ticket selling - the ticket that you buy in train is for the same price like in station. But if you are captured that you have been hidden and try travel without ticket, you will be kicked out of train in the most cases (in OS or R train) or you have to buy the ticket. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] recommends to look for interval to next train or time of last train before traveling (for example web page www.idos.cz - choose trains (Vlaky)). The local trains have often long interval and the last train arrive quite early. The R-trains, EE, EC, IC is usually more often (1 hour) and last train is just during night.<br />
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Sometimes, you can get fine (penalty). The fine is CZK 400 or USD 20 (and CZK 1000 or USD 50 if you pay the fine it later than 14 days after you have been captured). You can get the fine especially in the long-distance train with restaurant. In OS or SP and usually R-train you are often only kicked out of the train.<br />
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[[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] does not recommend hiding in toilet, it is very wrong tactic in Czech Republic and Slovakia. Conductor has to check the toilet (it is rule for a conductor) and conductor have special key to open locked door. If you do not lock the door, the conductor sometimes check toilet too and look into toilet. You can try choose relative invisible position in toilet (and other passengers can open the door and see you). Hidden in the toilet is worst in long-journey trains - conductor usually check toilets there. But it is very bad in all type of train.<br />
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You can try walk around the conductor during ticket inspection and go in the area where tickets have been checked. It is much better than stay in the toilet. It is good especially in long-journey EC,IC,EX trains with many carriages and too in local train near city.<br />
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And one more trick in trains between Bratislava and Kosice, which go through Zilina. This trains have a lot of carriages, and still sometimes crowded. Number of carriages is 10-13 during day with 2-3 conductors and 5-7 carriages during night time with 1-2 conductors. The key is that conductor do not go so often, usually once a 2-5 stations, especially in night trains. You can walk around conductor to area where tickets have been already checked. You can use outside way in some stops or walk around conductor inside train (wait when conductor finish your wagon and return for backpack). Interval to next check is quite long and conductor check new passengers only. You do not answer for new passenger checking (Sleep, look out of window, read a book). But be carefull in station Zilina - this is place for change conductors crew and new conductors checked all passengers. Similar situation is for EC from Prague to Budapest in Slovakian area (From Kuty to Sturovo). Conductor go only one or two times and you can walk around conductor. The similar situation is fror IC and EX trains from Prague to Zilina through Vsetin and Puchov. Conductor go only one or two times and you can change trains in Puchov (train from Bratislava go few minutes after) in Slovakian part. Ticket between last czech and first slovakian stop is quite expensive, and price in train (buy from conductor) can be cheaper than normal. Conductor usually do not go in border Kuty-Breclav but yes in border Horni Lidec - Puchov. If you are captured without ticket, you can be kicked out or conductor ask for paying penalty or your ID in EC train. Because of immigrats and druck, there are usually cops or security in international EC trains and sometimes might check your backpack and pockets (in Czech Area sometimes, especially in trains from Poland). More coops an be in international trains now because of immigrants. Trains between Kosice and Bratislava though Zilina, Trains between Czech Republic and Budapest through Bratislava and trains from Czech to Zilina through Puchov go once a two hours during day time.<br />
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== Jumping in Arctic Circle ==<br />
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There are four train lines, which goes through Arctic Circle, one in Norway, in Norland '''between Trondheim and Bodoe''', one in Sweden-Norway '''from Stockholm, Umea to Kiruna, Narvik''' and two in Finland, first line is '''from Oulu and Kemi to Rovaniemi and Kemjarvi''', second line is '''from Oulu and Kemi to Kolari'''.<br />
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There are at least '''four more train lines in Rusia''', that goes behind Arctic Circle. It is '''Nikel Murmansk line'''railway to Murmansk and close to Norwegiad border, with most north stop 69.408 norh. Second line is '''from Novyj Urengoj to Arctic coast''', already est from Ob river. Last station is small tovn by coast 67.910 north. Another railroad behind Arctic circle is by '''Vorkuta''' city. Most north stop is village 67.603 north and town 67.599 north. Most north railway in the world is close to island Nova Zemia. It is '''Obskaya–Bovanenkovo Line''' that goes from Obskaya (close to Salekhard) north-east to Bovanenkovo region, last stop is '''Most north station is in small town 70.320 north''', last station is Karskaya 70.3168 north. Probably most north railway in America is '''railway in Alaska from Anchrange to Fairbanks'''. But Fairbanks station is only 64.851 north, Arctic circle 66.55 north.<br />
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The train line in Norway is by coast and fjords, it is realized by '''NSB train company'''. There is a lot of snow in winter and days are short, light is just 1-3 hours long in December. There is quite lot of mountains around and sea too. Summer is with a lot of rain and temperature 10-20. Winter temperature is around zero, from -10 to +5 usually, frost -15 or -20 degrees is rare, sometimes, winter can be colder in Spain or in Greece in mountains.<br />
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'''From Oslo, Trondheim to Bodoe''', you always have to change train in Trondheim. Lets search for trains from Trondheim to Bodoe. Blue-Black train here can be pretty difficult. You have only one train during day and one train at night. Daily train R or IC (REG 471 at idos.cz) goes from Trondheim S 7:38 and arrives to Bodoe 17:28, so it takes 9:50, almost 10 hours. It is 26 stops and 11 stops are with request only. There are high probability for changing conductors during journey. But conductor all check tickets probably after Trondheim resp. Bodoe and probably not or just few times more far behind Trondheim or Bodoe, but you can try just pretend sleep, conductor do not remember after long time and he does not care so much, who is new. <br />
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This is most north Norwegian train line by NSB, and it goes through Arctic Circle (66.55 degrees or 66 degrees 33 minutes) Arctic circle is between Mo i Rana and Bodoe (60 km north from Mo i Rana), more exactly between Mo i Rana (66.3905 north) and Loensdal (66.7432 north), northest stations are Valnesfjord (67.2995), '''Tverlandet''' (67.3019), Moerkved (67.2838), Bodoe (67.2864), northest point of track looks to be by fjord coast (67.3305 north, 15.1567 east).<br />
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Stops Trondheim-Bodoe '''REG 471''' are: ''(Trondheim S 7:38 ,Vaernes 8:10-8:11 ,Stjoerdal 8:16-8:17 ,Levanger 9:06-9:07 ,Verdal 9:18-9:19 ,Steinkjer 9:44-9:46 ,Joerstad 10:16-10:17 R ,Snaasa 10:23-10:24 ,Grong 10:50-10:53 ,Harran 11:04-11:05 R ,Lassemoen 11:17-11:18 R ,Namsskogan 11:41-11:42 R ,Majvatn 12:03-12:04 R ,Trofors 12:36-12:37 ,Mosjoeen 13:06-13:09 ,Drevvatn 13:34-13:35 R ,Bjerka 13:55-13:56 ,Mo i Rana 14:17-14:20 ,Loensdal 15:39-15:40 R ,Roekland 16:00-16:01 R ,Rognan 16:14-16:15 ,Fauske 16:37-16:46 ,Valnesfjord 16:53-16:54 R ,Tverlandet 17:10-17:11 R ,Moerkved 17:17-17:18 R ,Bodoe 17:28)'' R means request stop.<br />
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Daily train has a lot of stops and regular checking is probably not so often, there are probably not so many passengers. You can try to hide between passengers or in toilet. You do not need reservation for daily train. <br />
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Night train goes 23:40 from Trondheim S to Bodoe 9:15. Type of train is IC or R-Regional (REG 475 at idos.cz). It is 20 stops and 8 stops are request only. Journey takes 9:35. Train stops only for 1-4 minutes at station. There are beds inside and seat reservation obligatory.<br />
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Stops are '''REG 475''': ''(Trondheim S 23:40 ,Vaernes 0:05-0:06 ,Stjoerdal 0:10-0:11 ,Levanger 0:50-0:51 ,Verdal 1:03-1:04 ,Steinkjer 1:27-1:29 ,Snaasa 2:06-2:07 R ,Grong 2:37-2:40 ,Namsskogan 3:27-3:28 R ,Trofors 4:24-4:25 ,Mosjoeen 4:54-4:58 ,Bjerka 5:42-5:43 R ,Mo i Rana 6:05-6:08 ,Loensdal 7:26-7:27 R ,Roekland 7:47-7:48 R ,Rognan 8:01-8:02 ,Fauske 8:25-8:30 ,Valnesfjord 8:37-8:38 R ,Tverlandet 8:56-8:57 R ,Moerkved 9:03-9:04 R ,Bodoe 9:15)''<br />
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Back from Bodoe to Trondheim – situation is the same. One daily train '''REG 472''' and one night train '''REG 476''' only (IC or R at departure board and REG at www.idos.cz). The daily train goes from Bodoe 12:27 to Trondheim S 22:05. Duration is 9:38. It is 26 stops with 11 request stops. There are probably not so many people in train and there is probability of conductor changing during journey.<br />
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'''REG 472:''' ''(Bodoe 12:27 , Moerkved 12:32-12:33 R, TVERLANDET 12:40-12:41 R, Valnesfjord 12:56-12:57 R, Fauske 13:08-13:11 , Rognan 13:31-13:32 , Roekland 13:39-13:40 R, Loensdal 14:06-14:07 R, Dunderland 14:48-14:56 , Mo i Rana 15:28-15:31 , Bjerka 15:51-15:52 , Drevvatn 16:11-16:12 R, Mosjoeen 16:38-16:41 , Trofors 17:11-17:12 , Majvatn 17:45-17:46 R, Namsskogan 18:07-18:08 R, Lassemoen 18:31-18:32 R, Harran 18:43-18:44 R, Grong 18:58-19:07 , Snaasa 19:33-19:34 , Joerstad 19:37-19:38 R, Steinkjer 20:13-20:16 , Verdal 20:37-20:38 , Levanger 20:53-20:54 , Stjoerdal 21:32-21:33 , Vaernes 21:34-21:35 , Trondheim S 22:05)'' R means request stop.<br />
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Night train from Bodoe to Trondheim – situation is the same. There are beds and seat reservation obligatory, probably not so many passengers. You can try to hide in the dark coupe and pretended sleeping, but chance of success is dubious (or more persons inside one sleeping bag or one blanket can go with one ticket). Night train goes from Bodoe 21:10 to Trondheim S 7:47. It is '''REG 476''' at idos.cz. Duration is 10:30 and it is 20 stops, 8 request stops include. Train wait at stops from 1 to 13 minutes.<br />
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'''REG 476:''' ''(Bodoe 21:10 , Moerkved 21:15-21:16 R, TVERLANDET 21:23-21:24 R, Valnesfjord 21:40-21:41 R, Fauske 21:54-21:58 , Rognan 22:18-22:19 , Roekland 22:26-22:27 R, Loensdal 22:57-22:58 R, Mo i Rana 0:13-0:20 , Bjerka 0:40-0:41 R, Mosjoeen 1:30-1:40 , Trofors 2:09-2:10 , Namsskogan 3:15-3:28 , Grong 4:23-4:26 , Snaasa 4:53-4:54 R, Steinkjer 5:37-5:40 , Verdal 6:02-6:03 , Levanger 6:14-6:15 , Stjoerdal 7:04-7:05 , Vaernes 7:06-7:07 , Trondheim S 7:47)'' R is request stop. <br />
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The second line is in Sweden, '''from Boden to Kiruna, Narvik'''. It goes throught ''Stockhlm, Gavle, Hudiksvall, Sundsvall, Umea, Boden-Lulea, Kiruna, Narvik''. This is most north train line in Shenghen or European Union. There are plenty trains from Stockholm to ''Gavle, Hudiksvall, Sundsvall'', a lot of high-speed trains '''SJ SnabbTaag''' and long journey trains (SJ IC, SJ Nattaget, Arctic circle train). Some SJ SnabbTaag goes more north to Umea and there are SJ IC, SJ Orviga ,SJ Nattaget (night train) and local Norrtaag from Umea to Boden and Lulea. <br />
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It is 6 stops '''between Sundsvall and Umea''' with SJ Snabbtaag or night trains NZ 91, NZ 92 (NZ 91 and NZ 92 goes between Goteborg, Stockholm and Lulea – SJ Nattaget at departure board). Stops are: ''(Sundsvall, Timraa, Härnösand, Kramfors, Örnsköldsvik C, Umeaa Östra, Umeaa Central)''. From Stockholm-Sundsvall to Umea goes one SJ Snabbstaag in morning and 2-3 trains SJ Snabbtaag in afternoon-evening. From Umea goes one SJ Snabbstaag at early morning, one at morning and one at afternoon. NZ 92 goes at early morning 2:58 from Sundsvall and NZ 91 at evening 22:26 from Umea. NZ 91 and NZ 92 can be marked like R 91 and R 91 between Sundsvall and Luleaa at idos.cz and SJ Orviga at departure board.<br />
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There is once a 1-3 hours local train '''Norrtaag''' between Sundsvall and Umea, but it is 11 stops and many stops can be without waiting room. Temperature -30C is possible already there. Stops with Norrtaag are: ''(Umeaa Central, Umeaa Östra, Hörnefors, Nordmaling, Husum(S), Örnsköldsvik Norra, Örnsköldsvik C, Kramfors, Härnösand, Timraa, Sundsvall Västra, Sundsvall Central )''.<br />
There is '''SJ Nattaget night train Arctic circle train''' ('''NZ 94''' to Narvik and '''NZ 93''' to Stockholm only with 4 stops ''(Sundsvall Central, Härnösand station , Kramfors, Örnsköldsvik C, Umeaa Central)''. NZ 94 goes at evening 22:34 from Sundsvall and NZ 93 goes at early morning (1:19) from Umea.<br />
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train '''from Umeaa to Boden''' is more difficult, because there are not so many trains. There are only two night trains quite early morning and one train during day. One is NZ 92 from from Umea 6:30 to Boden and Lulea, which can be marked at idos cz too like blue regional R 92 from Sundsvall, Umeaa to Boden, Lulea. This train has 5 stops ''(Umeaa Central, Vindeln, Bastuträsk, Jörn, Älvsbyn, Boden, Sunderby sjukhus, Luleaa Central)''. And there is of course night train NZ 94 Arctic Circle train with 4 stops only ''(Umeaa Central, Bastuträsk, Jörn, Älvsbyn, Boden)''. There is once a day regional train '''R 7108 Norrtaag''' Umea C 16:11 – Boden C 19:27 with 8 stops from Umeaa to Boden, 3 more stops to Lulea central 20:05. Stops are ''(Umeaa Central, Vannasby, Tvaralund, Vindeln, Hällnäs, Bastuträsk, Jörn, Älvsbyn, Boden, Sunderby sjukhus, Luleaa Notviken, Luleaa Central)'' So there is only one train per day in some stops and many stations can be without waiting room. Death during exam is possible here. In winter can be -30 degrees often here. All stops extra are between Umea and first stop (Vindeln) Bastuträsk, except Hällnäs. Hällnäs is strange too, only one train Norrtaag to direction Boden, Lulea stops here.<br />
From Boden to Umeaa goes at night NZ 93 Arctic Circle train with 4 stops from Boden 21:55 ''(Boden, Älvsbyn, Jörn, Bastuträsk, Umeaa)'' and R 91 (SJ Orviga) from Boden 18:25 with 5 stops ''(Boden, Älvsbyn, Jörn, Bastuträsk, Vindeln, Umeaa)''. R 91(NZ 91 or NZ 3291) continues to Kramfors and Härnösand (Sundsvall, Stockholm, Goteborg). There is only once a day in early morning one local train R 7103 Norrtaag with 7 stops. Two more stops are between Vindeln and Umeaa. All stops: ''(Boden, Älvsbyn, Jörn, Bastuträsk, Vindeln,Tvaralund, Vannasby, Umeaa)''. All extra-stops are close to Umeaa too.<br />
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''Boden is big crossroad of train lines'''. One direction by train and road is to Lulea. It is 1-3 stops and trains goes quite often, in morning and afternoon-evening every 1-2 hours, but no train 11-14 h. There are Long journey '''SJ IC''' trains (IC at idos.cz), night trains '''SJ Nattaget''' (NZ at idos.cz) and trains '''SJ Orviga''' (R at idos.cz) in Boden. From Lulea is road like motorway to Finland, but no train. You can check hitchhicking places at map. First train station with good connection is Kemi and it is one stop and 58 minutes between Kemi and Oulu.<br />
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'''Between Boden and Kiruna'''. SJ IC trains goes between Lulea-Boden-Kirina-Narvik (IC 95 from Kiruna, Narvik and IC 96 to Kiruna, Narvik) with four stops and there are long journey trains between Stockholm and Narvik (NZ 94 Arctic Circle train in early morning to Kiruna, Narvik and NZ 93 Arctic Circle train in afternoon-evening from Narvik, Kiruna to Boden, Stockholm) with the same four stops between Boden and Kiruna.<br />
Stops for SJ IC and SJ Nattaget (IC and NZ at idos.cz) are: ''(Boden, Murjek, Nattavaara, Gällivare, Kiruna)'', journey takes about 3:05-3:40 hours. There are during day 3 regional trains in each direction (one in morning and two in afternoon) '''Norrtaag train company'''. Norrtaag train has usually only 4 same stops too, like with long journey trains, BUT one Norrtaag train per day has 3 extra stops ('''R 7154 Norrtaag''' Lulea 16:30 Boden 17:03 Kiruna 20:07 and '''R 7151 Norrtaag''' Kiruna 6:20 Boden 9:27-9:29 Lulea 9:52) R 7154 and R 7151 has three more stops between Gällivare and Kiruna - '''(Fjällaasen, Kaitum, Sjisjka)'''. How many stations are with waiting room is dubious, but waiting room can be closed at night. And there are three stations, where is easy to stack whole night or day. Especially in these dangerous stations with only one train per day in one direction - Death during exam is possible here, in case, that you fail. Temperature in winter can be there easily -30 and rarely -40.<br />
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'''Between Kiruna and Narvik'''. This is area with mountains and lakes and many small villages and resorts. Narvik has quite mild winter with temperature from -10 to -15, sometimes -15, but rarely -20 and mountains divide warm Atlantic air and cold continental air. There are big temperature differences in small distances or between valley and hill.<br />
''There are two trains per day in one direction between Kiruna and Narvik''. It is 7 or 8 or 11 stops between Kiruna and Narvik. train NZ 94 Arctic circle train (SJ Nattaget) from Stocholm to Narvik ''(Stockholm 17:29, Kiruna 9:36-9:54 , Narvik 12:29, 7 stops)'' and from Narvik to Stockholm ''(NZ 93 Arctic circle train Narvik 15:15, Kiruna 17:58-18:25, Sockholm 9:15, 8 stops)''. Second train is with 11 stops, '''IC 96''' from Lulea-Boden-Kiruna to Narvik ''(IC 96 Kiruna 14:19-14:45 and Narvik 17:45, 11 stops)'' and '''IC 95''' from Narvik to Kiruna-Boden-Lulea ''(IC 95 Narvk 11:00, Kiruna 13:43-14:02)''.<br />
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Many stations should be with waiting room, but some stations have waiting room open nonstop. Some stations has only one train per day in one direction. There are few skiing centers, like Abisko. Oceanic side of mountains is warmer, but there still can be -15 or even -20. Valleys in mountains and area around Kiruna can be very cold, sometimes -30 or even -40 degrees and death during exam is possible here.<br />
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'''Riksgränsen station''' (68.4266 north) is station by SE-NO border (in Sweden, 1 km from border). Bjoernfjell is first station in Norway, about 1.5 km from border.<br />
This train line is most north at all in Europe, except Russia. Another three train lines goes about 67 degrees only. But train line between Kiruna and Narvik crosses 68 degrees north.<br />
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'''Searching for most north position by GoogleMaps:'''<br />
One of most north point E10 (68.443 north, 18.609 east) and railway (68.43405 north,18.5986 east) is close to big lakes, north-west from tornehamn and Björklidens Golfklubb in Sweden (there is hotel and maybe some good dumpsters too). The second northest possibility is E10 (68.4343, 18.2513) and railway (68.4305, 18.2482) is close to Vassijaure station (68.4290, 18.2603). In Norway is far north station Haugfjell (68.4405, 18.0180) and nordest rail point close to this station (68.4441,18.0481) and Narvik (68.4416, 17.4414). And by fjourd and Atlantic coast, most north place of train line was found. Most north railway (68.4516,17.483) resp. (68.4502,17.5420) and northern E10 is on another place before coast (68.5163,17.8727). NO-SE border on the track is (68.4300, 18.1057) and by E10 (68.4352, 18.1068).<br />
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Position of Stations Kiruna-Narvik by openstreetmaps.org:<br />
Kiruna station (67.8677, 20.2000), Abisko Östra Station (68.3490, 18.8288), Abisko Turiststation (68.3574, 18.7825), Björkliden station (68.4065, 18.6858), Laaktatjaakka station (68.4237, 18.3242), Vassijaure station (68.4296, 18.2577), Katterjaakk station (68.4198, 18.1613), Riksgränsen station (68.4266, 18.1207), Bjoernfjell ( 68.4318, 18.0739), Katterat (68.3975, 17.9658), Rombakk (68.4038, 17.7914), Straumsnes unused station (68.4340, 17.6566), Narvik (68.4417, 17.4414). Nordest point of train line close to Narvik (68.4517, 17.4986) and (68.4517, 17.4808), and second nordesr point is between Katterat and Rombakk - (68.4441, 18.0484), SE-NO border rail is (68.4301, 18.1057).<br />
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'''NZ 94 Arctic Circle Train'''<br />
''(Stockholm Central 17:29 BO, Arlanda Central 17:50 17:53 BO, Uppsala Central 18:14 18:21 BO, Gävle Central 19:23 19:26, Söderhamn station 20:23, Hudiksvall station 21:16 21:21, Sundsvall Central 22:19 22:34, Härnösand station 23:23, Kramfors 23:52, Örnsköldsvik C 0:44, Umeaa Central 1:40 1:50, Bastuträsk station 3:23, Jörn station 3:46, Älvsbyn station 4:45 4:46, Boden Centralstation 5:24 5:51, Murjek station 7:23, Nattavaara station 7:50, Gällivare station 8:24, KIRUNA STATION 9:36 9:54, Abisko Östra Station 10:57, Abisko Turiststation 11:02, Björkliden station 11:12, Katterjaakk station 11:36, Riksgränsen station 11:41, Katterat 11:59 12:00, Narvik 12:29 GO)''<br />
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'''NZ 93 Arctic Circle Train'''<br />
''(Narvik 15:15 BO, Katterat 15:42 15:43, Bjoernfjell 15:59 16:00, Riksgränsen station 16:04, Katterjaakk station 16:10, Björkliden station 16:31, Abisko Turiststation 16:41, Abisko Östra Station 16:47, KIRUNA STATION 17:58 18:25, Gällivare station 19:34, Nattavaara station 20:08, Murjek station 20:41 20:42, Boden Centralstation 21:38 21:55, Älvsbyn station 22:24, Jörn station 23:25, Bastuträsk station 23:48, Umeaa Central 1:15 1:19, Örnsköldsvik C 2:17, Kramfors 3:03, Härnösand station 3:31, Sundsvall Central 4:24 4:35, Hudiksvall station 5:39, Söderhamn station 6:18 6:29, Gävle Central 7:25 7:27, Uppsala Central 8:26 8:33 GO, Arlanda Central 8:51 8:54 GO, Stockholm Central 9:15 GO)''<br />
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'''IC 96'''<br />
''(Luleaa Central 10:00 BO, Sunderby sjukhus station 10:11 BO, Boden Centralstation 10:26 10:35, Murjek station 11:50, Nattavaara station 12:14, Gällivare station 12:46, KIRUNA STATION 14:19 14:45, Abisko Östra Station 15:54, Abisko Turiststation 15:59, Björkliden station 16:08, Laaktatjaakka station 16:31, Vassijaure station 16:36 16:41, Katterjaakk station 16:47, Riksgränsen station 16:52, Bjoernfjell 16:57 16:58, Katterat 17:13 17:14, Rombakk 17:25 17:26, Narvik 17:45 GO)''<br />
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'''IC 95'''<br />
''(Narvik 11:00 BO, Rombakk 11:19, Katterat 11:30, Bjoernfjell 11:44 11:45, Riksgränsen station 11:49, Katterjaakk station 11:55, Vassijaure station 12:02, Laaktatjaakka station 12:06, Björkliden station 12:20, Abisko Turiststation 12:29, Abisko Östra Station 12:35, KIRUNA STATION 13:43 14:02, Gällivare station 15:20, Nattavaara station 16:02, Murjek station 16:30, Boden Centralstation 17:42, Sunderby sjukhus station 18:12 18:13 GO, Luleaa Central 18:22 GO)''<br />
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'''Third journey through Arctic circle is in Finland'''. It goes '''from Oulu to Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi'''. There are three daily IC trains and two night IC trains. Daily ICs are one from-to Helsinki, one from-to Kuopio and one just from-to Oulu. Night trains are from-to Helsinki. Rovaniemi is last big city with quite good train connection. Rovaniemi station is still not behind Arctic Circle, it is 66.4980 north, Arctic circle is 66.55 north, it goes through most north houses in Rovaniemi. train line continues east-east-north with two stops '''Misi''' and '''Kemijärvi'''. These stops are behind Arctic circle already. But only one train per day goes in one direction from-to Misi (66.6179 north) and Kemijärvi (66.7243 north),. It is night train between Helsinki and Kemijärvi. train line continues from Kemijärvi to east-east-north to Murmansk in Russia, without trains. Some HOBO (Freight train) can go there with wood. But Russia is with hard passports and visa checking and it is really violent country. Trains that goes from-to Kemijärvi, has only one stop between Oulu and Rovaniemi, it is Kemi (Crossroad). All other trains stops: (Oulu (Uleaborg), Kemi, Tervola, Muurola, Rovaniemi).<br />
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'''IC 265''' Night train From Helsinki (Oulu (Uleaborg) 4:50 4:57, Kemi 6:03 6:07, Rovaniemi 7:28 7:40, Misi 8:16 8:17, Kemijärvi 8:45) <br />
'''IC 273''' Night train from Helsinki (Oulu (Uleaborg) 7:19 7:43, Kemi 8:47 8:51, Tervola 9:32 9:33, Muurola 10:19 10:20, Rovaniemi 10:40) <br />
'''IC 711''' from Kuopio (Oulu (Uleaborg) 12:24 12:27, Rovaniemi 17:17) <br />
'''IC 415''' from Oulu (Oulu (Uleaborg) 18:30, Rovaniemi 20:44) <br />
'''IC 27''' from Helsinki (Oulu (Uleaborg) 20:52 20:56, Rovaniemi 23:34) <br />
'''IC 22''' to Helsinki (Rovaniemi 5:55, Oulu (Uleaborg) 8:15 8:33) <br />
'''IC 414''' to Oulu (Rovaniemi 9:27, Oulu (Uleaborg) 11:50) <br />
'''IC 416''' to Oulu (Rovaniemi 12:09, Oulu (Uleaborg) 14:23) <br />
'''IC 710''' to Kuopio (Rovaniemi 15:18, Oulu (Uleaborg) 17:37 17:42) <br />
'''IC 266''' Night train to Helsinki (Rovaniemi 18:03, , Oulu (Uleaborg) 20:55 21:23) <br />
'''IC 274''' Night train to Helsinki (Kemijärvi 19:45, Misi 20:11 20:12, Rovaniemi 20:50 21:15, Kemi 22:30 22:33, Oulu (Uleaborg) 23:36 23:42) <br />
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Position of stations by openstreetmaps.org: Oulu (65.0114, 25.4842), Kemi (65.7368, 24.5745), Tervola (66.0816, 24.7721), Muurola (66.3707, 25.3753), Rovaniemi (66.4980, 25.7053), Misi (66.6179, 26.6865), Kemijärvi (66.7243, 27.4035).<br />
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The last journey is '''from Oulu, Kemi to Kolari'''. Kolari is most north Finish station. Kemi is crossroad for roads and trains to direction Kolari, Rovaniemi and Oulu. It is only one stop between Oulu and Kemi and 3 or 1 stops between Kemi and Rovaniemi. There is road-highway between Oulu (FI) – Kemi (FI) and Luleaa (SE), Boden (SE) around Baltic Sea. First Swedish train station is Luleaa. There is no train line through SE-FI border, only buses and cars goes there.<br />
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By idos.cz - From Kolari to south (to Helsinki) goes only few trains, like Ex 270 and Ex 272. Ex 270 goes only 29-30th April and 17th June and Ex 272 goes only 1st May and 15th, 18th June. Both are night trains with beds and wagon for cars.<br />
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Trains between Oulu and Kolari seems to be extreme rare. There are only few days at spring with express night train between Helsinki and Kolari. There can be some HOBO (freight train) with wood, but it is possible only in Summer, of course. Stops are: ''(Oulu, Kemi, Tornio Itäinen, Ylitornio, Pello, Kolari)''. Tornio Itäinen is station by Baltic coast and SE-FI border. But there are almost no trains, so closest good station is Kemi. train line between and Kolari is by Sweden-Finland border and river.<br />
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Position of stations by openstreetmaps.org: Oulu (65.0114, 25.4842), Kemi (65.7368, 24.5745), Tornio Itäinen (65.8508, 24.18293), Ylitornio ( 66.3244, 23.6825), Pello (66.7843, 23.9928), Kolari (67.3488, 23.8360). Arctic circle (66.55) is between Ylitornio and Pello.<br />
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North Finland – Lapland is mostly lowland (like almost whole Finland) with plenty of lakes. But west part of Lapland is with mountains. Finland is most east Scandinavian country too, and mountains blocked warm air from Atlantic, but cold an in Russia is not so far. That's why in north-Finland (Lapland) is sometimes extreme cold. If Siberian high spread, then is in Finland clear and super cold. There can e like winter extreme around -35 or -40 in few days, -30 is quite often behind Arctic circle. It can be bellow -40 rarely. Ussual winter temperature in north Finland is 0C to -25C .<br />
Day length is in winter just 2-5 hours close to Arctic Circle (icluding twillight, Sun is still bellow horizon), but there is never-ended light in June. Summer is with plenty of mosquitoes. Many stations in Finland have not waiting room, only big stations have waiting room (and waiting room is closed at night).<br />
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Then '''Death during exam is possible in case, that you fail and waiting room is not in your stop (or waiting room is closed at night)'''. You can tell that you have no place to sleep and if you are polite, conductor can let you travel, or he can give you fine, which you don't need to pay (Sweden SEK 1200, Finland Eur 80, Norway NOK 1150). Or conductor can call police, if you refuse to leave train, and police will let you be at their station during night.<br />
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'''There is really short, but northernmost Scandinavian railway in Norway, by Kirkenes''' too, it is only from Bjornevatn mine (69.6565,30.0075) to harbour-coast, 8.484 long. By harbour is most north point of this railway, (69.7258,30.0299) Kirkenes statio (69.7220, 30.0326), Bjornevatn station in the mine (69.6683. 29.9979).<br />
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'''Other train lines behind Arctic Circle''' are not in Scandinavian countries, but in Russia. One of northernmost train lines is close to Finland. You need visa to Russia and it can be hard to get visa. Trains in Russia are relative cheap, iit can be difficult to take it for free. However, the ticket for smaller distance, than you travel can work until conductor change. Trains with reservation obligatory are dubious.<br />
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'''Far north train line is from St. Pettersburg to Murmansk'''. Murmansk is harbour for cargo at the fjord from Barent sea and lot of freight trains go to Murmask too, cargo from ships to trains is taken there. Position of '''Murmansk station''' is (68.972,33.068). Harbour for ships is next to train station. Railway continues more north by Fjord, there are two stops behind Murmansk. Names are in Asbuka, but coordinates are: first stop is north of Murmansk (69.020,33.097) and second stop is north-east from Murmansk, at the end of main railway (69.056,33.377). Railway splits by this place to three branches to town and to military area. Most north point before last stop by some town is (69.064,33.353), by road (47K-079). Most north point after last stop is by the town and fjord, at the end of north branch of railway (69.079,33.402).<br />
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However, '''the most north station and railway in this region is not by Murmansk''', but railway close to Norwegian border '''Nikel Murmansk line'''. About 10 km before Murmansk, in station '''1437 KM''' railway splits to Murmansk and to north-west. Railway continues first south-west to first station (68.8200,32.8179). Next stop is small village (68.969,32.454). At (68.989,32.419) railway split to north to military area and to north-west. Next stops are small villages (69.078,32.123), (69.189,31.694), (69.268,31.245). Next stop is by some mine, and town (69.400,31.106). In this station railway splits to west - to mine, military area, and more far to west with two stops (69.408,30.795) and (69.420,30.257). Main route continues to north-north-west.<br />
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Main branch of '''Murmansk Nikel Line''' continues to north, to last and '''northernmost stop (69.5095,31.1630)'''. Railway continues from last stop about 7-10km little bit more north by road P21 and it ends close to swamp, military area and hospital. The railway (with no stops anymore) ends at (69.5695,31.2294), next to road 47K-081. It is not so far from Norwegian border, about 10 km directly. Road P21 continues to border and to Norway, it continue like E105 in Norway, E105 meets with E6 close to Kirkenes. E6 is main Norwegian road from Kirkenes to Oslo and Malmo (SE). There is plan tho connect this railway in Russia with 8.5 log railway from mine to Kirkenes. It means to build 25 km of new railway and it can cost about EUR 1 billion.<br />
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'''Russia is not so free country and traveling by train for free can me more dangerous than in Europe, like everything'''. You can get into trouble much more easily than in Scandinavia. However many people in Russia try to taking train for free, including train hoping. Railway to Murmansk and close to Norway is more far from sea with more continental climate, and temperature in winter here is ussually -10 to -25, sometimes bellow -30, seldomly -40 or even -45 degrees. And some stations are without waiting room. Probability of being kicked out is bigger than in European countries and it is more dangerous than in Scandinavia, like everything in Russia.<br />
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There is another railway in Russia, which goes behind Arctic circle. It is south from Nova Zemia island, on the way '''Konosa - Kotlas - Vorkuta - Salechard''' There is some circle from main railroad by Vorkuta, and there is most north place. Two most north stations are some villages (67.603,63.911) and (67.597,64.107) Vorkuta station is by OSM (67.470,64.027). Most north point of railway is (67.609,64.076) by some cargo place and depo with most north point of depo (67.612,64.083). The crossroad with nord ring and main railway Konosa-Kotlas-Sachelad is (67.112,63.302), already behind Arctic circle.<br />
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'''Northernmost railway in the world''' is '''Obskaya–Bovanenkovo Line, from Obskaya to Yamal peninsula, to Bovanenkovo and Karskaya, behind 70 degrees north''' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obskaya%E2%80%93Bovanenkovo_Line It is connected to main railway ''Konosa - Kotlas - Vorkuta - Salechard'' in ''Obskaya''. The end of railway (70.3211,68.3715) is south from town '''Bovanenkovo''', northernmost point is between third last and second last stop (70.3265,68.8329). Last three stops are: Small village (70.2942,68.938), some stop by small road (70.320,68.754), and Karskaya station (70.3168, 68.3909)- south from Bovanenkovo town and close to airport. This railway was built first Obskaya–Bovanenkovo area (to mine) 525 km long, it was extended to Karskaya after, railway is 572 km long. There is plan for extend it to Kharasavey, it will be 678 km long railway. Railway contains 3.8929 km long Yuribey Bridge - longest bridge behind Arctic circle (68.919,69.840 by Wiki). Most north point of railway is by Wiki (70.3750 68.6700) - quite different from OSM.<br />
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'''Yamal peninsula''' is even much colder in Winter, than Lappland. Many stations are just small villages without any house and trains don't go so often here, it can be less often than from-to Kolari or Kemjarvi. Winter temperature is here usually from -20 to -35 and -40 is still quite common. Sometimes can be here -45 or even -50.<br />
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There is another railway, that goes behind Arctic circle - '''north from Novyj Urengoj'''. Main railway is in west siberia, '''Tjumen - Surgut - Novyj Urengoj - Nadym'''. This main railway has most north point in '''Novyj Urengoj city''' (66.097,76.752). Station Novyj Urengoj (66.090,76.691) is with quite big depo, there is crossroad to north,west-south. However it is not behind Arctic circle, Arctic circle is 66.55. From Novyj Urengoj goes railway north, towards fjord of Arctic Ocean. Most north point of railway is close to end (67.9124,74.9148), end is (67.9051,74.8245), most north point of branch in depo at the end is (67.9136,74.8986) resp. (67.9136,74.8643).<br />
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The last station is in town by Arctic coast, it is located (67.9103,74.901). Second last station is just behind this town (67.9015,75.058), third last station is small place (67.797,75.326). 4th last station is small village quite far, but with bigger platform (66.898,75.982), 5th last station is just some depo-platform by Novyj Urengoj (66.154,76.700). It is only 5 stations from Novyj Urengoj to end. Stations are small. Here is already west-central Siberia and here is temperature in winter usually -20 to -40, but sometimes during cold vawe bellow -50 can be in this region. It is much colder than Scandinavia.<br />
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Second most north railway in Russia is '''Norilsk railway''' in central Siberia, south Taymyr region en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norilsk_railway. It begins in Dudinka town by huge Yensey river. Begin of Railway is (69.4155,86.158) - Morskyy port - harbour by river. First station is Dudinka (69.408,86.249) and it continuse from Dudinka Station to Norilsk Station 88 km. Norilsk station is located (69.3569,88.1364). From Norilsk station railway continues to north, to Talnakh station (69.4832, 88.3989, 27 km from Norilsk) and last 11 km to Taymyr mine. But there is no more stop after Talnahk, just most north point of main rail (69.510,88.363) and most north point of railway to mine (69.5424,88.3070) resp. (69.5382,88.4677). Railway is just isolated around Norilsk area (it is not connected to other railways), it have more branches and total length is 253 km by Wiki.<br />
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'''Norilsk area and Taymir is located in north-central Siberia.''' It means that there is quite short Summer, with only around 5-20 degrees. It is huge lowland with big rivers (Yenisey and Ob more west) with lakes and swamps everywhere around. There are plenty of mosquitoes everywhere in Summer, much worse than in Lapland. It is here central Siberia and winter here is totally different than in Scandinavia. It is not so much windy, but ussual winter temperature is here from -20 to -45 and sometimes, during cold vawe can be bellow -50. '''Taymyr''' is northernmost region, with most north point in Asia and Eurasia - '''Nordkapp of Russia and Eurasia''' is much more north than northernmost point of Alaska or Scandinavia. It is edge of Taymyr (77.7233,104.2540). Only small villages and small roads are in Taymyr peninsula, probably not in northernmost parts. It is not toursit place, like nordkapp in Norway.<br />
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'''Most north rail road in North America''' is in Alaska - The Alaska Railroad Between '''Anchorange''' (south coast) to '''Fairbanks''' (middle of Alaska). However this rail road never goes behind Arctic circle. Most north point of railway is (64.9261,-148.0758) and most north station is Fairbanks at the end (64.8511,-147.7403). But it is not heated by Gulf stream, like Scandinavia. Temperature around Fairbanks is usually -15 to -35, but sometimes bellow -40. Railway to Fairbaks is northernmost railway in America. Northernmost railway in Canada is to Churchill, by big lake and Hay river freight station (60.8434,-115.7607), railway ends (60.8577,-115.7343) But it is not rail for people, only for freight trains (It means that HOBO is possible). Churchill Railway station is (58.7678,-94.1743), railway ends (58.7815,-94.1970).<br />
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'''The Railway with coldest Winter''' is not so north, it is quite far south from Arctic Circle (66.55). Railway with Coldest winters is in East Siberia, around Baikal, Mongolia, and towards Vladivostok. It is part of '''Trans-Siberian Railway Moscow-Vladivostok'''. Trans-baikal railway until '''Yurty station''' (56.041,97.636) and East Siberian Railway after. Railway goes '''Krasnojarsk-Bratsk-Uts-Kurt-Nizneangarsk (by North of Baikal lake)-Tynda-Urgal''' (BAM from Yurty station). There is some short branch before Krasnojarsk to '''Lesosibirsk''' (8.2290,92.4709) and before Ust-Kurt shor branch to '''Ust-Limsk''' (58.369,97.090). This Area around Yurty is very cold. Winter tempereature here is usually -30 to -45 and sometimes bellow -50, especially in Yurty. Yurty is small town with about 6000 inhabitants. Most north point of main Trans-Siberian Railway is more east (57.0885,118.938), before station Tynda (55.1393,124.7391). From '''Tynda''' to Urgal railway goes already more close to Pacific ocean and winter are not so cold. Tynda is more east and north, it but not so high. There is usually during winter from -25 to -45, sometomes bellow -50. The coldest region in Siberia is around Verchojansk-Ojmjakon, from Tynda north-east few hundersts of kilometers. There is January temperature usually around -35 to -55. From Tynda goes railway north quite far to '''Tommot''' ( 58.9675, 126.2267) and '''Nizhny Bestyakh'''. Railway station (61.8675,129.9574) is south from town Nizhny Bestyakh (61.96,129.92). Most north point of line in depo is (61.8825,129.981). This station Nizhny Bestyakh is most north railway in East Siberia probably and it should be coldest railway station in the world. Temperature here is in winter from -30 to -50, sometimes even bellow -55. Yurty is one of coldest place too. However coldest average during winter is in Ojmjakon north-east from Nizhny Bestyakh. (There is in winter usually from -35 to -55, sometimes -60). But there is no railway station in Ojmjakon (63.462,142.786) or anywhere around. There is more south railway ''Yurty-Irkustk (South of Baikal lake)-Ulan-Ude (Line to Ulanbaatar in MOngolia and Being in China)-Cita (line to Being, China)-Never-Tynda''. This railway is more south, but more in mountains. Coldest railway in the world should be line to '''Nizhny Bestyakh''' and around '''Yurty''' too. It is far south from Arctic Cirle (66.55), but East Siberia is very cold.<br />
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== [[Denmark]] ==<br />
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Denmark is very flat country with a lot of sea around. There are very good hitchbility and trains going in Denmark too co course. But there is a lot of rain in Denmark, not so ideal for sleeping outside and hitchhiking. So if you want to jump, it is possible. There are no information about stops during journey or map with trains in railway station, so it is quite difficult to find good journey and orientation for non-local people is difficult. Only information about departure and final destination and type of trains are aviable.<br />
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Regional trains have distance between stops about 5-15 km and interval to next train is about one hour. These trains have few carriages and number of passengers is medium or not so much. IC trains have distance between stops about 15-40 km (EC trains have longer distances between stops). IC trains go usually once per hour and there are about 3-8 wagons and a lot of passengers.<br />
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Conductor (blue jumpr) go after every station and he checks only new passengers quite quickly. There are about two wagons per conductor and ticket inspection is quite fast after station. He usually do not think so much about who is new passenger. So if your appearance is not so unusual, you only stay or sit somewhere and be reading a book or be looking out of window and do not do anything during control. But it do not work after first stop – at the begin of journey, of course.<br />
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You can very easily use short distance ticket trick (favourite jump style in central Europe). You just buy ticket only for one or two station and you show it to conductor, but do not get of at the end of ticket and you continue journey. Standard ticket price is about 1 danish crown per 1 km, it is Eur 3 per 30 km or 6-8 Eur per 100 km, so it is quite expensive for poor people, but not for local residents.<br />
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Conductor usually do not check toilets. So when you see that conductor is coming, you go to toilet, lock or do not lock the door and play shitting, hold toilet paper etc. You just go out of toilet after control. But in EC and IC trains are a lot of passengers and passengers go to toilet quite often and you can not hide there because somebody already use it. So it is standard situation – you want to hide during ticket inspection and toilets are with somebody. You can try to walk around conductor or just sit or stay and be looking out of window. Because of conductor have only two carriages usually and check new passengers every stops, walking around conductor to area, where tickets have been already checked do not work correctly.<br />
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If black jumprs (travelers without ticket) have not so good train skills and they are captured, they usually have not been kicked out of train without penalty. Conductor ask them for ID (Passport, Driving licence or identity card). If you refuse to give ID, conductor probably want to call cops. You can try to get more and more time to next stop and you go out of train in next stop, but if you are in EC or IC train, conductor have enough time for writing penalty or calling cops. The fine is Danish Crown 750 (about Eur 100) and it is written in all stops and railways. If you are not Danish, just show identity card. Conductor probably takes only your name and surname and your country, probably not your address or birth date. This is not exact identification of course.<br />
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If you loose on the train - the penalty is your ticket and you can continue with penalty until final station (penalty price do not depend to distance, just tell to conductor your final destination). But you can not use the penalty or classic ticket to next train (You have to change trains sometimes during journey and penalty is not transfer ticket. Ticket are sold by automatic machines, these machines work with coins and credit cards. But you usually can buy ticket only for one train, strange). Good journey is for example from Flensburg (German-Danish border) to Alborg (North Denmark). Through Frederica and Arhaus. There are about 5-7 stops between Frederica and Arhaus and only 3 stops from Arhaus to Alborg for IC trains. But it means too, that conductor have enough time for writing penalty. If you get penalty, you can take with this penalty whole journey for example from Flensburg to Alborg. It is you ticket.<br />
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[[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] travelled in Denmark in August 2015 and he use train too, because it was windy and rain whole day – not so good weather for hitchhiking. PeterOB was train from Kolding to Alborg in North trough Frederica. He was hiding in toilet (he did not lock door, sit and hold toilet paper) or he just stay and look out of window. He do not met conductor in train from Kolding to Frederica. 7 stops from Frederica to Arhaus was more difficult. PeterOB combined toilet tactic and just looking out of window. But only two carriages go from Arhaus to Alborg and PeterOB have to change place in train. New conductor start checking tickets, PeterOB want to go to toilet but there was already somebody. So PeterOB walked around conductor and when conductor went back, he asked for a ticket and wrote penalty for PeterOB. There is a lot of time from Arhaus to first station Randers. So this jump action was not succesfull and PeterOB went with penalty to final destination. But he will never pay the penalty DKK 750 (About Eur 100).<br />
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As you know, Denmark is very rich country and supermarkets waste a lot of food. Trash bins are easily accessible and there are a lot of fruits, vegetables, bread, some sweets and milk product. You can easily eat a lot of food from trash-bins everywhere in Denmark. So if you have not enough jump skills and you are kicked out of train, just find some meal in trash.<br />
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== [[Finland]] ==<br />
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Finland is country in or close to Scandinavia, on the another side of Baltic Sea. People in Finland are one of most peaceful and kind in Europe and it is really hippie area. It is easy to live without money there. <br />
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Dumpsters close to supermarkets are quite accessible, at especially in Helsinki region. Hitchhiking can be good or bad. But the climate a nature is not so friendly, especially in the north. Summer is relative warm, but with lot of rain and attacking swarms of mosquitoes in the north (it is not so bad in the south). Winter is with pretty short days and super-cold arctic waves (war air from Atlantic is blocked by Scandinavian mountains but continental Arctic air from Russia can flow to Finland easily). Temperature can easily drop bellow -20 or -25 in south, -30 or -35 in the middle and in Lapland can be -30 to -40 or even bellow -40 rarely.<br />
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'''HERE ARE TRAIN SCHEDULES FOR LONG_JOURNEY TRAINS IN FINLAND''' Train schedules changes by time by minutes or even hours, but number of train, stops during journey, type of train and gear, and how often trains goes to target per day - it stay. For example IC 27 starts in afternoon in Helsinki (after 3pm) and it is in Rovanimemi at night (before midnight). But exact time of departures can be changed during updating.<br />
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At first – '''How to get to Finland'''. There are three ways, how to get there. Unfortunately, most of Finland border are with Russia and with Baltic sea. The traveling through Russia is not free or easily possible. You need visa. Visa to Russia cost around Eur 50-100 and it can be difficult with office. So there is no way (hitchhiking, bus, train) through Tallin-Saint Petersburg – Helsinki. There is ferry between Tallinn and Helsinki, it is not so long journey and the price begins from Eur 12 for walkers and they write down ID. You can try to sneek on ferry between people (a lot of people are there in Friday and Sunday) or you can be hidden in someone's car. Getting from Poland to Tallin is relative long journey, but a lot of truck goes there. No train is on this way and hitchhiking between Poland and Estonia is sometimes good, but sometimes bad. Hitchhiking in Poland is easy and there are not so many trains in Poland.<br />
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'''Second journey is from Stockholm to Finland by ferry.''' There are two ferry companies – '''Silja Line''' and '''Viking Line'''. Journey from Stockholm to Turku takes 11 hours and there is plenty small islands around. The daily ferry (Silja line) stops in Aaland isnand. The night line from Stockholm to Turku goes at 7pm and arrives at 7am (Finland has 1 hour more than Sweden). But the night line cost around Eur 60-75. The ferry to Helsinki leaves around 4pm, but it cost around Eur 80 and sneeking is difficult. Day line (Silja Line) leaves Stockholm at 7am and arrives to Turku at 7pm. Day line cost around Eur 10-17, usually Eur 15. Viking Line leaves at 7:45am from another place than Silja Line. Morning ferry (Viking line) cost Eur 10-20 through E-Shop, but Eur 25, if you buy it on the spot. You can try to buy ticket only to '''Aaland - Mariehamn''' island, and you can continue to Turku or even to Helsinki. Nobody checkinkg tickets on the ship or during getting of in Turku-Stockholm, they check it only during boarding. Sneeking on ferry is quite difficult by Silja Line. There are many security guys by the entrance gate and going by exit on the ship is almost impossible. It can be possible in moment, when passengers are getting out. Sneeking on Viking line is possible. There are many passengers boarding and you can try to sneek behind somebody. There are almost no security guys around. You can just play to pass the card to reader- your card is not working. In Viking line ferry - they are taking photos of boarding passengers more far behind gate. You can try to go one more floor upstairs, but there is too some photograph. But it is more easy to tell him that you don't want be on picture. It is possible to be hidden in someone's car. There are traveling some Hippie people with car too. Inside ship – you can put luggages into locked cage at begin of journey. There is Cafe In 6th floor in Silja line. Some guests leaves leftovers, but not so many. Only something during afternoon and nothing at Morning. There is buffet one floor more for breakfast and lunch. You can try to sneek there, when the workers does not watch. At Viking line - finding leftovers is almost impossible. There is Aurora buffet. They check everybody, who enter buffet, during morning. But they almost do not check entering passengers after lunch. You can just come into Aurora buffet and eat-dring. There is place for selling tickets to buffet (Eur 39), but they do not stop entering people in afternoon (after lunch).<br />
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If you go by '''ferry at morning''', there is no good place, where to be until Morning in Stockholm. Ferry leaves around 7am resp 7:45am, so it is not possible to sleep out of the Stockholm, because you have not enough time to arrive to terminal. Ferry terminal close around 8pm and you can wait in Stockholm central train station, but it close around 0:30, bus terminal closes around midnight. There is McDonald shitty restaurant, sometimes they do not like waiting people during night and they sometimes kicks them out. Anyway, McDonald shitty restaurant closes at 5am (they had closing time at 2am at spring 2017, and you had to stay outside until 3:15 am, when bus terminal open). 3:15am - bus terminal opens again (it is close to central station, upstairs). Then subway in Stockholm (you need to sneek through gates behind somebody and security guys are around, but it is still easy to sneek) is open from 5am and close around 1 am. Terminal for ferry opens at 5am too - Silja Line. There is park with bench and noisy road close to ferry terminal and you can sleep there. But there are drunken and strange people during night – you can hide more between bushes.<br />
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'''When the ferry comes to Turku (Abo) Hamm at evening''', there are waiting two IC trains close to Ferry. One to Tampere and One to Helsinki. Second floor is pretty empty and you can hide there in toilet (PeterOB was sitting like during shitting without locked door almost all time). Conductors check tickets sometimes just one time after Turku (evening train is wuite empty, but somethimes, they checks after every station until Kirkonumi). First stop is just behind Tampere, they check usually after this stop. Trains after evening ferry arriving are last, if you will be kicked out, next train goes tomorrow. But if you already get to Kirkkonumi, there is commuter train to Helsinki without regular checking. Karjaa-Karis and Salo are stations without waiting room. If you go towards Tampere, Toitala station is already on main route Helsinki-Tampere with plenty of trains during day (but night is dubious).<br />
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Another ferry is '''between Umea (SE) and Vaasa (FI)''' and another ferry with longer journy is '''between Sundsvall (SE) and Vaasa (FI)''' There are lot of trains ''from Stockholm to Gavle, Hudiksvall, Sundsvall ('''SJ Snabbstaab''' and long journey '''SJ IC''', '''Nattaget''' to north)''. Some '''SJ Snabbstaag''' trains ''continue to Umea too''. Local trains ('''Norrtaag, X-Taget''') has more stops. PetterOB does not know info about ferry between Vassa and Umea (pricing, sneeking, leftovers in restaurants and departure times).<br />
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'''Third journey to Finland is around Baltic see, the Nordic Journey''' There are plenty trains from Stockholm to Gavle, Hudiksvall, Sundsvall, a lot of high-speed trains '''SJ Snabbstaag''' and long journey trains ('''SJ IC''', '''SJ Nattaget''', '''Arctic circle train'''). Some SJ Snabbstaag goes more north to Umea and there are '''SJ IC, SJ Orviga ,SJ Nattaget (night train)''' and local '''Norrtaag''' from Umea to Boden and Lulea. The trains from Sundsvall to Umea are not so often (local trains have more stops). From Umea to Boden goes Norrtaag local train and SJ IC (Arctic circle train) and night train SJ Nattaget. It is only one or two stops from Boden to Lulea (some trains with three stops ?).<br />
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There is '''road around Baltic sea''' from ''Lulea (SE) to Tornio (FI), Kemi (FI), Oulu (FI)''. It is motorway at least in some parts, like from border to Kemi and around-through Oulu. '''There is no train from Lulea (SE) to Finland''', but only bus (you can try cash trick, but probability of success is not high). train line goes from important crossroad Boden (SE), to Tornio (border) and Kemi, but there are not trains for passengers. Maybe, some feright trains can go there. Tornio (do not exchange Tornio and Tervolta station, it is not the same town) is close to SE-FI border. First good train station is Kemi ''(Trains in Tornio (border) are pretty rare during Summer half-year and one train per day in one direction in Winter half-year - it is Ex between Helsinki-Tampere-Oulu-Kolari)''. It is one stop and 58 min between Kemi to Oulu by all IC or Ex trains. There is once a 3-4 hours train from Kemi to north-east (Rovaniemi) with only 3 stops, stops are ''(Oulu (Uleaborg) – Kemi – Tervola - Muurola – Rovaniemi)''. Night train IC 265 is with fewest stops and it goes even further (Oulu (Uleaborg) 4:50-4:57, Kemi 6:03-6:07, Rovaniemi 7:28-7:40, Misi 8:16-8:17, Kemijärvi 8:45), by idos.cz - only one train per day – IC265 goes from Rovaniemi to Misi and Kemijärvi. There is most north train line in Finland by border with Sweden to Kolari. But trains there are quite rare, if any. Another train line, which cross Arctic Circle, is from Kemi to Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi. Arctic circle is in north part of Rovaniemi. Once a 1-2 hours runs quite fast IC or Pendolino train between Helsinki – Tampere – Oulu. Some IC has two floors (easy to hide is second floor toilet) and some faster IC and Pendolinos has only one floor. Pendolinos are marked like green S2 at idos.cz and S at departure board.<br />
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'''The north journey by train and hitchhiking''' is nice in Summer with never-ending daylight. But there are a lot of Mosquitoes. The situation in winter is terrible. The Swedish train line Stockholm-Lulea is better, most of stations has waiting room, but waiting room is closed during night (no waiting room in some small stations with local trains). Many of stations in Finland are without waiting room. You can wait few hours for next train or longer during night (and next train can get echo from previous one). On the road from Sweden to Finland can be traffic low, almost no cars in some ramps. The winter temperature is here usually -5 to -20, sometimes bellow -30. Here – the death during exam in case that you fail is real treat in winter time.<br />
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'''Blue-Black train (taking trains for free) is relative easy in Finland, it is super easy in region around Helsinki.''' There are a lot of commuter city trains around Helsinki. These trains goes every 10-30 minutes usually. Commuter city trains around Helsinki are marked as blue R-trains at idos.cz resp. jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlaky/spojeni/, and they are marked many letters (K,P,R,D and many others) by wr.fi or in Helsinki map, departure table. Commuter trains are little faster and it does not stops in all stops (K train, R train and D or Z train is with fewest stop).<br />
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You can find '''some info about train connections and pricing''' at '''vr.fi''' The '''map of train lines in Finland an information about trains, locomotives, stops''' are at English Wikipedia. '''en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR_Group''' it is quite big portal at Wikipedia. And you can find '''train connections with all stops''' in Finland and whole Europe at '''jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlaky/spojeni/'''<br />
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'''Commuter trains around Helsinki are pretty easy.''' There are conductors usually around middle of train, in ticket selling zone. ''They just sell the tickets if somebody wants, and they does not check it''. '''Not anymore.''' You can not buy ticket inside train since summer 2017. You can see conductors inside train easily - they have reflex west. They are standing somewhere in train usually. But sometimes - they starts checking ticket in train (not every ride). But next stop is not so far and you have enough time. It takes few stops, until they come to you, if you go as far as possible. You can continue journey carrefully easily, if you see them, that they start checking. And runaway in next station is easy. If you see conductors, do not panic and watch, if they start to check tickets. Sometimes - conductors board on train in stations, or they sudenly come from crew place at begin or end of train.<br />
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The Helsinki central station can be more difficult after 10pm. There is only one entrance and they check tickets on this entrance in night, before getting to train. But the near station (it is possible to get there by tram) is Pasila-Bole. All trains goes through Pasila-Bole and stops there. There are two entrances (on every side) in Pasila Bole, or it is possible to cross fence and tracks, but it is dangerous. The second entrance on the another end of platforms, than waiting room, and it is always free.<br />
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Trams are easy in Helsinki, just get in like into commuter train. There are sometimes ticket inspectors too, with uniforms. The penalty is the same Eur 80. Buses in Helsinki are more difficult, you have to show thicket during boarding. But if you just hold nonvalid ticket (some card), and you put it to reader with many other passengers, it works. Sometimes, even holding some cars and saying Hi (Moj MOj) to driver works. Or you can make beep with voice. Some orange buses are with lot of people and without checking during boarding – there can be sometimes inspectors too. In another cities, like Tampere, Turku, are buses too. But there is ticket checking during boarding, system is the same. The city commuter trains are probably only around Helsinki and between Helsinki-Tampere. Another commuter train around Tampere is planned. Commuter trains around Helsinki go 90-120kph, distance between stops is not so long, 1-5 minutes, with some trains 5-15 minutes, they have fewer stops.<br />
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There are lot of dumpsters in Helsinki, usually close to K-Markets. The dumpsters behind K-Market are open during opening hours and in some places during night too. There are a lot of bread, fruits, vegetables and cakes. Taking trains for free to different markets and dumpster diving is easy in Helsinki. There are not so many dumpsters in Tampere. Quite a good dumpsters are in Pispala (Tampere), but a lot of people dumpster diving there. Dumpsters are by Prisma in Malmi. Another dumpster place is by big shop, not so far from Kerava station.<br />
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There are a lot of good train network of commuter city trains on train line ('''Helsinki - Pasila Böle – Leppävaara – Kirkkonummi'''), it is relative far to Kirkkonummi for city commuter trains. IC trains or Pendolinos (with three numbers) from-to Turku has not so many stops - ''(Helsinki - Pasila Böle – Leppävaara - (Kirkkonummi) – Karjaa Karis – Salo - Kupittaa – Turku Abo)'' and some IC trains begins-ends one more stop in Turku Abo Hamm, harbour for ferry (from Turku Abo Hamn 8:10 and 20:20). If you travel from Turku to Helsinki, you need to survive in IC train until Kirkkonummi or Leppävaara, ICs almost do not stop in Kirkkonummi, only IC from Turku 20:20 and 17:17, IC from Helsinki 5:17 and 6:27 stops there.<br />
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There are lot of commuter trains in direction '''(Helsinki - Pasila Böle – Tikkurila – Kerava (Kervo) – Jokela - Riihimäki)''' It is direction to ''Tampere'' – second largest city in Finland. A lot of commuter trains goes to this direction, but the stops are various. Some commuter trains stops in all stops, come commuter trains stops ''Helsinki - Pasila Böle – Tikkurila – Kerava (Kervo)'', and every stop between ''Kerava and Riihimäki''. Z and D train is with fewest stops. The '''region Helsinki - Kerava (Kervo)''' is more like violet city region on map with really plenty of trains, and '''Kerava (Kervo) - Riihimäki''' is green region close to city on the map. Pretty many people travel between Helsinki and Kerava (Kervo) and not so many people between Kerava (Kervo) and Riihimäki (it is green region in map). It is more far zone and probability of ticket inspection is bigger here. Still quite a lot commuter trains goes between between Kerava (Kervo) and Riihimäki. There are no waiting rooms in most of the stations. Commuter trains around Helsinki can go up to 120kph.<br />
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There are commuter trains on journey '''Helsinki - Pasila Böle – Tikkurila - Kerava (Kervo) - Lahti (Lahtis)''' once a 60 min between and Kerava (Kervo) - Lahti (Lahtis) and every 10 min between Helsinki and Kerava (Kervo). Commuter train to Lahti does not stop so much, stops are ''(Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) - Tikkurila - Kerava (Kervo) - Haarajoki - Mäntsälä - Lahti (Lahtis))'' It is 61 minutes from Helsinki to Lahti with commuter train. IC trains and Pendolinos does not stop between Tikkurila and Lahti.<br />
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The '''R train''' in platform departure table (all commuter trains are R at idos.cz) consist of three trains together for lot of people and it goes to Riihimäki and R-train stops in all stations after Kerava (Kervo). But the first part of this R-train continue like city train '''from Riihimäki to Tampere''' after 5 min waiting in Riihimäki. This commuter train stops at all stops between Riihimäki and Tampere and interval to next R commuter train train is 2 hours. This commuter R train is like two R trains with different numbers at idos.cz (from Helsinki to Riihimäki and from Riihimäki to Tampere). The ticket selling area is in the middle of train and sometimes conductor walk through whole train. And there was in monitor one time that ticket for area range will be checked and conductor just came and he checked only people with zone ticket – only few people in the wagon. Peter just sat calmly, like he ticket has, it works usually here. Conductor checks and sells tickets just for people that want check or buy one, it look. But the inspetion can be here too. PeterOB was searching for toilet in this train, but he did not find WC in this train (no possible to hide there ?).<br />
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'''Between Riihimäki and Tampere''', the commuter R trains goes once a 2 hour and IC trains (IC with three numbers) goes usually 1-2 hours between Helsinki and Tampere. Most of the stations are without waiting room, even stations for IC trains (three-numbers IC). And winter temperature can be even bellow -20. Stops for R commuter train Helsinky-Tampere are: ''(Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) - Tikkurila - Kerava (Kervo) - Kyröla - Järvenpää - Saunakallio - Jokela - Hyvinkää (Hyvinge) – Riihimäki - Ryttylä - Turenki - Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) - Parola - Iittala - Toijala - Viiala - Lempäälä - Tampere (Tammerfors))''.<br />
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Local commuter city trains are in dense area around Helsinki and between Helsinki and Tampere only. PeterOB does not know any other place with commuter trains.<br />
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There are '''two floors IC trains (with three numbers)''' between Helsinki and Tampere and they can continue more far, like '''Jyväskylä''', '''Pieksämäki'''. Stops for three-numbers IC trains are: ''(Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) - Tikkurila - Riihimäki - Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) - Toijala - [Lempäälä] - Tampere (Tammerfors))''. ''Not every IC stops in Lempäälä.'' There are some three-number Pendolinos too between Helsinki and Tampere, they continue from-to Jyväskylä, Pieksämäki. Three-number Pendolino has the same stops like three-number IC, but Pendolinos has only one floor and it is more difficult to hide. Pendolinos are green S2 at idos.cz and like Pendolino at vr.fi.<br />
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The '''two-numbers IC''' and '''two-numbers Pendolinos''' stops just only ''(Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) - Tikkurila - Tampere (Tammerfors))'' and IC or Pendolinos with two numbers continues from-to more far cities, like ''Vaasa'', ''Oulu'' or even ''more far north''. So the '''Tikkurila''' is still in area with plenty of commuter trains and next stop is already Tampere. But conductor has enough time after Tikkurila to next stop Tampere (more than hour).<br />
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'''Three number IC are with two floors, two-number IC are with two floors or only with one floor and Pendolino (with three or two numbers) has only one floor.''' It is much more easy to hide in second floor toilet.<br />
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Next type of train is three-number IC train, they are quite common in south Finland. These IC trains has two floors and many carriages (around 5-6 usually). These IC go quite fast, up to 200 kph. Distance between stops is around 15-50 km. The carriage with restaurant is in the middle and it is not so high. Lower carriage is home for blue jumprs too (blue jumpr – conductor). But the Finish conductor don't have blue uniform, but white-green one, like color of most of Finish trains vr.fi. If you have bigger backpack, the place for bicycles, prams and bigger luggage is usually in first or last carriage. But probably not all trains have this place. Bicycles are extra-cost and conductor can ask, whom is it. But if nobody says anything, bicycle can travel free too (any you travel for free, on course).<br />
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The three number IC are like green IC with number at idos.cz You can find all stops there.<br />
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Conductor does not go usually after every station, but mostly one or few stations after bigger city (Helsinki, Tampere, Lahti, Pori, Turku , Jyväskylä, Pieksämäki). They check ticket with some scanner quite fast. But conductor usually does not check toilets. After one checking, there is usually few stations pause, but sometimes not. If you are captured (out of WC in wrong time), you can buy ticket for short distance (around Eur 15 per 100 km) or just being kicked out. Penalty is Eur 80 + ticket price in all type of trains or city public transport. But if you are not Finish, they can just kick you out. <br />
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Most of passengers are in first floor and second floor is relative empty, especially more far after big city in begin. There are passengers going in first-floor toilet, but they go rarely on second-floor toilet. So you can hide there quite easily (just sit like shitting and don't lock the door).<br />
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'''The two-number IC trains''' (green IC with two numbers at idos.cz and IC with two numbers at wr.fi) runs long journeys with not so many stops (less stops than three-number IC, especially between Helsinki and Tampere). The journey is often from Helsinki to north or back from north to Helsinki. These trains have sometimes two floors with restaurant and conductors in the middle (lower wagon). The situation is the same, like in three-number IC trains. Most of passengers are at first floor and second floor is quite empty, and second floor toilet is calm. Conductor goes usually after bigger city, usually after last station, that is close to bigger city. Two-numbers IC have much less stops – few stops in Helsinki region ''(Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) - Tikkurila - Tampere (Tammerfors) - ….. far north)''. As you can see – there are three stops in Helsinki region with plenty of city trains and there is no stop between ''Tikkurila – Tampere''. But conductors have a lot of time and they check tickets after bigger city.<br />
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Two-floors IC trains (two or three numbers) has maximum speed 200 kmh. There are IC trains with two numbers and one floor only. But IC trains with one floor only can not run 200 kph, but only 140-160 kph. Pendolinos can run 220 kph with tilting. and they go for long journey. This type of train is at idos.cz or vr.fi marked the same like two-floors IC and you probably can not recognize it. One floor IC trains goes even far north behind Oulu, like IC27 to Rovaniemi.<br />
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'''Some trains are Pendolinos.''' Pendolino is high-speed train from Italy and it has difficulties sometimes during Finish winter. Pendolinos are marked like green S2 at idos.cz and like Pendolino at wr.fi and S or S2 at departures table. Pendolino looks the same like one-floor IC. Some Pendolinos are with three numbers and they stops in the same stops, like three number IC and tey are usually with the same speed, like three-number IC. Two-number Pendolinos stops in the same stops, like two-number IC. But the Pendolinos are more quick. Maximum speed for two-floor IC is 200 kph, but Pendolino with tilting can go faster, up to 220 kph. Commuter trains around Helsinki can go up to 120kph.<br />
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The price is usually the same for IC or Pendolino, but of course, it is much easier to hide in second floor. Quite a lot of passengers goes to toilet at first floor. And Pendolino has only one floor, not empty toilets in second floor. More passengers are going to toilet. And you can run so easily around conductor in another floor and go to area, where tickets was already checked.<br />
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'''One-Number IC and S2 Pendolino trains (No. 1-12)''' are on journey ''Helsinki – Tikkurila – Lahti (Lahtis) – Kouvola – Simpele – Joensuu''. Theese IC (and Pendolinos) has lower numbers from 1 to 12 (1,3,6,9,11 from Helsinki to Joensuu and 2,4,8,12 from Joensuu to Helsinki). But there is plenty of stops, like with three-number or ICs. PetterOB does not know, why only one-number trains are there. Pendolinos and IC 7 is with one floor, other Trains PetterOB does not know. One Number can be maybe because of speed, or because Joensuu is close to Russia. It is dubious.<br />
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'''Express trains Ex''' – it is only few trains marked like green Ex at idos.cz , like Ex 447 (Pori 6:03- Tampere 7:48), Ex 701 ((Kouvola 16:49 - Kuopio 19:27), and all rare night trains between Helsinki and Kolari. But these night trains are probably the same, like other night trains and Express from Pori to Tampere has the same stops and speed like ICs. PetterOB does not know, how Express look like (one or two floors). Maybe, rare trains can be marked like Express.<br />
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'''Night trains ICs''' are marked like IC with three numbers, they are marked like ICs during day, but they usually go pretty far. Night ICs has relative the same ammount of stops at begin in evening and close to end in morning, but night ICs has only few stops during night, most of the journey. Night ICs has wagons with beds and probably wagons with seats too. There is restaurand in night ICs (and in most of day ICs and Pendolinos too). Night IC trains has wagon for car transportion for long distance, but transportion of car is pretty expensive. Night ICs has probably one floor only. PetterOB does not try night IC yet. But it is question, how easy is to hide there. It can be possible that more people goes to one bed with one ticket or ticket checking is not so often, so the Toilet Style is possible. Or somewhere behind seat. Probably – conductor has on tablet, which seat or bed should be empty and wich is reserved. And it can be possible to hide in the someone's car or on the car wagon. But it is definitly imposible during winter. Frost with wind is too strong.<br />
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Night ICs go usualy between ''[Kemijärvi], Rovaniemi, Kemi, Oulu, Seinäjoki, Tampere, Helsinki'' in both directions. Very rare Ex trains goes between Kolari and Helsinki. Buth some night ICs goes only between Tampere and Turku.<br />
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Night trains: ''IC 273 (Helsinki 21:52 - Rovaniemi 10:40), IC 265 (Helsinki 18:52 - Kemijärvi 8:45), IC 266 (Rovaniemi 18:53 – Helsinki 7:06), IC 274 (Kemijärvi 19:45 – Helsinki 9:00), IC 933 (Turku 21:25 – Tampere 23:22), IC 904 (Tampere 5:56 – Turku7:50).'' Night IC 933 and 904 are probably connected with long-journey night trains.<br />
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Kolari-Helsinki: ''Ex 269 (Helsinki 20:52 - Kolari 10:48), Ex 270 (Kolari 18:20 - Helsinki 8:32), Ex 272 (Kolari 18:20 – Helsinki 9:37).'' Theese night express runs just few days during year.<br />
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'''Turku-Helsinki''' Turku is city on Baltic coast, the ferry arrives there. There are IC trains with three numbers and two floors. Conductor goes often just one time, after Turku or Helsinki aglomeration. More far from the start of journey- the train is relative empty. IC trains between Turku and Helsinki goes every 1-2 hours. Stops are : ''(Helsinki - Pasila Böle – Leppävaara - [Kirkkonummi] – Karjaa (Karis) – Salo - Kupittaa – Turku Abo - [Turku satama (Abo hamn)]''). Between Kirkkonummi and Helsinki already go lot of commuter trains with random checking only.<br />
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'''From Turku to Helsinki trains goes:''' <br />
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''IC 942 5:32-7:25, IC 944 6:22-8:15, S2 976 Pendolino 7:08-8:46'' (stops only Turku Abo - Kupittaa - Pasila Böle – Helsinki), ''IC 946 7:30-9:23, IC 948 8:30-10:23'', starts 8:10 in harbour Turku satama (Abo hamn) after ferry arrival, ''IC 950 9:30-11:23, IC 954 11:30-13:23, S2 958 Pendolino 13:30-15:23'', same stops like ICs, ''IC 960 14:30-16:23, IC 982 15:21-17:23, IC 984 16:21-18:23, IC 986 17:17-19:26, stops in Kirkkonummi, IC 968 18:30-20:23, IC 972 20:30-22:26'', stops in Kirkkonummi, starts 20:20 in harbour Turku satama (Abo hamn) after ferry arrival, the last one.<br />
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'''From Helsinki to Turku:'''<br />
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''IC 941 5:17-7:39'', stops in Kirkkonummi, continue to harbour Turku satama (Abo hamn) 7:48, ''IC 943 6:27-8:30'', stops in Kirkkonummi, ''IC 979 7:30-9:30, IC 945 8:37-10:30, S2 947 Pendolino 9:37-11:30'', the same stops like ICs, ''IC 951 11:37-13:30, IC 955 13:37-15:30, IC 957 14:37-16:30, IC 989 15:32-17:26, S2 975 Pendolino 16:10-17:48'' stops only Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) – Kupittaa - Turku Abo, ''IC 961 16:37-18:30, IC 963 17:37-19:30'', continue to harbour Turku satama (Abo hamn) 19:39, ''IC 965 18:37-20:30, IC 977 20:37-22:30''.<br />
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'''Turku – Tampere'''<br />
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As you know, ferry from Sweden arrives to Turku. From Turku to Tampere goes three-number IC train with two floors. It takes 1 hour 42 minutes or similar time and it is only 4 stops. Trains goes once a two hours usually. Stops are ''([Turku satama (Abo hamn)] - Turku Abo – Loimaa – Humppila – Toijala – Tampere (Tammerfors))''. '''Toijala''' is station between Helsinki and Tampere, where all three-number IC between Helsinki and Tampere stops and Commuter City R train between Helsinki and Tampere stops in Toijala too. It is always the same three stops between Tampere and Turku Abo, and Toijala is station with plenty other trains.<br />
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'''From Turku to Tammpere:'''<br />
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''IC 905 7:00-8:42, IC 909 9:05-10:47'', after 4 hours ''IC 917 13:05-14:47, IC 921 15:05-16:47, IC 923 16:05-17:47, IC 927 18:05-19:47, IC 931 20:05-21:47'', starts in harbour Turku satama (Abo hamn) 19:45 after ferry arrival, ''IC 933 21:25-23:22''. IC 933 is night train with beds and wagon for cars transporting, probably only with one floor, but idos.cz shows that IC 933 goes only from Turku to Tampere.<br />
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From Tampere to Turku:<br />
''IC 904 5:56-7:50'', It is night IC with beds and wagon for cars and if goes only from Tampere to Turku and IC 904 continue to harbour Turku satama (Abo hamn) 8:09. ''IC 910 9:11-10:50, IC 916 12:11-13:55, IC 922 15:11-16:55, IC 924 16:11-17:50'', continues to harbour Turku satama (Abo hamn) 18:19, ''IC 928 18:11-19:55'', continues to harbour Turku satama (Abo hamn) 20:09, ''IC 934 21:11-22:50''.<br />
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'''Turku-Pori'''<br />
Pori is in Baltic coast, more north than Turku (the same level like Tampere). '''There is not train or train line directly between Turku to Pori.''' One possibility is train from Turku to Tampere and by another IC train from Tampere to Pori, but it is more stops and quite long. The same with journey from Pori to Turku.<br />
But there is quite big road E8 between Turku-Rauma-Pori and E8 continue by Baltic coast to Vaasa, Oulu, Kemi, Tornio (North Baltic point, SE-FI border). So it is possible to hitchhike between Turku and Pori. Probability of getting to bus for free is dubious. There is train line Tampere-Rauma too, but probably no trains goes today there.<br />
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'''Tampere-Pori'''<br />
Three-number IC trains goes there, usually once a 3 hours. These trains should have two floors, not so many passengers and empty toilets, especially in second floor. Conductor probably check just one time after Tampere or Pori and only rarely again during journey. There is big road between Tampere, Nokia, Pori too for hitchiking. train line is out of this road after Nokia. Stops are: ''(Tampere(Tammerfors) – Nokia – Karkku – Vammala – Kokemäki (Kumo) – Harjavalta – Pori (Björneborg))''. Stops all always the same and train always starts and ends in Tampere-Pori, except morning ''IC 164'' – it continue from Tampere to Helsinki. Journey between Pori and Tampere takes about 1.5 hour.<br />
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'''From Tampere to Pori:'''<br />
''Ex 447 6:03-7:48'', the same stops like ICs, maybe different train from ICs (only one floor ?), it does not go at Saturday, ''IC 461 8:07-9:37, IC 465 12:15-13:47, IC 467 14:15-15:47, IC 469 16:15-17:47, IC 471 18:15-19:47, IC 473 20:07-21:37, IC 475 21:07-23:37''.<br />
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'''From Pori to Tampere:'''<br />
''IC 164 5:20-6:50'' continue to Helsinki 8:52 with all IC stops, ''IC 462 6:15-7:45, IC 466 7:15-8:50, IC 464 10:10-11:40, Ex 478 12:05-13:51'', the same stops like ICs, maybe different train from ICs (only one floor ?), ''IC 468 14:15-15:45, IC 470 16:15-17:47, IC 472 18:15-19:47''.<br />
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'''Helsinki – Tampere.'''<br />
There are plenty of trains between Tampere and Helsinki. The commuter city trains goes with lot of people ''from Helsinki to Riihimäki'', there is plenty of commuter trains without real checking. Conductors only sell tickets. First part of '''R-train''' (R at idos.cz, R at vr.fi or departure table) continues with not so many people ''from Riihimäki to Tampere'' (it is like another train from Riihimäki to Tampere). The R commuter train goes from Tampere to Riihimäki and Helsinki too, and stops in all stops between Tampere and Kerava (Kervo). There is more stops and plenty of city trains between Kerava (Kervo) and Helsinki. R commuter city train goes once a two hours between Tampere and Riihimäki, but there are much more trains between Riihimäki and Helsinki. R train has lot of stops and almost all stops are without waiting room, even stops with IC.<br />
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Stops with R train (R at Helsinki map, R at idos.cz – all commuter trains are marked R at idos.cz ) are: ''(Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) - Tikkurila - Kerava (Kervo) - Kyröla - Järvenpää - Saunakallio - Jokela - Hyvinkää (Hyvinge) – Riihimäki - Ryttylä - Turenki - Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) - Parola - Iittala - Toijala - Viiala - Lempäälä - Tampere (Tammerfors))''.<br />
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The '''IC trains with three numbers''' and two floors goes quite often, usually once a hour between Helsinki and Tampere. These IC trains can continue from-to more far north, like Jämsä, Jyväskylä, Pieksämäki or another place.<br />
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Stops are: ''(Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) - Tikkurila - Riihimäki - Hämeenlinna/Tavastia - Toijala - [Lempäälä] - Tampere(Tammerfors) - Orivesi - Jämsä - Jyväskylä - Hankasalmi – Pieksämäki)''.<br />
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'''Two-number IC''' can have one or two floors, the IC with one floor is almost the same like '''Pendolino''' (S2 at idos.cz). Two-number IC or Pendolinos goes between Tampere and Helsinki usually once a hour, sometimes once a two hours. Last stop in Helsinki is '''Tikkurila''' (still with plenty of city trains) and next stop is '''Tampere'''. The same situation is in direction from Tampere to Helsinki. These two-number IC and Pendolinos has not so many stops, because they continue from-to far north, like Jyväskylä, Vaasa, Oulu, or even more far north.<br />
Many three number ICs and some three number Pendolinos goes only from Helsinki to Tampere with all stops ''(Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) - Tikkurila - Riihimäki - Hämeenlinna/Tavastia - Toijala - [Lempäälä] – Tampere(Tammerfors))''.<br />
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Some two number ICs and three number Pendolinos goes to '''Jyväskylä''' and '''Pieksämäki''' With less stops between Helsinki and Tampere: ''(Helsinki - Pasila (Böle) - Tikkurila - Tampere(Tammerfors) - Orivesi - Jämsä - Jyväskylä - Hankasalmi – Pieksämäki)''.<br />
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'''Helsinki – Tampere - Jyväskylä - Pieksämäki'''<br />
There are three-number Pendolinos and three-number ICs with two floor or some two-number ICs with less stops. There are some local trains from Tampere to Hankasalmi and from Hankasalmi to Jyväskylä too, but with more stops and it looks only one a day.<br />
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IC 81 <br />
(Helsinki 5:27, Pasila (Böle) 5:32-5:33, Tikkurila 5:42-5:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 6:56-7:09, Orivesi 7:33-7:34, Jämsä 8:14-8:15, Jyväskylä 8:45) <br />
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IC 141 <br />
(Helsinki 7:06, Pasila (Böle) 7:11-7:12, Tikkurila 7:21-7:22, Riihimäki 7:50-7:52, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 8:09-8:11, Toijala 8:30-8:31, Lempäälä 8:40-8:41, Tampere (Tammerfors) 8:52-9:05, Orivesi 9:29-9:30, Jämsä 10:04-10:05, Jyväskylä 10:35-10:39, Hankasalmi 11:03-11:04, Pieksämäki 11:25) <br />
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S2 143 <br />
(Helsinki 10:06, Pasila (Böle) 10:11-10:12, Tikkurila 10:21-10:22, Riihimäki 10:50-10:52, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 11:09-11:11, Toijala 11:30-11:31, Lempäälä 11:40-11:41, Tampere (Tammerfors) 11:52-12:05, Orivesi 12:29-12:30, Jämsä 13:04-13:05, Jyväskylä 13:35-13:39, Hankasalmi 14:03-14:04, Pieksämäki 14:25) <br />
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S2 145 <br />
(Helsinki 13:27, Pasila (Böle) 13:32-13:33, Tikkurila 13:42-13:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 14:56-15:05, Orivesi 15:29-15:30, Jämsä 16:09-16:10, Jyväskylä 16:40-16:44, Hankasalmi 17:08-17:09, Pieksämäki 17:30) <br />
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S2 45 <br />
(Helsinki 14:27, Pasila (Böle) 14:32-14:33, Tikkurila 14:42-14:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 15:56-16:09, Orivesi 16:33-16:34, Jämsä 17:15-17:16, Jyväskylä 17:46) <br />
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S2 87 <br />
(Tampere (Tammerfors) 16:09, Orivesi 16:33-16:34, Jämsä 17:15-17:16, Jyväskylä 17:46) <br />
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IC 151 <br />
(Helsinki 15:06, Pasila (Böle) 15:11-15:12, Tikkurila 15:21-15:22, Riihimäki 15:50-15:52, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 16:09-16:11, Toijala 16:30-16:31, Lempäälä 16:40-16:41, Tampere (Tammerfors) 16:52-17:05, Orivesi 17:29-17:30, Jämsä 18:04-18:05, Jyväskylä 18:35-18:38, Hankasalmi 19:02-19:04, Pieksämäki 19:25) <br />
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IC 147 <br />
(Helsinki 16:06, Pasila (Böle) 16:11-16:12, Tikkurila 16:21-16:22, Riihimäki 16:50-16:52, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 17:09-17:11, Toijala 17:30-17:31, Tampere (Tammerfors) 17:52-18:05, Orivesi 18:29-18:30, Jämsä 19:12-19:13, Jyväskylä 19:43) <br />
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S2 89 <br />
(Tampere (Tammerfors) 19:13, Orivesi 19:37-19:38, Jämsä 20:19-20:20, Jyväskylä 20:50) <br />
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IC 149 <br />
(Helsinki 19:06, Pasila (Böle) 19:11-19:12, Tikkurila 19:21-19:22, Riihimäki 19:50-19:52, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 20:09-20:11, Toijala 20:30-20:31, Lempäälä 20:40-20:41, Tampere (Tammerfors) 20:52-21:05, Jämsä 21:59-22:00, Jyväskylä 22:35)<br />
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'''Pieksämäki - Jyväskylä – Tampere - Helsinki'''<br />
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S2 80 <br />
(Jyväskylä 5:25, Jämsä 5:55-5:56, Tampere (Tammerfors) 6:50) <br />
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IC 150 <br />
(Jyväskylä 6:20, Jämsä 6:50-6:51, Orivesi 7:25-7:26, Tampere (Tammerfors) 7:50-8:07, Lempäälä 8:17-8:18, Toijala 8:27-8:28, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 8:47-8:49, Riihimäki 9:07-9:09, Tikkurila 9:37-9:38, Pasila (Böle) 9:46-9:47, Helsinki 9:52) <br />
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IC 140 <br />
(Pieksämäki 6:30, Hankasalmi 6:51-6:52, Jyväskylä 7:16-7:20, Jämsä 7:50-7:51, Orivesi 8:25-8:26, Tampere (Tammerfors) 8:50-9:07, Lempäälä 9:17-9:18, Toijala 9:27-9:28, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 9:47-9:49, Riihimäki 10:07-10:09, Tikkurila 10:37-10:38, Pasila (Böle) 10:46-10:47, Helsinki 10:52) <br />
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IC 142 <br />
(Pieksämäki 9:23, Hankasalmi 9:44-9:45, Jyväskylä 10:09-10:13, Jämsä 10:50-10:51, Orivesi 11:25-11:26, Tampere (Tammerfors) 11:50-12:07, Lempäälä 12:17-12:18, Toijala 12:27-12:28, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 12:47-12:49, Riihimäki 13:07-13:09, Tikkurila 13:37-13:38, Pasila (Böle) 13:46-13:47, Helsinki 13:52) <br />
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IC 144 <br />
(Pieksämäki 12:23, Hankasalmi 12:44-12:45, Jyväskylä 13:09-13:13, Jämsä 13:50-13:51, Orivesi 14:25-14:26, Tampere (Tammerfors) 14:50-15:07, Lempäälä 15:17-15:18, Toijala 15:27-15:28, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 15:47-15:49, Riihimäki 16:07-16:09, Tikkurila 16:37-16:38, Pasila (Böle) 16:46-16:47, Helsinki 16:52) <br />
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IC 86 <br />
(Jyväskylä 15:15, Jämsä 15:45-15:46, Orivesi 16:25-16:26, Tampere (Tammerfors) 16:50-17:02, Tikkurila 18:18-18:19, Pasila (Böle) 18:27-18:28, Helsinki 18:33) <br />
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S2 146 <br />
(Pieksämäki 15:27, Hankasalmi 15:48-15:49, Jyväskylä 16:13-16:17, Jämsä 16:51-16:52, Orivesi 17:26-17:27, Tampere (Tammerfors) 17:50-18:07, Lempäälä 18:17-18:18, Toijala 18:27-18:28, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 18:47-18:49, Riihimäki 19:07-19:09, Tikkurila 19:37-19:38, Pasila (Böle) 19:46-19:47, Helsinki 19:52) <br />
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S2 88 <br />
(Jyväskylä 18:13, Jämsä 18:48-18:49, Tampere (Tammerfors) 19:44-20:02, Tikkurila 21:18-21:19, Pasila (Böle) 21:27-21:28, Helsinki 21:33) <br />
<br />
S2 148 <br />
(Pieksämäki 18:18, Hankasalmi 18:39-18:40, Jyväskylä 19:09-19:20, Jämsä 19:55-19:56, Orivesi 20:30-20:31, Tampere (Tammerfors) 20:54-21:07, Lempäälä 21:17-21:18, Toijala 21:27-21:28, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 21:47-21:49, Riihimäki 22:07-22:09, Tikkurila 22:37-22:38, Pasila (Böle) 22:46-22:47, Helsinki 22:52)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Helsinki - Tampere - Seinäjoki - Vaasa'''<br />
There are two-number IC trains with two floors and not so many stops. Second floor is quite empty and conductor go often after big city, but he do not check toilet usually. But more often are on this journeys Pendolinos with two number and with not so many stops (Green S2 at idos.cz and Pendolino at wr.fi). Pendolino is fast train, but only with one floor. It means that more people go to toilet and you can not run around conductor in another floor to area, where tickets was already checked. Two-floor IC trains run up to 200 kmh, Pendolinos are even faster. '''Seinäjoki''' is crossroad with train line to Vaasa and Oulu. Not so many trains per day goes directly Helsinki-Tampere-Vaasa, but there are buses or Pendolinos between Vaasa and Seinäjoki connected in Seinäjoki with long journey train between Oulu abd Helsinki. It is just one stop by bus and two stops with Pendolino between Vaasa and Seinäjoki. Buses belongs to vr.fi too, but it is dubious, if you can get inside this bus. PetterOB haven't tried yet.<br />
<br />
<br />
S2 455 (3 hours after night train IC 273 - in Seinäjoki 3:01-3:04) <br />
(Seinäjoki 6:56, Tervajoki 7:28-7:29, Vaasa 7:49) <br />
<br />
Bus 79941 (with IC 21 to Oulu) <br />
(Seinäjoki 9:15, Vaasa 10:35) <br />
<br />
IC 41 <br />
(Helsinki 7:27, Pasila (Böle) 7:32-7:33, Tikkurila 7:42-7:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 8:56-9:00, Parkano 9:42-9:43, Seinäjoki 10:16-10:28, Tervajoki 10:54-10:55, Vaasa 11:15) <br />
<br />
IC 43 <br />
(Helsinki 10:27, Pasila (Böle) 10:32-10:33, Tikkurila 10:42-10:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 11:56-12:00, Parkano 12:42-12:43, Seinäjoki 13:16-13:28, Tervajoki 13:54-13:55, Vaasa 14:15) <br />
<br />
S2 45 <br />
(Helsinki 14:27, Pasila (Böle) 14:32-14:33, Tikkurila 14:42-14:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 15:56-16:00, Parkano 16:34-16:35, Seinäjoki 17:17-17:20, Tervajoki 17:46-17:47, Vaasa 18:07) <br />
<br />
Bus 79945 (Conected with IC 27 to Oulu) <br />
(Seinäjoki 18:15, Vaasa 19:35) <br />
<br />
S2 47 <br />
(Helsinki 16:27, Pasila (Böle) 16:32-16:33, Tikkurila 16:42-16:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 7:56-18:00, Parkano 18:41-18:42, Seinäjoki 19:16-19:20, Tervajoki 19:46-19:47, Vaasa 20:07) <br />
<br />
S2 49 <br />
(Helsinki 17:27, Pasila (Böle) 17:32-17:33, Tikkurila 17:42-17:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 18:56-19:00, Seinäjoki 20:04-20:08, Tervajoki 20:34-20:35, Vaasa 20:55) <br />
<br />
S2 457 (Connected with IC29 to Oulu) <br />
(Seinäjoki 21:12, Tervajoki 21:38-21:39, Vaasa 21:59)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Vaasa – Seinäjoki – Tampere - Helsinki'''<br />
<br />
S2 40 <br />
(Vaasa 4:55, Tervajoki 5:15-5:16, Seinäjoki 5:42-5:45, Parkano 6:19-6:20, Tampere (Tammerfors) 6:54-7:02, Tikkurila 8:18-8:19, Pasila (Böle) 8:27-8:28, Helsinki 8:33) <br />
<br />
S2 42 <br />
(Vaasa 5:54, Tervajoki 6:14-6:15, Seinäjoki 6:41-6:49, Parkano 7:23-7:24, Tampere (Tammerfors) 7:58-8:02, Tikkurila 9:18-9:19, Pasila (Böle) 9:27-9:28, Helsinki 9:33) <br />
<br />
S2 44 <br />
(Vaasa 6:50, Tervajoki 7:10-7:11, Seinäjoki 7:37-7:39, Parkano 8:13-8:14, Tampere (Tammerfors) 8:55-9:02, Tikkurila 10:18-10:19, Pasila (Böle) 10:27-10:28, Helsinki 10:33) <br />
<br />
Bus 79940 (Connected with IC 20 from Oulu to Helsinki) <br />
(Vaasa 7:20, Seinäjoki 8:40) <br />
<br />
S2 46 <br />
(Vaasa 9:40, Tervajoki 10:00-10:01, Seinäjoki 10:27-10:37, Parkano 11:11-11:12, Tampere (Tammerfors) 11:55-12:02, Tikkurila 13:18-13:19, Pasila (Böle) 13:27-13:28, Helsinki 13:33) <br />
<br />
IC 48 <br />
(Vaasa 12:40, Tervajoki 13:00-13:01, Seinäjoki 13:27-13:37, Parkano 14:11-14:12, Tampere (Tammerfors) 14:55-15:02, Tikkurila 16:18-16:19, Pasila (Böle) 16:27-16:28, Helsinki 16:33) <br />
<br />
IC 50 <br />
(Vaasa 15:48, Tervajoki 16:08-16:09, Seinäjoki 16:35-16:38, Parkano 17:12-17:13, Tampere (Tammerfors) 17:55-18:02, Tikkurila 19:18-19:19, Pasila (Böle) 19:27-19:28, Helsinki 19:33) <br />
<br />
Bus 79944 (Connected with IC26 from Oulu to Helsinki) <br />
(Vaasa 16:20, Seinäjoki 17:40) <br />
<br />
S2 456 (Connected with S2 56 from Oulu to Helsinki) <br />
(Vaasa 18:30, Tervajoki 18:50-18:51, Seinäjoki 19:17)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Oulu – Kemei – Rovaniemi – [Kemijärvi]'''<br />
There are IC train usually once a three hours. Some IC trains goes just only Oulu-Rovaniemi and few IC trains goes from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi is important crossroad for hitchhiking and Arctic Circle goes through north part of Rovaniemi. Kemi is important crossroad too. It is one stop and 58 min by IC train to Oulu and there is road to Sweden and to Norway – Tromso by FI-SE border. There is train line too krom Kemi to Kolari (small town and northest Finish train station), but trains going to Kolari are quite rare during Summer half-year, one train per day in one directtion goes Helsinki-Oulu-Kemi-Kolari.<br />
Stops between Oulu and Rovaniemi are always the same in both directions, except night train '''IC 265 and IC 274''' , that goes from-to Misi and Kemijärvi, theese trains des not stop Tervola and Muurola. Stops between Oulu and Rovaniemi are ''(Oulu (Uleaborg) – Kemi – Tervola – Muurola – Rovaniemi)''.<br />
<br />
'''From Oulu to Rovaniemi, [Kemijärvi]'''<br />
<br />
IC 265 Night train From Helsinki<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 4:50 4:57, Kemi 6:03 6:07, Rovaniemi 7:28 7:40, Misi 8:16 8:17, Kemijärvi 8:45)<br />
<br />
IC 273 Night train from Helsinki<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 7:19 7:43, Kemi 8:47 8:51, Tervola 9:32 9:33, Muurola 10:19 10:20, Rovaniemi 10:40)<br />
<br />
IC 711 from Kuopio<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 12:24 12:27, Kemi 13:25 13:27, Tervola 13:54 13:55, Muurola 14:22 14:23, Rovaniemi 14:40),<br />
, <br />
IC 413 From Oulu<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 15:03, Kemi 16:01 16:03, Tervola 16:31 16:32, Muurola 16:59 17:00, Rovaniemi 17:17)<br />
<br />
IC 415 From Oulu<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 18:30, Kemi 19:29 19:31, Tervola 19:58 19:59, Muurola 20:26 20:27, Rovaniemi 20:44)<br />
<br />
IC 27 From Helsinki<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 20:52 20:56, Kemi 21:56 22:08, Tervola 22:43 22:48, Muurola 23:15 23:16, Rovaniemi 23:34)<br />
<br />
'''From Rovaniemi, [Kemijärvi] to Oulu'''<br />
<br />
<br />
IC 22 to Helsinki<br />
(Rovaniemi 5:55, Muurola 6:11 6:12, Tervola 6:40 6:41, Kemi 7:08 7:11, Oulu (Uleaborg) 8:15 8:33)<br />
<br />
IC 414 to Oulu<br />
(Rovaniemi 9:27, Muurola 9:43 9:46, Tervola 10:13 10:14, Kemi 10:42 10:45, Oulu (Uleaborg) 11:50)<br />
<br />
IC 416 to Oulu<br />
(Rovaniemi 12:09, Muurola 12:25 12:26, Tervola 12:53 12:54, Kemi 13:22 13:25, Oulu (Uleaborg) 14:23)<br />
<br />
IC 710 to Kuopio<br />
(Rovaniemi 15:18, Muurola 15:34 15:35, Tervola 16:02 16:03, Kemi 16:37 16:40, Oulu (Uleaborg) 17:37 17:42)<br />
<br />
IC 266 Night train to Helsinki<br />
(Rovaniemi 18:03, Muurola 18:21 18:22, Tervola 18:54 18:55, Kemi 19:25 19:30, Oulu (Uleaborg) 20:55 21:23)<br />
<br />
IC 274 Night train to Helsinki<br />
(Kemijärvi 19:45, Misi 20:11 20:12, Rovaniemi 20:50 21:15, Kemi 22:30 22:33, Oulu (Uleaborg) 23:36 23:42)<br />
<br />
'''Helsinki – Tampere – Seinäjoki – Oulu - (Rovaniemi)'''<br />
<br />
This is main train line with most of long-joirney IC and Pendolino trains with two numbers. There are two ways between Helsinki and Oulu. First is '''through Tampere and Seinäjoki'''. The IC and Pendolino trains runs this journey usually once a 2-3 hours. The number of stops is various, some ICs or Pendolinos has more stops and some are with less stops. Seinäjoki is the station, when train line splits to Vaasa and Oulu. There are pendolinos and busses between Seinäjoki and Vaasa, which are connected with trains between Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu. And some two-numbers ICs ans Pendolinos goes to Vaasa. You can get first to Seinäjoki by any train and choose direction to Vaasa or Oulu after (better tactic against be kicked out). All IC and Pelnolinos has two numbers and do not stop between Tikkurila and Tampere. IC trains between Helsinki and Vaasa are with two floors and some ICs between Helsinki and Oulu are with two floors and some only with one floor. For example IC 27 has only one floor and it can go probably faster than 200 kmh. IC 27 goes quite fast from Helsinki to Rovaniemi with not so many stops.<br />
<br />
There are two night IC with pretty long journey in both directions. Stops close to begin and end are more often, but there are not so many stops between Tampere and Oulu. Night ICs: ''IC 273 (Helsinki 21:52 - Rovaniemi 10:40), IC 265 (Helsinki 18:52 - Kemijärvi 8:45), IC 266 (Rovaniemi 18:53 – Helsinki 7:06), IC 274 (Kemijärvi 19:45 – Helsinki 9:00), IC 933 (Turku 21:25 – Tampere 23:22), IC 904 (Tampere 5:56 – Turku 7:50)''. Night IC 933 and 904 are probably connected with long-journey night trains.<br />
<br />
Between Oulu and Rovaniemi some IC trains (during night and day) are only Oulu-Rovaniemi, but some goes from - To Helsinki or Kupio. There are some Express trains on this line between Helsinki and Kolari (Night trains), but theese trains goes only few times per year probably.<br />
<br />
'''From Helsinki to Oulu:'''<br />
<br />
IC 21<br />
(Helsinki 6:27, Pasila (Böle) 6:32-6:33, Tikkurila 6:42-6:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 7:56-8:00, Seinäjoki 9:04-9:08, Lapua 9:20-9:21, Kauhava 9:29-9:30, Pännäien (Bennäs) 9:58-9:59, Kokkola (Karleby) 10:15-10:17, Kannus 10:38-10:39, Ylivieska 11:04-11:06, Oulainen 11:21-11:22, Vihanti 11:35-11:36, Ruukki 11:46-11:47, Kempele 12:07-12:08, Oulu (Uleaborg) 12:18)<br />
<br />
IC 23<br />
(Helsinki 9:27, Pasila (Böle) 9:32-9:33, Tikkurila 9:42-9:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 10:56-11:00, Seinäjoki 12:04-12:08, Kokkola (Karleby) 13:03-13:05, Ylivieska 13:49-13:51, Oulu (Uleaborg) 14:55),<br />
<br />
IC 25<br />
(Helsinki 12:27, Pasila (Böle) 12:32-12:33, Tikkurila 12:42-12:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 13:56-14:00, Seinäjoki 15:04-15:08, Lapua 15:20-15:21, Kauhava 15:29-15:30, Pännäien (Bennäs) 15:58-15:59, Kokkola (Karleby) 16:15-16:17, Kannus 16:38-16:39, Ylivieska 17:03-17:05, Oulainen 17:20-17:21, Vihanti 17:34-17:37, Ruukki 17:47-17:48, Kempele 18:09-18:12, Oulu (Uleaborg) 18:22),<br />
<br />
IC 27<br />
(Helsinki 15:27, Pasila (Böle) 15:32-15:33, Tikkurila 15:42-15:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 16:56-17:00, Seinäjoki 18:04-18:08, Kokkola (Karleby) 19:03-19:05, Ylivieska 19:49-19:51, Oulu (Uleaborg) 20:52-20:56, Kemi 21:56-22:08, Tervola 22:43-22:48, Muurola 23:15-23:16, Rovaniemi 23:34)<br />
<br />
IC 29<br />
(Helsinki 18:27, Pasila (Böle) 18:32-18:33, Tikkurila 18:42-18:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 19:56-20:00, Seinäjoki 21:04-21:08, Pännäien (Bennäs) 21:49-21:52, Kokkola (Karleby) 22:08-22:10, Ylivieska 22:55-22:57, Oulu (Uleaborg) 0:10)<br />
<br />
IC 265 Night train<br />
(Helsinki 18:52, Pasila (Böle) 18:57-19:00, Tikkurila 19:41-19:44, Riihimäki 20:19-20:22, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 20:46-20:48, Tampere (Tammerfors) 21:38-22:11, Parkano 23:00-23:03, Seinäjoki 0:08-0:11, Kokkola (Karleby) 1:48-1:51, Ylivieska 2:47-2:50, Oulu (Uleaborg) 4:50-4:57, Kemi 6:03-6:07, Rovaniemi 7:28-7:40, Misi 8:16-8:17, Kemijärvi 8:45)<br />
<br />
S2 53 (Connected with night IC 265 in Seinäjoki)<br />
(Helsinki 20:27, Pasila (Böle) 20:32-20:33, Tikkurila 20:42-20:43, Tampere (Tammerfors) 21:56-22:00, Parkano 22:33-22:34, Seinäjoki 23:08-23:10, Tervajoki 23:36-23:37, Vaasa 23:57)<br />
<br />
IC 273 Night train<br />
(Helsinki 21:52, Pasila (Böle) 21:57 22:00, Tikkurila 22:41 22:44, Riihimäki 23:19 23:22, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 23:46 23:48, Tampere (Tammerfors) 0:40 1:15, Parkano 2:09 2:11, Seinäjoki 3:01 3:04, Lapua 3:20 3:21, Kauhava 3:31 3:32, Pännäien (Bennäs) 4:17 4:19, Kokkola (Karleby) 4:40 4:43, Kannus 5:06 5:07, Ylivieska 5:35 5:38, Oulainen 5:58 6:01, Vihanti 6:18 6:20, Ruukki 6:34 6:36, Kempele 7:06 7:08, Oulu (Uleaborg) 7:19 7:43, Kemi 8:47 8:51, Tervola 9:32 9:33, Muurola 10:19 10:20, Rovaniemi 10:40)<br />
<br />
'''From Oulu to Helsinki'''<br />
<br />
<br />
IC 20<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 5:29, Ylivieska 6:46 6:50, Kokkola (Karleby) 7:41 7:50, Pännäien (Bennäs) 8:06 8:07, Seinäjoki 8:48 8:53, Tampere (Tammerfors) 9:58 10:02, Tikkurila 11:18 11:19, Pasila (Böle) 11:27 11:28, Helsinki 11:33)<br />
<br />
IC 22<br />
(Rovaniemi 5:55, Muurola 6:11 6:12, Tervola 6:40 6:41, Kemi 7:08 7:11, Oulu (Uleaborg) 8:15 8:33, Kempele 8:41 8:42, Ruukki 9:03 9:04, Vihanti 9:14 9:17, Oulainen 9:31 9:34, Ylivieska 9:50 9:52, Kannus 10:16 10:17, Kokkola (Karleby) 10:40 10:42, Pännäien (Bennäs) 10:58 10:59, Kauhava 11:27 11:28, Lapua 11:36 11:37, Seinäjoki 11:49 11:53, Tampere (Tammerfors) 12:58 13:02, Tikkurila 14:18 14:19, Pasila (Böle) 14:27 14:28, Helsinki 14:33)<br />
<br />
IC 24<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 11:55, Ylivieska 13:05 13:07, Kokkola (Karleby) 13:51 13:53, Seinäjoki 14:50 14:53, Tampere (Tammerfors) 15:58 16:02, Tikkurila 17:18 17:19, Pasila (Böle) 17:27 17:28, Helsinki 17:33)<br />
<br />
IC 26<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 14:34, Kempele 14:42 14:46, Ruukki 15:07 15:08, Vihanti 15:19 15:20, Oulainen 15:33 15:34, Ylivieska 15:50 15:52, Kannus 16:16 16:17, Kokkola (Karleby) 16:40 16:42, Pännäien (Bennäs) 16:58 16:59, Kauhava 17:27 17:28, Lapua 17:36 17:37, Seinäjoki 17:49 17:53, Tampere (Tammerfors) 18:58 19:02, Tikkurila 20:18 20:19, Pasila (Böle) 20:27 20:28, Helsinki 20:33), , <br />
<br />
IC 28<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 18:04, Ylivieska 19:05 19:07, Kokkola (Karleby) 19:51 19:53, Seinäjoki 20:48 20:53, Tampere (Tammerfors) 21:58 22:02, Tikkurila 23:18 23:19, Pasila (Böle) 23:27 23:28, Helsinki 23:33), , <br />
<br />
IC 266 Night train<br />
(Rovaniemi 18:03, Muurola 18:21 18:22, Tervola 18:54 18:55, Kemi 19:25 19:30, Oulu (Uleaborg) 20:55 21:23, Kempele 21:33 21:34, Ruukki 21:56 21:59, Vihanti 22:19 22:21, Oulainen 22:44 22:47, Ylivieska 23:14 23:18, Kannus 23:46 23:48, Kokkola (Karleby) 0:15 0:18, Pännäien (Bennäs) 0:39 0:42, Kauhava 1:22 1:23, Lapua 1:33 1:34, Seinäjoki 1:50 1:55, Parkano 3:03 3:06, Tampere (Tammerfors) 3:55 4:30, Toijala 4:55 4:57, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 5:22 5:24, Riihimäki 5:46 5:48, Tikkurila 6:25 6:27, Pasila (Böle) 6:58 7:00, Helsinki 7:06)<br />
<br />
IC 274 Night train<br />
(Kemijärvi 19:45, Misi 20:11 20:12, Rovaniemi 20:50 21:15, Kemi 22:30 22:33, Oulu (Uleaborg) 23:36 23:42, Ylivieska 1:12 1:15, Kokkola (Karleby) 2:04 2:07, Seinäjoki 3:58 4:02, Tampere (Tammerfors) 5:46 6:12, Toijala 6:38 6:40, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 7:07 7:09, Riihimäki 7:33 7:36, Pasila (Böle) 8:52 8:54, Helsinki 9:00)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Helsinki – Lahti – Kouvola - (Joensuu) – Kuopio – Oulu - (Rovaniemi)'''<br />
<br />
The second journey between Helsinki and Oulu is not through Tampere and Seinäjoki, but through '''Lahti (Lahtis ), Kouvola and Kuopio'''. But this journey is not so good, because there is more stops and less trains. Two number ICs and Pendolinos goes whole journey ''Helsinki - Lahti (Lahtis ) - Kouvola - Kuopio – Oulu'', but with pretty many stops. Some three-number ICs goes only between Kuopio, Oulu (Rovaniemi) with quite lot of stops.<br />
<br />
Some two-number ICs or Pendolinos goes only Helsinki - Lahti (Lahtis ) - Kouvola – Kuopio. Trains between Helsinki and Kuopio (some trains continues from-to Oulu) goes once a 1-3 hour. But it is pretty many stops.<br />
<br />
'''There are one(two) number ICs and Pendolinos between Helsinki and Joensuu (Numbers range 1-12)'''. Trains with number ''1,3,5,7,9,11'' go from Helsinki to Joensuu and trains with number ''2,4,6,8,10,12'' from Joensuu to Helsinki. It is strange, why is only one-number there. Maybe trains are faster there or Joensuu is close to Russia or something else. One-Number trains are with fewests stops, just only ''Tikkurila-Lahti-Kouvola'', '''Kouvola''' is place, where ICs and Pendolinos goes 5 more stops to Kuopio.Some trains goes between Helsinki and Kajaani (Kajana), but not so many trains. Theese trains goes through Kuopio too. Some ICs or Pendolinos can go between Imatra and Helsinki. These trains stops in Kouvola too.<br />
<br />
'''From Helsinki to Oulu'''<br />
<br />
IC 65<br />
(Helsinki 11:17, Pasila (Böle) 11:22-11:23, Tikkurila 11:32-11:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 12:11-12:13, Kouvola 12:42-12:55, Mäntyharju 13:32-13:33, Mikkeli 13:56-13:59, Pieksämäki 14:35-14:38, Suonenjoki 15:00-15:01, Kuopio 15:28-15:43, Siilinjärvi 16:01-16:02, Lapinlahti 16:23-16:26, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 16:41-16:43, Sukeva 17:05-17:06, Kajaani (Kajana) 17:31-17:48, Kontiomäki 18:04-18:06, Paltamo 18:18-18:19, Vaala 18:52-18:53, Utajärvi 19:12-19:13, Muhos 19:29-19:38, Oulu (Uleaborg) 20:10),<br />
<br />
S2 67<br />
(Helsinki 14:17, Pasila (Böle) 14:22-14:23, Tikkurila 14:32-14:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 15:06-15:08, Kouvola 15:35-15:48, Mäntyharju 16:26-16:29, Mikkeli 16:52-16:55, Pieksämäki 17:32-17:38, Suonenjoki 17:59-18:00, Kuopio 18:32-18:38, Siilinjärvi 18:56-18:57, Lapinlahti 19:18-19:19, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 19:34-19:37, Sukeva 19:59-20:00, Kajaani (Kajana) 20:32-21:15, Kontiomäki 21:31-21:33, Paltamo 21:46-21:49, Vaala 22:20-22:21, Utajärvi 22:40-22:41, Muhos 22:56-22:59, Oulu (Uleaborg) 23:30)<br />
<br />
'''From Oulu to Helsinki'''<br />
<br />
S2 66<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 6:55, Muhos 7:22 7:25, Utajärvi 7:42 7:43, Vaala 8:04 8:05, Paltamo 8:38 8:39, Kontiomäki 8:51 8:53, Kajaani (Kajana) 9:09 9:23, Sukeva 9:50 9:51, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 10:14 10:17, Lapinlahti 10:32 10:33, Siilinjärvi 10:56 10:57, Kuopio 11:15 11:23, Suonenjoki 11:50 11:53, Pieksämäki 12:16 12:26, Mikkeli 13:03 13:06, Mäntyharju 13:29 13:32, Kouvola 14:09 14:20, Lahti (Lahtis) 14:47 14:49, Tikkurila 15:23 15:24, Pasila (Böle) 15:32 15:33, Helsinki 15:39)<br />
<br />
IC 70<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 12:46, Muhos 13:16 13:17, Utajärvi 13:34 13:35, Vaala 13:54 13:55, Paltamo 14:33 14:34, Kontiomäki 14:46 14:58, Kajaani (Kajana) 15:14 15:17, Sukeva 15:42 15:45, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 16:08 16:11, Lapinlahti 16:26 16:27, Siilinjärvi 16:48 16:49, Kuopio 17:08 17:12, Suonenjoki 17:40 17:41, Pieksämäki 18:10 18:14, Mikkeli 18:51 18:54, Mäntyharju 19:17 19:18, Kouvola 19:56 20:16, Lahti (Lahtis) 20:46 20:48, Tikkurila 21:26 21:27, Pasila (Böle) 21:35 21:36, Helsinki 21:42),<br />
<br />
'''ICs between Oulu (Rovaniemi) and Kuopio only'''<br />
<br />
<br />
IC 711<br />
(Kuopio 7:53, Siilinjärvi 8:17 8:18, Lapinlahti 8:39 8:40, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 8:55 8:57, Sukeva 9:19 9:20, Kajaani (Kajana) 9:50 9:57, Kontiomäki 10:13 10:15, Paltamo 10:27 10:28, Vaala 11:01 11:08, Utajärvi 11:29 11:33, Muhos 11:48 11:51, Oulu (Uleaborg) 12:24 12:27, Kemi 13:25 13:27, Tervola 13:54 13:55, Muurola 14:22 14:23, Rovaniemi 14:40)<br />
<br />
IC 713<br />
(Kuopio 12:45, Siilinjärvi 13:03 13:04, Lapinlahti 13:26 13:27, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 13:42 13:44, Sukeva 14:06 14:07, Kajaani (Kajana) 14:32 14:34, Kontiomäki 14:50 14:52, Paltamo 15:04 15:05, Vaala 15:36 15:37, Utajärvi 15:56 15:57, Muhos 16:11 16:12, Oulu (Uleaborg) 16:51)<br />
<br />
IC 716<br />
(Oulu (Uleaborg) 10:00, Muhos 10:30 10:31, Utajärvi 10:48 10:49, Vaala 11:08 11:09, Paltamo 11:45 11:46, Kontiomäki 11:58 11:59, Kajaani (Kajana) 12:15 12:17, Sukeva 12:42 12:43, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 13:06 13:08, Lapinlahti 13:23 13:26, Siilinjärvi 13:47 13:48, Kuopio 14:07)<br />
<br />
IC 710<br />
(Rovaniemi 15:18, Muurola 15:34 15:35, Tervola 16:02 16:03, Kemi 16:37 16:40, Oulu (Uleaborg) 17:37 17:42, Muhos 18:07 18:10, Utajärvi 18:25 18:28, Vaala 18:47 18:52, Paltamo 19:29 19:30, Kontiomäki 19:42 19:44, Kajaani (Kajana) 20:00 20:06, Sukeva 20:31 20:32, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 20:55 20:57, Lapinlahti 21:12 21:13, Siilinjärvi 21:34 21:35, Kuopio 21:53)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''From Helsinki to Kuopio'''<br />
<br />
IC 63<br />
(Helsinki 8:17, Pasila (Böle) 8:22 8:23, Tikkurila 8:32 8:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 9:06 9:08, Kouvola 9:35 9:45, Mäntyharju 10:22 10:25, Mikkeli 10:48 10:51, Pieksämäki 11:28 11:31, Suonenjoki 11:53 11:54, Kuopio 12:20)<br />
<br />
IC 65 to Oulu<br />
(Helsinki 11:17, Pasila (Böle) 11:22 11:23, Tikkurila 11:32 11:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 12:11 12:13, Kouvola 12:42 12:55, Mäntyharju 13:32 13:33, Mikkeli 13:56 13:59, Pieksämäki 14:35 14:38, Suonenjoki 15:00 15:01, Kuopio 15:28 15:43)<br />
<br />
S2 67 to Oulu<br />
(Helsinki 14:17, Pasila (Böle) 14:22 14:23, Tikkurila 14:32 14:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 15:06 15:08, Kouvola 15:35 15:48, Mäntyharju 16:26 16:29, Mikkeli 16:52 16:55, Pieksämäki 17:32 17:38, Suonenjoki 17:59 18:00, Kuopio 18:32 18:38)<br />
<br />
IC 7 to Joensuu (Change train in Kouvola)<br />
(Helsinki 15:17, Pasila (Böle) 15:22 15:23, Tikkurila 15:32 15:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 16:06 16:08, Kouvola 16:35 16:37, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 17:15 17:17, Imatra 17:37 17:40, Joensuu 19:23)<br />
<br />
Ex 701 (Connected with IC 7)<br />
(Kouvola 16:49, Mäntyharju 17:26 17:27, Mikkeli 17:50 17:52, Pieksämäki 18:34 18:37, Suonenjoki 18:59 19:00, Kuopio 19:27)<br />
<br />
S2 9<br />
(Helsinki 16:17, Pasila (Böle) 16:22 16:23, Tikkurila 16:32 16:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 17:06 17:08, Kouvola 17:35 17:47, Mäntyharju 18:24 18:25, Mikkeli 18:48 18:51, Pieksämäki 19:28 19:32, Suonenjoki 19:54 19:55, Kuopio 20:23 20:27, Siilinjärvi 20:44 20:45, Lapinlahti 21:06 21:12, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 21:28 21:31, Sukeva 21:53 21:54, Kajaani (Kajana) 22:20)<br />
<br />
IC 73<br />
(Helsinki 19:17, Pasila (Böle) 19:22 19:26, Tikkurila 19:34 19:35, Lahti (Lahtis) 20:07 20:09, Kouvola 20:36 20:47, Mäntyharju 21:24 21:25, Mikkeli 21:48 21:50, Pieksämäki 22:27 22:29, Suonenjoki 22:53 22:54, Kuopio 23:21)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''From Kuopio to Helsinki'''<br />
<br />
Ex 700 (Connected with IC 104)<br />
(Kuopio 4:40, Suonenjoki 5:07 5:08, Pieksämäki 5:30 5:33, Mikkeli 6:10 6:13, Mäntyharju 6:36 6:37, Kouvola 7:15),<br />
<br />
IC 104<br />
(Imatra 6:15, Joutseno 6:26 6:27, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 6:39 6:42, Kouvola 7:20 7:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 7:50 7:52, Tikkurila 8:26 8:27, Pasila (Böle) 8:35 8:36, Helsinki 8:42)<br />
<br />
IC 62<br />
(Kuopio 5:35, Suonenjoki 6:02 6:03, Pieksämäki 6:25 6:29, Mikkeli 7:06 7:09, Mäntyharju 7:32 7:33, Kouvola 8:11 8:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 8:50 8:52, Tikkurila 9:26 9:27, Pasila (Böle) 9:35 9:36, Helsinki 9:42)<br />
<br />
S2 64<br />
(Kajaani (Kajana) 6:33, Sukeva 6:58 6:59, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 7:22 7:25, Lapinlahti 7:40 7:41, Siilinjärvi 8:02 8:03, Kuopio 8:21 8:26, Suonenjoki 8:53 8:54, Pieksämäki 9:16 9:22, Mikkeli 9:59 10:02, Mäntyharju 10:25 10:27, Kouvola 11:06 11:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 11:50 11:52, Tikkurila 12:26 12:27, Pasila (Böle) 12:35 12:36, Helsinki 12:42)<br />
<br />
S2 66 from Oulu<br />
(Kuopio 11:15 11:23, Suonenjoki 11:50 11:53, Pieksämäki 12:16 12:26, Mikkeli 13:03 13:06, Mäntyharju 13:29 13:32, Kouvola 14:09 14:20, Lahti (Lahtis) 14:47 14:49, Tikkurila 15:23 15:24, Pasila (Böle) 15:32 15:33, Helsinki 15:39)<br />
<br />
IC 68<br />
(Kuopio 14:30, Suonenjoki 14:57 15:00, Pieksämäki 15:22 15:26, Mikkeli 16:03 16:06, Mäntyharju 16:29 16:30, Kouvola 17:12 17:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 17:50 17:52, Tikkurila 18:26 18:27, Pasila (Böle) 18:35 18:36, Helsinki 18:42)<br />
<br />
IC 70 from Oulu<br />
(Kuopio 17:08 17:12, Suonenjoki 17:40 17:41, Pieksämäki 18:10 18:14, Mikkeli 18:51 18:54, Mäntyharju 19:17 19:18, Kouvola 19:56 20:16, Lahti (Lahtis) 20:46 20:48, Tikkurila 21:26 21:27, Pasila (Böle) 21:35 21:36, Helsinki 21:42)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''From Helsinki to Joensuu'''<br />
<br />
IC 1<br />
(Helsinki 7:23, Pasila (Böle) 7:28 7:29, Tikkurila 7:37 7:38, Lahti (Lahtis) 8:10 8:12, Kouvola 8:39 8:41, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 9:19 9:21, Joutseno 9:33 9:34, Imatra 9:45 9:47, Simpele 10:13 10:14, Parikkala 10:26 10:29, Kesälahti 10:50 10:51, Kitee 11:08 11:09, Joensuu 11:40)<br />
<br />
IC 3<br />
(Helsinki 10:17, Pasila (Böle) 10:22 10:23, Tikkurila 10:32 10:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 11:06 11:08, Kouvola 11:35 11:37, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 12:15 12:19, Joutseno 12:31 12:32, Imatra 12:43 12:46, Simpele 13:12 13:13, Parikkala 13:26 13:29, Kesälahti 13:50 13:51, Kitee 14:08 14:09, Joensuu 14:40)<br />
<br />
R 723 (Connected with IC 63 Helsinki - Kuopio)<br />
(Pieksämäki 11:42, Varkaus 12:17 12:19, Heinävesi 12:50 12:51, Vihtari 13:06 13:07, Viinijärvi 13:30 13:31, Joensuu 13:53)<br />
<br />
IC 5<br />
(Helsinki 13:17, Pasila (Böle) 13:22 13:23, Tikkurila 13:32 13:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 14:06 14:08, Kouvola 14:35 14:37, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 15:15 15:19, Joutseno 15:31 15:32, Imatra 15:43 15:46, Simpele 16:12 16:13, Parikkala 16:26 16:29, Kesälahti 16:50 16:51, Kitee 17:08 17:09, Joensuu 17:40)<br />
<br />
IC 7<br />
(Helsinki 15:17, Pasila (Böle) 15:22 15:23, Tikkurila 15:32 15:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 16:06 16:08, Kouvola 16:35 16:37, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 17:15 17:17, Imatra 17:37 17:40, Joensuu 19:23)<br />
<br />
S2 9<br />
(Helsinki 16:17, Pasila (Böle) 16:22 16:23, Tikkurila 16:32 16:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 17:06 17:08, Kouvola 17:35 17:39, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 18:17 18:20, Joutseno 18:32 18:33, Imatra 18:44 18:46, Simpele 19:12 19:13, Parikkala 19:26 19:31, Kesälahti 19:52 19:53, Kitee 20:10 20:11, Joensuu 20:42)<br />
<br />
IC 11<br />
(Helsinki 18:17, Pasila (Böle) 18:22 18:23, Tikkurila 18:32 18:33, Lahti (Lahtis) 19:06 19:08, Kouvola 19:35 19:37, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 20:15 20:17, Joutseno 20:29 20:30, Imatra 20:41 20:43, Simpele 21:09 21:10, Parikkala 21:23 21:25, Kesälahti 21:46 21:47, Kitee 22:04 22:05, Joensuu 22:36)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''From Joensuu to Helsinki'''<br />
<br />
S2 2<br />
(Joensuu 5:18, Kitee 5:50 5:51, Parikkala 6:27 6:28, Imatra 7:03 7:05, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 7:26 7:28, Kouvola 8:06 8:08, Lahti (Lahtis) 8:35 8:37, Tikkurila 9:11 9:12, Pasila (Böle) 9:20 9:21, Helsinki 9:27)<br />
<br />
IC 4<br />
(Joensuu 6:17, Kitee 6:49 6:50, Kesälahti 7:07 7:08, Parikkala 7:29 7:31, Simpele 7:43 7:44, Imatra 8:10 8:12, Joutseno 8:23 8:24, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 8:36 8:40, Kouvola 9:18 9:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 9:50 9:52, Tikkurila 10:26 10:27, Pasila (Böle) 10:35 10:36, Helsinki 10:42)<br />
<br />
R 720 (Connected to S2 64 from Kajaani (Kajana) and Kuopio to Helsinki)<br />
(Joensuu 7:00, Viinijärvi 7:22 7:23, Vihtari 7:46 7:47, Heinävesi 8:02 8:03, Varkaus 8:34 8:37, Pieksämäki 9:12)<br />
<br />
S2 64<br />
(Kajaani (Kajana) 6:33, Sukeva 6:58 6:59, Idensalmi (Iisalmi) 7:22 7:25, Lapinlahti 7:40 7:41, Siilinjärvi 8:02 8:03, Kuopio 8:21 8:26, Suonenjoki 8:53 8:54, Pieksämäki 9:16 9:22, Mikkeli 9:59 10:02, Mäntyharju 10:25 10:27, Kouvola 11:06 11:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 11:50 11:52, Tikkurila 12:26 12:27, Pasila (Böle) 12:35 12:36, Helsinki 12:42), , <br />
<br />
IC 6<br />
(Joensuu 9:17, Kitee 9:49 9:50, Kesälahti 10:07 10:08, Parikkala 10:29 10:31, Simpele 10:43 10:44, Imatra 11:10 11:12, Joutseno 11:23 11:24, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 11:36 11:40, Kouvola 12:18 12:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 12:50 12:52, Tikkurila 13:26 13:27, Pasila (Böle) 13:35 13:36, Helsinki 13:42)<br />
<br />
IC 8<br />
(Joensuu 12:17, Kitee 12:49 12:50, Kesälahti 13:07 13:08, Parikkala 13:29 13:31, Simpele 13:43 13:44, Imatra 14:10 14:12, Joutseno 14:23 14:24, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 14:36 14:40, Kouvola 15:18 15:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 15:50 15:52, Tikkurila 16:26 16:27, Pasila (Böle) 16:35 16:36, Helsinki 16:42)<br />
<br />
IC 10<br />
(Joensuu 15:17, Kitee 15:49 15:50, Kesälahti 16:07 16:08, Parikkala 16:29 16:31, Simpele 16:43 16:44, Imatra 17:10 17:12, Joutseno 17:23 17:28, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 17:40 17:42, Kouvola 18:20 18:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 18:50 18:52, Tikkurila 19:26 19:27, Pasila (Böle) 19:35 19:36, Helsinki 19:42)<br />
<br />
R 724 (Connected with IC 70 from Oulu and Kuopio to Helsinki)<br />
(Joensuu 15:50, Viinijärvi 16:12 16:13, Vihtari 16:36 16:37, Heinävesi 16:52 16:53, Varkaus 17:24 17:27, Pieksämäki 18:02)<br />
<br />
IC 70<br />
(Pieksämäki 18:10 18:14, Mikkeli 18:51 18:54, Mäntyharju 19:17 19:18, Kouvola 19:56 20:16, Lahti (Lahtis) 20:46 20:48, Tikkurila 21:26 21:27, Pasila (Böle) 21:35 21:36, Helsinki 21:42)<br />
<br />
IC 12<br />
(Joensuu 18:17, Kitee 18:49 18:52, Kesälahti 19:09 19:10, Parikkala 19:31 19:33, Simpele 19:45 19:46, Imatra 20:12 20:14, Joutseno 20:25 20:29, Lappeenranta (Vilman.) 20:41 20:43, Kouvola 21:21 21:23, Lahti (Lahtis) 21:50 21:52, Tikkurila 22:26 22:27, Pasila (Böle) 22:35 22:36, Helsinki 22:42)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Helsinki-Lahti-Kouvola'''<br />
<br />
There is usually once a 1-2 hours Pendolino or IC train with two (or only one or three) numbers, IC or Pendolino '''does not stop between Tikkurila''' and '''Lahti''' (in area with a lot of city trains). It is only around 33 minutes from Tikkurila to Lahti. Trains with number 1 to 12 are best for going further, they go from-to ''Joensuu''. With all two-number or one-number IC or Pendolino - next stop after Lahti (Lahtis) is already Kouvola, where train line splits to Kuopio and Joensuu. It is only around 27 minutes between Kouvola and Lahti. Some ICs or Pendolinos can go between Imatra and Helsinki (two or three numbers IC or Pendolino). These trains stops just in Tikkurila, Lahti and Kouvola too.<br />
<br />
There is around every 30-60 min '''commuter city train between Helsinki and Lahti'''. This train is without regular checking, sometimes, they check tickets, but next top is not so far and you have enough time to get off usually. Trains are like blue R – regional at idos.cz, but the letter on Helsinki map and departure board will be another It takes just 61 minutes from Helsinki to Lahti, this train does not stop so much in every stop. Stops are ''Helsinki – Pasila (Böle) – Tikkurila – Kerava (Kervo) – Haarajoki – Mäntsälä – Lahti (Lahtis).'' Kerava (Kervo) is still with plenty of commuter trains and the train line splits there to Tampere and Lahti.<br />
<br />
There are international trains from Helsinki to St. Pettersburg in Russsia too (red INT or green AE at idos.cz). These train stops in Lahti and Kouvola too. But as you know, the international train from-to Russia has very hard border checking and you need visa. Hard checking can be any time in this train. This train even does not stop in Pasila (Böle). International trains are expensive and ticket checking might be hard.<br />
<br />
'''Helsinki – St. Petersburg – (Moscow)'''<br />
<br />
There is international train (with reservation obligatory) between Helsinki (Finland) and St. Petersburg (Russia). It is '''Allegro''' fast train with one floor, it looks like Pendolino (green '''AE''' or red '''INT''' at idos.cz). This train even does not stop at Pasila (Böle). This train belongs to Finish Company vr.fi too. There are 4 trains per day in both directions St. Petersburk – Helsinki. Journey takes 3:27 hours. From Helsinki to St. Petersburg all stations in Finland are for boarding only and all stations in Russia are only for getting off. From St. Petersburg to Helsinki all stations in Russia are for boarding only and all stations in Russia are only for getting off. Trains are at idos.cz like green AE and at least first train from Helsinki AE 782 is marked too like red INT 782 with all stations for boarding and getting off. Vainikkala is the small village on border, there is border crossing FI-RU.<br />
<br />
And of course, there is quite hard checking by border or it can be any time during journey. Not ticket checking, but passports and Visa checking, or if you smuggle something. And ticket checking can be hard too. You need visa to Russia and you have to know, where you go before. Visa can cost Eur 50-100 and it tan be difficult with offices to get visa. There are four Allegro trains per day in one direction.<br />
<br />
Stops are always the same: ''(Helsinki FI, Tikkurila FI, Lahti (Lahtis) FI, Kouvola FI, Vainikkala FI-RU border crossing, Viipuri (Vyborg) RU, St Petersburg Finlya RU)''.<br />
<br />
One of four trains per day:<br />
<br />
'''From Helsinki to St. Petersburg''' - ''INT 782 RED/AE 782 GREEN (Helsinki 7:20 - St Petersburg Finlya 10:47), INT 784 RED/AE 784 GREEN (Helsinki 11:00 - St Petersburg Finlya 14:27), INT 786 RED/AE 786 GREEN (Helsinki 16:00 - St Petersburg Finlya 19:27), INT 788 RED/AE 788 GREEN (Helsinki 20:00 - St Petersburg Finlya 23:27)''.<br />
<br />
'''From St. Pettersburg to Helsinki''' - ''INT 781 RED/AE 781 GREEN (St Petersburg Finlya 6:40 – Helsinki 10:07), INT 783 RED/AE 783 GREEN (St Petersburg Finlya 11:30 – Helsinki 14:57), INT 785 RED/AE 785 GREEN (St Petersburg Finlya 15:30 – Helsinki 18:57), INT 787 RED/AE 787 GREEN (St Petersburg Finlya 20:30 – Helsinki 23:57)''.<br />
<br />
<br />
There is once a day in one direction night train (green ''N'''Z at idos.cz) '''between Helsinki and Moscow'''. These trains are with beds and maybe with seats too. These trains does not stops so much between St. Petersburg and Moscow (only one station '''Tver'''). But of course, you need this visa and checking visa, passports or if you smuggle something, it is probably hard. And ticket checking can be hard too. These trains are by Russian train company. Vainikkala is the small village on border, there is border crossing FI-RU. Night trains (NZ 30 and NZ 31) stops at another St. Petersburg platform St Petersburg Ladogskii, but trains INT-AE during day start-end at St Petersburg Finlya.<br />
<br />
Trains NZ 31 and NZ 32 between Helsinki and Moscow belongs Russian train company RŽD; Novaya Basmannaya 2, 107174 Moscow, Russia . Journey takes 14:32 hours from Helsinki to Moscow and 14:27 hours from Moscow to Helsinki. NZ 31 and NZ 32 stops at Pasila (Böle) and Tikkurila.<br />
<br />
NZ 31 Night Train <br />
(Helsinki 18:47, Pasila (Böle) 18:52-18:53, Tikkurila 19:02-19:03, Lahti (Lahtis) 19:52-19:54, Kouvola 20:32-20:35, Vainikkala 21:30-22:15, Buslovskaja 22:23-22:33, Viipuri (Vyborg) 22:56-23:36, St Petersburg Ladogskii 1:18-1:53, Tver 6:50-6:51, Moskva Oktiabrskaia 9:19)<br />
<br />
NZ 32 Night train <br />
(Moskva Oktiabrskaia 23:10, Tver 1:10-1:11, St Petersburg Ladogskii 5:46-6:01, Viipuri (Vyborg) 7:54-8:34, Buslovskaja 8:56-9:06, Vainikkala 9:14-10:14, Kouvola 11:09-11:11, Lahti(Lahtis) 11:58-12:00, Tikkurila 12:53-12:54, Pasila (Böle) 13:29-13:31, Helsinki 13:37)<br />
<br />
'''DEATH BY EXAM'''<br />
<br />
'''Only really big trains stations in big cities has waiting room with heating. Most of stations with commuter city trains around Helsinki and even most of stations with IC trains (even sometimes two-number ICs) are without waiting room.''' And waiting rooms in big stations are probably closed during night. There are quite lot of IC trains between Turku-Helsinki, Helsinki-Lahti or Helsinki-Tampere. The next train goes after one of two hours. But between Pori-Tampere or Tampere Turku is time to next train already 3-4 hours. Between Kouvola-Kuopio or Kouvola-Joensuu, is time to next train 3-4 hours. On the line Tampere-Vaasa-Seinäjoki -Oulu is time to next train 2-4 hours, not all trains stops in all stops. Between Kuopion and Oulu is time time to next train around 4 hours, there are around 3-4 trains per day. But not all trains stops in all stops. Between Oulu and Rovaniemi is interval to next train 3-4 hours and there is only one train per day in one direction between Rovaniemi and Kemjäarvi. Trains between Kemi and Kolari are really rare. Night trains goes only Helsinki-Tampere-Oulu-Rovaniemi, two trains per night in one direction. If you are kicked out from last train, then text train will go at morning.<br />
<br />
Like in Sweden and Norway, '''Death during exam is possible in winter time, in case, that you fail, and waiting room is not in your station (or waiting room is closed during night)'''.<br />
<br />
Hitchiking can be difficult sometime, because there are not so many cars except between big cities. Some smaller road or roads in whole Lapland can be only with few cars and you can wait on the road many hours. Cars can goes only one per 1-5 minutes even in bigger roads. In smaller roads or in Lapland it can be one car per 10 minutes or even one car per hour (and temperature bellow -30 degrees). And people are in this time more afraid to take hitchhikers. And some roads can be closed during winter, because of snow.<br />
<br />
But in winter in deep frost, you can go to police station and they should let you be there during night. And if you tell that you have no place to sleep and you refuse leave train in cold weather, conductor can call police and police let you be at station during night or even conductor let you travel, if you are polite. It works in Norway and Sweden too, during cold winter. The same in the bus. Bus driver can let you travel, if you are polite. You can get fine in train, it is Eur 80 plus ticket price, but if you are not finish, you don't need to pay.<br />
<br />
Finland has coldest winters from all countries in Shengen - European Union (winter in north Finland is often colder than in Svalbard, but Greenland is much colder). Reason is position – Finland is quite far from Ocean and Scandinavian mountains blocked warm air from Atlantic. But most of Finland is flat with a lot of lakes and cold continental Arctic air from Russia can easily flow through lowlands. And of course, Finland is north, most south part of Finland is already 59.8 degrees, more north than whole Denmark and big part of Sweden-Norway. End of Baltic Sea is 65,8 degrees north and Oulu is already 65 degrees, Rovaniemi is by Arctic circle, Inari 68.9 deg, Ustjoki 69.9 deg and most north point of Finland is 70.09 degrees north, by Nuorgam (70.08 deg.).<br />
<br />
The actual temperature (UTC time, actualization every 3 hours) you can find here: meteomodel.pl/AKT/IMG/temp99.png , past weather and climate you can find here for many places in Finland you can find here: en.tutiempo.net/climate/finland.html The weather forecast you can find at yr.no for any town in Norway-Europe-World or at en.tutiempo.net too.<br />
<br />
Winter temperature can go easily even around Helsinki bellow -15 or -20, sometimes around Tampere can be -20 and rarely -25 or even -30 degrees. Area around Kupio-Oulu is with snow since Autumn to April. Temperature is here between 0 and -15 usually, can be here -20 to -30 during cold vawe, rarely -35. Winter temperature in Rovaniemi area is from 0 to -20 normal winter temperature, it is various. But it can be here -30 or even -35. There can be a lot of snow, up to one meter.<br />
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In Sami region is no train, only buses and cars. There is not so many cars especially in winter (tourist go there during summer). There is snow until May-June. Winter temperature is ussually from -5 to -25, sometimes during cold wave bellow -30 or -35, rarely even bellow -40 (-45 in some valleys). Traffic is good between Rovaniemi - Ivalo - Inari, but north from Inari is traffic low, one car per 3-20 min, it depends on place and time.<br />
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The day length in December is in south Finland just from 9am to 4pm, but around Oulu is day length only 2-5 hours, including twilight. Around Rovaniemi is only 1 hour day length but 2-4 more hours twilight, light is like from 9-10 am to 3-4pm. There is whole December Sun behind Horizon in Inari, but few hours of twilight (Sun is not so deep behind Horizon), light is usually from 9-10am to 2-3pm. Day length in June is huge. Even in Helsinki Sun is only 3-5 hours behind horizon, but not so deep and whole night is little bit of light. Sun goes only around 1 hour behind horizon in Oulu in June. But Sun is not so deep behind horizon and there is a lot of light whole night. There is Arctic circle in Rovaniemi, it means that 21th June Sun just tough horizon around midnight. And in Inari, or more far north Sun never goes behind horizon, but Sun makes circle on the sky during day.<br />
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Finland is with plenty of lakes, it means a lot of mosquitoes in Summer. Situation around Helsinki is not so terrible, but there are quite a lot of mosquitoes in central Finland. And around Sami Land, Inari, Rovaniemi, there are huge swarms of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes does not bring any diseases, but huge swarms of mosquitoes all time, it is difficult.<br />
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'''Oulu- Kemi – Tornio - Kolari and back'''<br />
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Kemi is station, where the train line splits, one branch is along E75 to Tervola, Muurola, Rovaniemi, (Misi, Kemijärvi), and second branch to Tornio (SE-FI border), Ylitornio, Pello, Kolari along E8. Kolari is most north station in Finland. E8 continue to point NO-SE-FI in mountains and to Tromso in Norway, Atlantic coast. Arctic circle is between stations Ylitornio and Pello, quite close to Pello.<br />
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolari_railway_station<br />
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There is night train from Helsinki, Tampere to Kolari, by vr.fi (and it cost Eur 88 from Helsinkito Kolari in 2017). idos.cz first does not want to find train to Kolari, but now, if have found. It is night train with beds and wagon for cars Ex 269. Ex 269 goes from 29th April – 1st May, 15th, 17th and 18th July only. Trains to Kolari are very rare during summer half year. But during winter half year one train per day in one direction goes between Kemi and Kolari, it is Ex train between Helsinki-Tampere-Oulu-Kemi-Tornio-Kolari. This train have seat, beds, bistro wagon, wagon for cars and conductors too.<br />
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There can be some freight trains, probably with wood between Kolari and Oulu or more south. It can be possible to hind some HOBO (taking freight trains or freight hoping) and travel by train hoping on wood. The rail-road ends little bit behind Kolari, there can be some freight trains.<br />
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Ex 269: ''(Helsinki 20:52, Pasila (Böle) 20:57-21:00, Tikkurila 21:41-21:44, Riihimäki 22:19-22:22, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 22:46-22:48, Tampere (Tammerfors) 23:36-23:59, Seinäjoki 1:53-1:56, Kokkola (Karleby) 3:36-3:39, Ylivieska 4:30-4:32, Oulu (Uleaborg) 5:52-6:22, Kemi 7:45-7:48, Tornio Itäinen 8:13-8:16, Ylitornio 9:08-9:12, Pello 9:59-10:02, Kolari 10:48)''<br />
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From Kolari to south goes one train per day between Kolari-Kemi (Tornio-Kemi-Oulu-Tampere-Helsinki) in winter half year, trains for passengers in Summer half year are pretty rare - Ex 270 goes only 29-30th April and 17th June and Ex 272 goes only 1st May and 15th, 18th June. Night trains with beds, seats and wagon for cars.<br />
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Ex 270: ''(Kolari 18:20, Pello 19:07-19:09, Ylitornio 19:57-19:59, Tornio Itäinen 20:49-20:51, Kemi 21:16-21:20, Oulu (Uleaborg) 22:38-23:10, Ylivieska 0:43-0:46, Kokkola (Karleby) 1:45-1:49, Seinäjoki 3:28-3:31, Tampere (Tammerfors) 5:35-5:43, Toijala 6:08-6:10, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 6:35-6:37, Riihimäki 7:00-7:02, Tikkurila 7:46-7:48, Pasila (Böle) 8:24-8:26, Helsinki 8:32)'' .<br />
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Ex 272 : ''(Kolari 18:20, Pello 19:07-19:09, Ylitornio 19:57-19:59, Tornio Itäinen 20:49-20:51, Kemi 21:16-21:20, Oulu (Uleaborg) 22:38-23:10, Ylivieska 0:43-0:46, Kokkola (Karleby) 1:45-1:49, Seinäjoki 3:28-3:31, Tampere (Tammerfors) 5:35-6:22, Toijala 6:49-7:01, Hämeenlinna (Tavastia) 7:26-7:53, Riihimäki 8:16-8:18, Tikkurila 8:58-9:00, Pasila (Böle) 9:29-9:31, Helsinki 9:37)''.<br />
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'''Tornio''' is big crossroad, border SE-FI by Baltic coast. There is no train to Sweden (from Kemi, Tornio to Boden (SE)). There is railway from Kemi to Sweden - Boden, Luleaa, but not with personal trains, there might be some freight trains. There is main road to Luleaa or Boden, closest Swedish train stations. Tornio and Tervola is not the same station, Tervola is after Kemi, on the way to Rovaniemi, behind rail crossroad.<br />
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'''TO SAMI LAND AND FINMARK'''<br />
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'''To Sami land and lakes, Ivalo, Inari, and Finmark – Norway (Tromso, Alta, Nordkapp, Kirkenes, , Vadso, Vardo)'''<br />
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'''There is no no train line more far in Lapland, to Sami region'''. The last town with good train connection is Rovaniemi. North edge of Rovaniemi is on Arctic circle. Only once a day train go from-to Misi and Kemijärvi, but theese stations are out of main road E75, Rovaniemi is the best. Kemijärvi is close to big lake in Lapland.<br />
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There is bus going from Rovaniemi to Ivalo, Inari, Utsjoki, Nuorgam, some busses goes from Rovaniemi, Ivalo, Inari to north Norway too. But buses are quite empty, not so often and it can be difficult to take bus for free. These buses are quite expensive (Eur 20 per 100 km).<br />
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Hitchhiking on the road E75 from Rovaniemi to north good, traffic is good until Inari, quite low after Inari, but drivers stops. Road E75 goes from Rovaniemi to crossroad in village '''Vikajärvi'''. Road No. 82 goes from Vikajärvi to east, to big lake and Kemijärvi, Misi is about 10 km south from this road. The main road E75 continues to nort, to Sami region. E75 is main road trough Lapland to east Finmark. Population density is very low and villages and towns are only small (Rovaniemi is last big city). Distances between villages and towns is quite big. Lot of tourist goes to north too.<br />
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First bigger town (not small village) is '''Sodankilä''', 67,4 degrees north. There is crossroad in Sodankilä. '''E75''' goes south to Rovaniemi and north to '''Inari''', '''E63''' goes first to south-east but after a while to south – to ''Kemijärvi''. The road No. 80 goes to Kittilä and from Kittilä to south-west to Kolari. Road No. 79 goes from Kittila to south to Rovaniemi and to north-west to big lake Jerisjärvi and to town Muonio. Muonio is on Swedish Border and there is E8 towards Kilpisjärvi and Tromso.<br />
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'''E75''' continues more north from Sodankilä to big lakes around 68.0-68.3 degrees north (lakes are few kilometers from road), there is no town, only small village Vuoma-Vuosto. More north is small town Ivalo, around 68,55 degrees north. There is river in Ivalo, plenty of lakes around. From Ivalo goes road No. 91 to East-South to Russian border, but low traffic is on this road (Murmansk is 303 km far and Utsjoki 164 km far from Ivalo).<br />
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Little bit north from '''Ivalo''' (couple of 10km), around 68,75 degrees are two big lakes. Ukonjärvi lake close to road in east side and Rahajärvi in west. Village '''Inari''' in Municipality Inari is 68.9 degrees north, at '''E75'''. Inari is town of sami culture, with Sami library, museum and parlament. It is about '''325 km north from Arctic Circle and Rovaniemi'''. There are hotels and museum, (not dumpsters behind hotel found), and K market with big open container behind, waste is mixed. There is big lake by Inari – InariJarvi. There is even airport in Inari and Ivalo, but in is not possible get in without ticket and it is non-ecological.<br />
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'''From Inari E75 continues to Finish-Norway border'''. At 69,135 degrees – there is ''crossroad E75 to north and road 92'', by Kaamanen village. There is river and lot of small lakes. ''Road No. 92 goes to Norway'', to '''Karasjohka''', from Karasjohka E6 continues to Lakselv, Nordkapp, Alta. From Karasjohka road E6 continue by Norway-Finish border to Utsjoki, Tana bru, Kirkenes, Vadso, Vardo.<br />
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'''E75''' continues from Inari and Kaamanen to north to '''Norway-Finish border – Utsjoki'''. There is river by this way and some small villages, lot of lakes. Utsjoki is 69.88-69.91 degrees north. By Utsjoki E6 and E75 from south meet. There is meeting of big Tana river by FI-NO border with river from Kaamen. There is bridge through Tana River between FI and NO and Custom is in Utsjoki. There is E6 to Karasjohka - Tana Bru - Varangebotn in Norwegian side and road 970 from Ustjoki to Nuorgam, Skippagura (NO) with road E6. Nourgam (70.081 north) is most north town of Finland (exactly most north point of Finland is about 3 km east from Nuorgam - by Tana river (river side 70.0922,27.955)).<br />
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== [[France]] ==<br />
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Ticket checks are only occasionally performed on TER trains, and even the conductors on TGV trains do not always check tickets. When they do, it may only happen later in the journey, unlike in most countries where all tickets all checked at the beginning of the route.<br />
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For non-French citizens/residents fines virtually don't exist. Feel free to give your passport and a fake (or real) address. You can have as many fines as you want. They disappear from their system within two months. Whatever it says on the back of the fine (about fines adding up etc.) might or might not be true, but it ONLY applies to French citizens/residents. Sometimes ticket inspectors bluff (a lot) that they will call the police, while trying to get you to pay on spot. You have nothing to worry about. As long as you keep calm and polite they have no legal reason to call the cops. They just hate writing fines because it is extra work for them and they get to write a lot of fines every day. So if you are nice and have a good story, they won't pressure you or try to kick you off, as they sometimes do. <br />
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If you don't have an ID the cops will be called and, as the law is in France, you have to prove your identity, which means just giving your name, address etc. Unfortunately it is up to the cops' opinion whether you are telling the truth or not and they may arrest you. North of Paris you are more likely to get arrested than to the South.<br />
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''Tip: Before getting checked it is best to locate yourself in-between carriages, where there are a few seats, a table and luggage compartment. Usually nobody stays there. When the inspector comes the atmosphere is more informal as they don't have to keep up an image of 'master-of-the-train' in front of other passengers and it goes more smoothly. After you get your fine (which is a valid ticket) feel free to sit wherever you like in the train.''<br />
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TGV trains are best because they are the fastest and with the least stops, so in the unlikely event of you getting kicked off, you will still get pretty far. TER trains are slower and with more stops. <br />
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It is quite possible to speak with the driver and the controller before the train start and tell them you want a ride for free. Some of them are kind enough to let you in. [[User:Bikepunk|Bikepunk]] got better luck with TER than TGV with this technique so far.<br />
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[[User:Mipplor|Mipplor]] hitchhiked a train from Luxembourg to Nancy, Lyon, Marseille, Monaco, Nice, and Perpignan in October 2009. Actually 1/3 of his time was spent in the toilet to read newspapers. He was a lucky dog that no single inspector came to trouble him.<br />
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France is very big country, more than 1000 km across. But trains are very fast (up to 280-320 kph). You can jump through France very fast and scary, do in France biggest and best jump action ever. If your train skills are very good, you can pass France in 5 hours (more than 1000 km). In the case that fines do not mind you, it is very easy. You just tell your final destination in case of loos in jump and blue jumpr write penalty for you and you will continue to your final destination.<br />
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France is great country for train. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] was train in October 2015 from Lion to Montpelier and from Marseille to Strasbourg. He used TER and TGV trains.<br />
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As you can read, TGV trains are very fast (180-300 kph) and you can make there scary jump action. Distance between stops is about 50-200 km and 20-80 minutes. Conductor (Blue jumpr) usually check tickets every 2-3 stations, [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] thinks. System of control is unclear. In one TGV dace floor blue jumprs only went through wagon with something in the hand and wagon was almost full. It is possible that blue jumprs have in small computer list of seats with passengers and free seats. So they can check this quickly. But Peter sat close to restaurant wagon and many passengers was dining. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] was sitting in somebody's place probably, and blue jumprs looks on free seats and it was OK. In the TGV train from Barcelona to Lion was another situation. Peter sat in tourist class and suddenly blue jumprs appears – one in one end of wagon and another in opposite side, and they start to check all passengers. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] try to go around blue jumpr but he do do left him train zone, so blue jumprs met in Peter's place and they asked him for a ticket. He said that he lost ticket. So blue jumprs said that they call police (they try to make you scary usually) and Peter gave him identity card. They saw that he is not French and only kicked him out of train (probably without fine). Next TGV was running in three hours so Peter decide to hitch-hiking, it is easy in France. As you can read this train is going Barcelona-Lyon and back and hitch-hiking in Spain do not work. Get into TGV train is easy in France but [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] do not know Spanish system of ticket checking and Spanish jump styles. Some TGV trains have two floors, but it is not possible run in another floor around blue jumpr because of one part of first floor ends with wall.<br />
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TER (and LER) trains are easy for train there. Distance between stops is about 5-25 km and 5-15 minutes. Speed is about 80-180 kph. There are one or two conductors, but they only give signal for train departure and tell something for passengers. They only rarely check tickets. PeterOB used in October 2015 different 7 TER trains and he was only one time checked. Blue jumpr women start checking ticket in morning train and he was going to toilet, he did not lock the door and he played shitting. But conductor open WC doors and she close it back. After two stops [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] went back to seat and conductor women came again for checking new passengers, she ask for a ticket. PeterOB did not have and she ask for final destination and after several stops she went back and ask for identity card. But she saw that Peter is not French and she let Peter to travel and she gave him advise, which trains go to Peter's final destination. So this women co-jumpr was very friendly and Peter did not see another control. LER train is similar and [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] do not know difference (Maybe – LER can me small train for small amount of passengers). Peter was train in LER only short distance and one time, but conductor did not check tickets. O train in LER trains is very easy and some TER trains have long journey and a lot of wagons, for example Paris-Lyon. Some TER trains have two floors and you can walk around conductor in another floor to area, where tickets was already checked.<br />
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Penalty in TER train is Eur 50 + ticket price in distances less than 150 km and Eur 88 + ticket price. Fines in LER is not same. But you can be probably only kicked out of train without fine, or you can try to run away in next stop. If you do not pay immediately, the fine grows to Eur 375 and if you do not communicate or you give wrong address, fine can grow up Eur 3750. But for non-French black jumprs fines probably do not exist and suddenly disappear after short time (two months). In TGV train – blue jumpr have a lot of time for writing penalty or call cops. They do not like writing penalty (extra job) and they try to make you scary with police sometimes. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] do not know exact ticket inspection system and if tickets prices in TER and TGV are the same, or if penalty Eur 375 is for all types of train (probably yes). Probably, you have to have seat reservation in some or all TGV trains, but not in TER or LER train. And some blue jumprs can not speak English so good as many of French people or blue jumprs in east countries. Talk in English is not very easy in France.<br />
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== [[Germany]] ==<br />
''See also [[Germany#Railways]] and [[Deutsche Bahn]]''<br />
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Germany has an extensive passenger railway system, run by Deutsche Bahn. There are also plenty of freight trains that could be hopped. More information about ticket prices and blackriding can be found in the [[Deutsche Bahn]] article.<br />
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== [[Greece]] ==<br />
Greece is a great destination for train hopping. The coductors are asking in the wagon if somebody is new(from the last destination). <br />
If you are not getting on in the start(when everybody should be checked), then is quite easy to avoid paying. Wait some minutes before the train arrives, and choose not the first and last wagon. Get in and pack your belongings fastly. Find a place to sit down(better when the both seats are free,as the system prefers to replenish the seats until the end), and then listen to music or pretend that you are sleeping. Preferably trains are the fast ones IC and ICE. You shouldn't try(if possible) to the night train between Athens and Thessaloniki as the coductors are stricter, probably because many people are trying. If they catch you, they will ask you to pay for your trip. The ticket will be then almost the double price. I have no personal experience what will happen if you tell them a story and try to convince them. I suppose that some of them could be convinced. If you don't want to pay, you should get off to the next stop. Then, you can try to the next one.<br />
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== [[Hungary]] ==<br />
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[[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] have written some information how to jump in Czech Republic and Slovakia, read this part first. Let's explore some another country – Hungary. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] bs train through Hungary in summer 2014 to Rainbow Gathering and use the same jump styles that is written in the part Czech Republic and Slovakia. Many people in railway station and train do not speak English (only young people) and pronunciation of Hungarian towns and stations is very difficult. If you want to buy ticket (short journey ticket of course) or ask for platform, pronunciation of town is difficult, better write town on paper. If you ask for platform, use you terminal station and do not show more people you ticket with near station and do not ask the conductor but better to ask some passenger. The trains in Hungary (or Austria, Romania and other European countries) is too at internet Czech page www.idos.cz, you choose "Vlaky" - trains. There are all stops at the journey and arrival and departure times, but the distance in Kilometers is only Czech, Slovakia and some trains that ride though Czech or Slovakia. But the stops and time for every stop is always on this page.<br />
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The interval between stops is in Hungary quite small, every trains including EC have usually many stops (every 5-10 km R-trains and 10-30 km long, journey trains, but in some case interval between stops is long). EC often stops in small towns. The interval to next train is quite variable, from 1 hour to 12 hour.<br />
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You can use Short journey ticket trick or you do not respond when conductor ask who is new or watch conductor and in some stop go to area where tickets were already checked (if the next stop is so far, you can try walk around conductor). [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] do not know how often conductor check toilets and he do not know if there is ticket inspector in trains (this is not conductor), but he saw ticket inspector in bus. In long-journey trains you must watch conductor change in some town. New conductor check all passengers, but not only new passengers.<br />
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If you are captured that you travel without ticked, you are usually kicked of out train (no penalty usually), but some conductors let you continue journey. The ticket inspections is not so hard like in another countries. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] had wrong ticket but young conductor in R-train let him to travel. But some another conductor in EC train kicked him out. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]]'s friend travel too without ticket and conductor let him to travel. Most of conductors do not speak English or another language or speak English little. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] had to show ticket again in some D-train and they do like do not understand and conductor let him be. The Hungary is middle-difficult or good for free riding in train and very good for classic hitchhiking.<br />
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Hungary have few tips of trains, like Czech. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] think that all trains belongs national railway company and there are not private trains in Hungary, but he is not sure.<br />
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The R-trains is not like R-trains in Czech or Slovakia. This trains have many stops (about every 3-10 km or 3-10 min), it is like OS local trains in Czech. This trains have usually one conductor (sometimes maybe 2 conductors) and about 2-5 carriages. Amount of passengers is variable from teens to hundreds. R-trains near big city (Budapest) have more than 5 carriages, one or 2 conductors and many passengers. The interval to next train is every hour near big city, every 2-4 hour generally. You can look where is the conductor and in some stop go into area where tickets are already checked. (conductor go first time and interval to next control is long near big city). But in general, there are many stops and sometimes small amount of passengers. You can try short time ticket trick. Conductor check only new passengers, you can do nothing when conductor is coming, but in case of small amount of passengers – there is big chance to conductor ask you for ticket. Amount of passengers and carriages is variable.<br />
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The D-trains is quite similar R-trains but the interval between stops is about 10-25 km or 10-20 minutes. This trains is like SP or R trains in Czech. D-type trains have usually 3-6 carriages and one (or two) conductors. The amount of passengers is variable, about from 30 to 200. The tricks are the same – short time ticket tricks or do nothing when the conductor ask who is new. Interval between D-trains is quite long (several hours) but you can use another type of train (EC, INT or R).<br />
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The next type of trains is IC and EC in Hungary (and EN or INT or Rex trains contains this type too). You do not need seat reservation at most of trains (you have to have seat reservation maybe it few long journey trains but it is very rare). This trains is for long journey (international), usually to, from or through Budapest. This trains have usually a lot of carriages, (5-8), two conductors and a lot of passengers. But not always. There was IC in the timetable but arrived only two-carriages local type train with small amount of passengers. In mostly cases the interval to next control can be long but not always. You can use classic short-journey ticket trick (and go near conductor to be checked before critical station) or do nothing (sleep, look out of the window, read a book), when conductor ask who is new or watch conductor and in some stations go into area, where tickets were already checked.<br />
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The interval between net trains is quite variable. First direction is from Germany or Poland through Czech and Slovakia to Budapest and sometimes continue to Beograd. Interval to next trains s 2 hours. Trains have a lot of passengers, two conductors. The interval between stops in Hungary is only 7-20 km. In the journey Kosice-Budapest is interval to next EC train 12 hours and trains have one conductors and a lot of passengers (not in Slovakia). The interval between stops is from Kosice to Miskolc about 20-30 km but between Miskolc and Budapest is only one station Füzesabony. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] think that EC do not stops in Hidasnemeti, it is only cross-border to Slovakia. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] travel from Kosice to Miskolc and buy ticket only for Slovak area, where is small amount of passengers) and in Hungary [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] watched conductor and go to area where ticket already checked.<br />
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The direction from Budapest to Romania is 4 hours but Budapest-Püspökladany 2 hours (Some EC ends at Püspökladany and another R train continue to Biharkeresztes). The interval between stops is for trains to Biharkeresztes and Romania about 50 km before Püspökladany and 10-15 km after Püspökladany. But if the EC ends in Püspökladany, the interval between stops is whole journey 10-30 km. If you are kicked of the train, you can combine next train type with EC, R,D-trains. You can see in time-table that EC trains continue to Romania and train wait tenths of minutes near border. But in some cases train ends in Biharkeresztes (near border) and you have to change train. Some trains continue to Romania for long journey (for example to Brasov). There are EC and D trains in Romania (EC are international) with stop every 40-70 km usually. But the seat reservation in Romanian EC and D trains. There are too local trains in Romania with many stops. Romania is difficult for free riding in train and for classic hitchhiking too.<br />
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The direction Budapes-Wien is similar, interval to next train every two hours ans stops every 15-40 km. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] do not use this train (Rex type of train), but he think there are a lot of passengers and two conductors. This train crossing borders to Austria.<br />
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The direction Budapes-Szeged have EC-trains with stops 15-30 km away and interval to next train is one hour. Direction Budapest-Beograd is not so much freqvent. Interval between stops 15-30 km (about 50-80 km in night D-train) and there are only two times with train from Budapest to Beograd – 13:05 INT and EC train from Budapest and 22:20 D-train from Budapest.<br />
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== [[Italy]] ==<br />
Fines don't exist, the conductor checks only a few times during a trip (even on those very small trains), and if he finds you without a ticket, he simply kicks you out, although some are nice enough to let you ride for free. An exception is Eurostar trains, they have police on the train and will ask you to pay, although you can still get away with it. The night train (InterCity Notte) is the best option for making long distances, as after midnight until after about 08:00 nobody is checking tickets.<br />
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:''I'm sorry, the last thing is not completely true. In the night train from Munich to Rome I was controlled 5 (!) times, 3 times on the Italian side.''<br />
:''Besides, on night trains they DO check regularly. Years ago it was much looser, but not anymore''<br />
''PeterOB was train by night IC trains in autumn 2016. Sometimes (train from Germany to Rome), they do not check during a trip. But all coupes can be full and locked and you have to stay in corridor (conductor will easily see you) or WC. Empty coupes are not locked. But generally - conductor has in tablet, which coupe is reserved and where should be free. And they check sometimes. Night trains are always with police.''<br />
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[[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] went to sea in Italy near Venecia and Padova in June 2015 and he was train a lot in this area. Another trip was in autumn 2016 from Insbruck to Palermo in 24 hours. It was scariest jump action ever. But who want to sleep in cold Alps, if we can go to ball ?<br />
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The phrase Fines do not exist is not complete true. First train, which [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] used in Italy, was EC Train from Munchen (South Germany) to Verona (North Italy) and blue jumpr (conductor) want to give him fine and just prepare block for fines in DB Bahn. But PeterOB have succeed in many Italian trains, train Is not difficult in Italy.<br />
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First type is '' regional train '' - '''Treno Regionale'''. This type of train have distance between stops 5-30 km, usually 10-20 km. Journey of this type of train is about 100-250 km and it takes 2-3 hours with 10-20 stops. Regional trains are quite fast. This type of trains have only one conductor and conductor do not check tickets so often, he go only one-two times during whole journey, usually once 4-8 stops only. And ''regional trains close to big city '' (Milano, Bolzano, Etc.) are best – conductor often do not check tickets for whole journey. You can find conductor in stop quite easy – he wear blue-black suit and white shirt. Number of passengers is quite big, up to few hunderts, but in some places, where regional trains ends – number of passengers is not so big. Some regional trains are quite crowded near big town. Conductor asks for ticket usually all passengers during checking, tot only new passengers (and time to next control is long). You never know, when conductor go. You can watch during trip if conductor is coming and walk around conductor during ride without backpack and in the area where ticket were already checked wait until conductor finish your wagon and go back after it but conductor go out of train in stops for give sign to driver – you can in this time go behind conductor in the train easy. You can do sit in WC, do not lock door and hold toilet paper – play shitting during control, not for whole journey – another passengers wants go to WC too. Because of not so often checking ticket and checking all passengers – you can not use Short Distance Ticket Trick or play that you were already checked like in central Europe. If you are found that you travel without ticket, conductor will ask you for buy ticket, but you will say that you have no money. Conductor usually ask you, where is your final destination and sometimes let you travel or kick you out. Sometimes, conductor ask you for passport, bat you will say that you do not have. He let you be. There are no coops in regional trains and conductor do not call police. Most of conductors are nice to free riders and speaks English good. Interval between regional trains is usually 1 hour and trains go from early morning to late evening. Some types of regional train have a lot of short wagons (8-12) and it is not visible so far in this train, where conductor is now. But some trains in north, near Bolzano in mountains are better – you can see whole area of train and where is conductor now and this trains are sometimes crowded and have stops and arriving time in monitors. In trains close to Bolzano – there are a lot of police because of immigrants. They as for ID only dark persons and they do not ask ticket. It is in regional train Bolzano – Brennero and EC Trains Verona – Bolzano – Insbruck – Munich.<br />
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Some faster regional trains ( '''RGV ''' in Sicily, '''Austrian REX ''' from Insbruck to Bolzano and back) have not so many stops and regional trains with long distance have not so many stops like trains close to big city.<br />
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Next type of train is '''FB FRECCIABIANCA '''. This type of train have probably two conductors and about 5-9 long carriages, you can see all carriage area (no coupes) and but not to other carriages. FS trains usually go for long distance, hunderds kilometers and distance between stops is 30-80 km. Speed of this train is quite fast, PeterOB thinks about 100-180 km/h between stops, so jump is relative fast. Conductor go usually once 2-4 stops (or more) and probably check only new passengers. As you can see in information board, this type of trains required seat reservation (maybe because of a lot of passengers and maybe for checking tickets) and ticket is more expensive than in regional train, but you travel compete free. Amount of passengers is quite big, but sometimes not so big. Interval to next train is usually 1 hour and trains go from early morning to late evening. It is not like in Treno Alta Velocita (AV at departure table), where conductor have in tablet, which seat is free and which seat should be checked.<br />
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You can wait until your wagon is complete checked and you stay sit on toilet without locked doors (like shitting). Of course, you can use short distance ticket trick or play that you was already checked, just sit calmly. If you are find that you travel without ticket, conductor ask you for buy ticket first. But you have no money. So conductor usually just kick you oft of train or he might ask you for passport in some occasions or let you travel without ticket. You can tell to him that you have no passport. There is no coops or security in this type of trains and time to next stop is not so long because of high speed. <br />
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'''Some trains are ''Treno Alta velocita ''.''' ''If you want to enjoy fast and scary train, this is good type of train for it '' There are four types of trains ''Treno Alta Velocita '' (AV at departure board). train is really scary and fast, somewhere 200-250 kph, somewhere (Between Roma and Napoli or Between Firenze and Bolonga, the speed is up to 300 kph). 300 kph is maximum train speed by law in Italy. But the 360 kph train speed is planned since 2018. There are a lot of trains Treno Alta Velocita between ''Bolonga – Firenze – Roma – Napoli '', usualy once 15-30 min. There is no stop between Napoli and Roma Termini byt Treno Alta Velocita (it is 4 stops with EC trains) and stops with AV trains are usually ''Milano, Bolonga, Firenze, Roma Tiburtina, Roma Tremini, Napoli Centrale (CLE) ''. Some AV trains goes between ''Bolonga and Padova and Venezia '', some trains AV stops in ''Arrezo '', but some AV trains do not stop between Bolonga and Rome or some AV trains does not stop between Milano and Rome (trip takes around 130 min).<br />
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'''Trains AV (Treno Alta Velocita) ''' goes between Bolzano - Rome - Napoli (Grey AV train at departure board), stops are ''Bolzano, Tremto, Roverto, Verona, Bolonga, Firenze, Roma Tiburtina, Roma Tremini, Napoli Centrale (CLE)''. Some AV trains continues one stop from Napoli to Salerno.<br />
Some AV Trains goes from-to '''Brescia and Verona ''' and some from-to ''Torino or Milano ''.<br />
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High-Speed train - ''Treno Alta Velocita'' '''FR FRECCIAROSSA ''' ''(Trenitalia)''. This train is blue-green-white and blue at departure paper, with AV at departure board. There are 2-3 conductors, they first go through train fast without checking and they checking tickets once 1-2 stations. They come suddenly sometimes – one conductor in one side of coach and they have in tablet which seat is free, checked, should be checked. It is to late to escape, they do not let you. You can watch, when conductors are near, then you go to toilet and you do not lock the door and you sit like shitting. But there are lot of cleaning workers – they check toilets 1-2 times between stations, before and after conductors go. And some passengers goes to toilet too. So you should make timing before conductor go and after cleaner goes (if cleaner will see you in toilet first time, he usually let you be, but it is dubious). When the conductor will go back and you will be at corridor, you could be checked – so you should to sit on free seat fast after checking. If you will be found without ticket, you will be probably kicked out, but some conductors want to write fine, not so often, or they ask for ID (if you give ID card instead of passport, it is better). PeterOB was train in this type of train a lot. Sometimes – he successfully hide during checking, sometimes, he was found and he was kicked out. But he jump back on another side of long train, cleaner of toilet found him and conductor write his ID card.<br />
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'''FA FRECCIARGENTO ''' is similar high-speed train Treno Alta velocita, like ''FR FRECCIAROSSA '', but this type is grey in departure plan (big yellow paper).<br />
There are another '''luxury High Sped train ''' '''for mans in suit '' with wifi, drinks and food in every coach and strewards from Trenitalia – ''Red Treno Alta Velocita with runung lupus '' - ''' FR FRECCIAROSSA ? ''' This train is red with running lupus and it is red in departure paper, with AV at departure table. There is streeward in red suit in every wagon and he ask ticket, if your appearance is not usual, streeward ask you for ticket before departure (many people are there in suit or good dressed of course). There is team for cleaning and checking WC before and some times after ticket checking and conductors in blue suit for departure echo. Streeward has in tablet, which seat is checked, free, should be checked, and he goes every station and it is one streward per wagon, so this train is most difficult and probability of fine is biggest. PeterOB tried this type of train but when he get in, streeward ask him for a ticket, it is really difficult, this train.<br />
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There is another type of high-speed train – ''Treno Alta Velocita '' – '''Purple Treno Italio''' (not Trenitalia) train with running lupus (purple Treno Italiano at departure paper, AV in departure table). This train has two conductors in blue suit for departure signal and some conductors in red suits for ticket checking. There is one red conductor per few wagons, not streeward in every wagon. It is similar – red conductors goes almost every station, he has in tablet, which seat should be checked, is free,was checked and if you are in corridor and you go back, conductor probably check you, if you pass around him calmly, you can be successful, but next station, you can be checked. This train is relative expensive (Eur 39 from Rome to Verona). You can try to hide in toilet, but there is cleaning team too, and they look inside toilet before and sometimes after checking too. It is quite difficult to hide inside toilet in all Treno Alta Velocita. If you are captured, you can be just kicked out or probability of fine is here bigger than in blue or grey Treno Alta Velocita (Freccigarossa). PeterOB has bad luck in this train. He traveled two stations and first stations, he joust passed calmly around conductor. But in next station conductor ask him for a ticket. He told that he is in bad train and conductor asked him, where he get in. First, conductor wanted to make ticket or fine. He told just bad station and conductor got upset and he went away. PeterOB stand in toilet, when train stand in some regional station and when conductor checks tickets again. He just get of in his next station, but unfortunately, police was already in station and they took his ID.<br />
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Next type of train is '''EC train (IC Train) '''. EC trains are usually international (from Germany, Austria or France, or Switzerland to Italy, these trains usually does not belongs to some Italian train company, but there are Italian conductors inside Italy, they changed at border. These trains go for long distance. Distance between stops is usually 20-100 km. Interval to next train is 1-4 hours (better use regional train usually, but it depends, where you are), ticket price about Eur 1 per 8-10 km, speed in normal, usually 100-150+ kph. EC trains have sometimes a lot, not so much passengers and two conductor s. EC trains are quite long, you can hide between passengers during entering the train. There are usually enough passengers. Conductors go once 1-3 stations, and they check only new passengers. Sometimes, there is '''conductor crew change ''' at border with Austria or Switzerland, in Messina (In-Out from Sicily) or is some big cities (Rome, Napoli) and new conductors checks all passengers again. Toilets are not usually checked, especially if you do not lock the door (but passengers are going to WC too). If you are found that you have no ticket, you will be just kicked out. But some places in south Italy have not so many trains per day. There are a lot of coops in trains from Italy to Austria, Switzerland, Germany, they check ID of dark passengers, because of immigrants. Coops look everywhere – toilets, under seats, etc. They do not check tickets. If you will be found without ticket by conductor, you will be just kicked out.<br />
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N '''ight trains ICN or ECN ''', they go during night. Interval between stops is about 50-100 (or even 300+) km and journey length is quite long, usually more than 1000 km. There are only 1-2 night trains per night. Night trains can go from-to ''Germany or France '', usually to ''Rome '' or ''Milano '' and some trains go from ''Rome '' or ''Milano '' to ''Sicily (Siracusa, Palermo) '', or from Sicily to Milano or Rome. This trains have a lot of stops in Sicily, and close to Milano and Rome, but between '''Sicily ''' ( ''Villa S. Giovanni '' is station in main Italy with ferry to ''Messina '' in Sicily) and '''Rome ''' night trains have not so much stops (train from Sicily to Rome stop in Villa S. Giovanni and next stop is ''Formia'' and ''Latina '' close to Rome. Another night train from Sicily stops at ''Villa S. Giovanni'' and next stop is ''Salerno '' and ''Napoli'') PeterOB was train in night trains. Night trains have beds only and there is reservation for coupes or beds and some coupes are booked with passengers and some coupes are free. You can go in some free coupe with open door and close the door. Conductor usually do not look inside coupe. But if the passengers in some stop later have reserved this coupe, they will go inside and they can call conductor. And if you will go from some coupe to another coupe, some passengers can give echo to conductor.<br />
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'''Conductor has in tablet, which coupe have reservation and which coupe should be free. ''' But some conductors do not check ticket during whole journey, but they often check in regulary, not like few years before, it was free.<br />
If all coupes with beds are occupied, you can try to hide in toilet, washing room or just stay in corridor. Conductor goes after big station between stations with long time or after 2-3 stations, which are not so far.<br />
PeterOB traveled in night train from Munich to Rome, and all coupes were occupied, so he stay in corridor. And conductor did not check ticket during journey, but in Verona – train split to Milano and Rome and conductor was outside, he found him. Peter OB was traveled in another night train from Sicily and he was hiding in free coupe. But new passengers came and some passengers give echo to conductor. PeterOB was kicked out and conductor gave echo to another night train.<br />
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'''Main station ''Roma Termini'' has ticket checking before entering on platform ''' (In Roma Termini probably always, in Roma Airport during day usually, but who knows). There are fences around and some doors are for exit and some doors are for getting on platform. But conductors sometimes (usually during day) are in every door and they check hardly tickets. PeterOB tried to get to platform and he was always pulled back. PeterOB saw it only in Roma Termini station. In many another stations (include Bolzano, Verona, Napoli, Padova, Venezia) is free access on platform, only in Roma Termini not. If you are in Roma Termini, do not go out or close to exit (be hidden between many people in platform). There is big departure table and you can check departures for trains and their stops and type of train ''(R, IC, ICN, EC, AV)''. If you want to get in platform, you can buy cheap ticket for 1-2 stations in Treno Regionale and you go in any train, or you can get by Roma public transport (Tram, Bus) to station Roma Tiburtina with free entry and take some train to Roma Termini (it is one stop and plenty of trains goes there).<br />
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'''Generally – black train in Italy very easy ''' (more Easy than in maybe all European countries). Classic hitchiking is very difficult in Italy but PeterOB think that Spain is worse. There are no places for stay on the road in North Italy, roads are narrow and cars have not place to stops (narrow road, a lot of cars behind) and you have not place for stay in most of cases. You can hitchike in fuel station, but not so much drivers stops. And it can be not allowed in petrol pump or many places near road, the fine is Eur 21, be careful about coops arriving. North is better because of a lot of German, Austrian cars go by motorway. In Sicily – hitchikng is still not so easy, but better. And some regions are really easy. Police usually just pass around, sometimes, they check ID, because of immigrants and lot of criminality there. Sometimes – police can send you to bus station.<br />
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One more think. '''Dumpster diving ''' is sometimes easy in Italy and trashes behind supermarket are usually accessible. Trashes behind hotels, pensions or restaurants are good too. Some food is too in small trashes in street. And in summer are markets in center of town and there are many garbage – fruits and vegetables at the end of market (in afternoon or evening), because some fruit or vegetable can not be sold next day. Distance to supermarket can be sometimes long. There are public transport – buses, trams in Cities and it is easy to take it for free in big city. Fine is not so high and you will never pay. But in smaller cities are entering only by front door (and you have to buy ticket from driver) in buses. If you ask in some shop, they usually give you some leftovers too, but it is not so easy in big supermarket.<br />
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There is '''long journey from North to south ''', from Bolzano to Palermo (Stops with AV trains - Treno Alta Velocita). You usually change train at Roma or Napoli. There is ferry for trains to Sicily. Let’s explore stops for long journey trains (Not Treno Regionalle). Long journey trains (AV, IC, EC) goes usually once a 15 minutes - 4 hours (depends, where you are) and there are some night trains.<br />
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Stops with ''Treno Alta Velocita '' between ''Bolzano-Roma(Napoli) '' are: ''Bolzano/Bozen, Trento, Rovereto, Verona Porta Nuova, Bologna Centrale, Firenze S,M.N. (sometimes Firenze Campo di Marte), (simetimes Arrezo), Roma Tiburtina, Roma Termini, Napoli Centrale (CLE) ''.<br />
Second Variant ''Bolzano/Bozen, Ora/Auer, Mezzocorona, Trento, Rovereto, Verona Porta Nuova, Orvieto , Roma Tiburtina, Roma Termini ''.<br />
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As you can see, AV trains are ''without stop between Napoli and Roma '' and the stops are not always the same for all long journey (and quite fast) trains. AV trains goes between Napoli and Roma every 15-60 minutes usually during day and it is about 70 minutes between Roma and Napoli with 290-300 kph in big part of journey.<br />
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Stops '''from Roma-Napoli to Palermo ''' (IC train) are: ''Roma Termini , Latina , Formia , Aversa, Napoli Centrale , Salerno , Sapri, Paola, Lamezia Terme Centrale , Villa S.Giovanni '' –----- Crossing Sea –---- branch to west ''Messina Centrale, Milazzo, Barcellona-Castroreale, Capo d'Orlando-Naso , S.Agata di Militello , Cefalu, Termini Imerese, Palermo Centrale '',<br />
Branch to South - ''Messina Centrale, Taormina-Giardini, Giarre-Riposto, Acireale, Catania Centrale, Lentini, Augusta, Siracusa ''.<br />
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Some IC or ICN trains have more stops between ''Salerno '' and ''Villa S. Giovanni ''. And there are AV trains to Villa S. Giovanni too, but with more stops and it runs so often. IC trains goes not so often between Salerno and Villa S. Giovanni. ICN trains are better, some has no stop between Villa S. Giovanni and Salerno or even no stop between Villa S. Giovanni and Formia.<br />
Stops in Sicily are always the same, in Messina train split to two branches (first to west – Palermo and second to south – Siracusa and Catania (Etna)).<br />
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Villa S.Giovanni is point, where train goes to Ferry, in is about 3 km by ferry to Messina in Sicily only and it can be not so expensive. But train goes on a ferry and you travel for free. There are conductor changes after ferry and trains in Messina split to direction Siracusa (south-east Sicily) and Palermo (west Sicily). If you catch train from-to Sicily, there is no ticket checking during crossing sea, but police often checks ID (migrants, criminality, drugs), and sometimes dogs are searching drugs in train - mostly direction from Sicily. '''There is really lot and hard ID checking on way from-to Sicily and searching for drugs smuggling too '''.<br />
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Stops with EC from Geneve: ''Geneve, Lausanne, Montreux, Sion, Brig, Domodossola, Gallarate, Milano Centrale, Brescia, Peschiera del Garda, Verona Porta Nuova, Vicenza, Padova, Venezia Mestre, Venezia Santa Lucia ''<br />
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FB or AV trains from Milano only stops: ''Milano Centrale, Brescia , Desenzano del G./S., Verona Porta Nuova, Vicenza, Padova, Venezia Mestre, Venezia Santa Lucia ''<br />
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FB or AV trains from Torino stops: ''Torino Porta Nuova, Torino Porta Susa, Vercelli, Novara, Milano Centrale, Brescia, Peschiera del Garda, Verona Porta Nuova, Vicenza, Padova, Venezia Mestre, Venezia Santa Lucia ''.<br />
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EC 59 through Switzerland (Basel – Bern – Milano), stops are: ''Basel SBB, Olten, Bern, Thun, Spiez, Visp , Brig, Domodossola, Gallarate, Milano Centrale ''.<br />
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Trains from Germany (Munchen) to Austria and Italy and stops:<br />
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EC 89 DB-ÖBB EuroCity<br />
''München Hbf 13:37, München Ost 13:44-13:46 GO, Rosenheim 14:14-14:16, Kufstein 14:39-14:41, Wörgl Hbf 14:49-14:51, Jenbach 15:04-15:06, Innsbruck Hbf 15:23-15:27, Brennero/Brenner 16:02-16:14, Fortezza/Franzensfeste 16:44-16:46, Bressanone/Brixen 16:55-16:56, Bolzano/Bozen 17:27-17:31, Trento 18:02-18:04, Rovereto 18:17-18:19, Verona Porta Nuova 18:58 ''. (GO – only exit, no tickets for entering, BO – only for boarding, but GO and BO are not interesting of free travelling, you can get in or out anywhere).<br />
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'''EC between Munchen and Verona in both directions goes once a two hours always with the same stops in both directions'''. There is a '''lot of police checking in direction to Germany '''. Police goes in train before Bolzano and after Bolzano, Brennero too and they check all places (Toilets, under seats, etc.). A lot of coops are in Bolzano and Brennero station, on the platform, and they are on platform even for regional trains to Brennero. It is because of immigrants – they check only dark and black persons, many immigrants still try to get in Austria or Germany by train and they are in Brennero or Bolzano station, they are looking in toilet or under seat too. But police do not check tickets.<br />
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''CNL 40485 Apus ''<br />
''München Hbf 21:08, Rosenheim 21:43-21:45 BO, Kufstein 22:07 BO, Wörgl Hbf 22:15-22:17 BO, Jenbach 22:32-22:33 BO, Innsbruck Hbf 22:58-23:05 BO, Brennero/Brenner 23:42-0:02 GO or BO Impossible ???, Bressanone/Brixen 0:38-0:40, Bolzano/Bozen 1:07-1:09, Trento 1:41-1:43, Verona Porta Nuova 2:37-7:15 GO, Peschiera del Garda 7:30-7:32 GO, Desenzano del G./S. 7:41-7:43 GO, Brescia 8:01-8:03 GO, Rovato 8:17-8:29 GO or BO Impossible ???, Milano Centrale 9:12 ''<br />
Another branch goes from Verona to Rome. Train goes from München Hbf and train splits in Verona to two branches.<br />
Branch to Rome - '''CNL 485 Lupus ''': ''Verona Porta Nuova, Bologna Centrale 4:20-5:08 GO, Firenze S.M.N. 6:07-6:25 GO, Arezzo 7:03-7:05 GO, Chiusi-Chianciano Terme 7:34-7:36 jGO, Orvieto 8:00-8:02 GO, Roma Termini 9:22) ''<br />
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'''CNL 40463 Pictor '''<br />
''München Hbf 23:36, München Ost 23:44-23:46 BO, Salzburg Hbf 1:19-1:34 GO or BO Impossible ???, Schwarzach-St. Veit 2:23-2:26 GO or BO Impossible ???, Spittal-Millstättersee 3:26-3:27 GO or BO Impossible ???, Villach Hbf 3:51-4:45 GO or BO Impossible ???, Tarvisio Centrale 5:04 GO or BO Impossible ???, Tarvisio Boscoverde 5:08-5:18 GO, Udine 6:23-6:25 GO, Pordenone 6:58-7:00 GO, Conegliano 7:22-7:24 GO, Treviso Centrale 7:46-7:48 GO, Venezia Mestre 8:12-8:14 GO, Venezia Santa Lucia 8:24 ''<br />
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As you can see ''CNL 40485 '' Apus and ''CNL 40463 Pictor '', there are some stops, where you can not get in or get off. But it is only for booking tickets. If you travel for free, you can get in or of anywhere. It is quite strange, but probably because of immigrants and police control. There are probably coops between Italy and Germany in trains and a lot of controls.<br />
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There are long-journey EC trains between Germany-Austria-Italy, belongs to '''DB-ÖBB train company '''. These trains starts in Italy at Verona, or Bolonga or Venezia. EC train between Munchen hbf and Verona goes once a 2 hours with the same stops, some EC trains goes from-to Bolonga or Venezia. Stops are:<br />
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''Bologna Centrale, Verona Porta Nuova, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano/Bozen, Bressanone/Brixen, Fortezza/Franzensfeste, Brennero/Brenner, Innsbruck Hbf, Jenbach, Wörgl Hbf, Kufstein, Rosenheim, München Ost, München Hbf ''<br />
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Or some trains does not go from Bolonga, but from Venezia, or from Verona only. Stops from Venezia:<br />
''Venezia Santa Lucia, Venezia Mestre, Padova, Vicenza, Verona Porta Nuova, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano/Bozen, Bressanone/Brixen, Fortezza/Franzensfeste, Brennero/Brenner, Innsbruck Hbf, Jenbach, Wörgl Hbf, Kufstein, Rosenheim, München Ost, München Hbf ''<br />
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There are a lot of border checking between Italy-Austria-Germany in direction to Germany, because of Immigrants. And there are a lot of coops in train and on platforms.<br />
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== [[Luxembourg]] ==<br />
The local trains (CFL) have two floors; be aware that there is a ticket booth at the end of the first car - don't accidentially run in it, unless you want to buy a ticket. There are ticket inspectors too. If you want to get out of the country, be aware that the inspector will check tickets on the international train as soon as it departs, so, if the next stop is still in Luxembourg, you're screwed. The cops are not liberal.<br />
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== [[Norway]] ==<br />
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:''It's insanely easy black train in Norway. When I went to Norway I found it rather difficult to hitchhike, so instead I resorted to abusing Norway's "Ubjent" train system to jump around around the country. I managed to train from Vestfold (south west Norway) to the Swedish border using just free trains! Go to whatever train station, even if it's Oslo central station, size doesn't matter, and look for train which are going local, not long-distance train. For example, Oslo - Ljan (a tiny village not far from Oslo). These trains will usually be red and old looking, and every 2nd carriage will have "Ubjent" written on the outside doors with a small message (in English) saying that you must have a validated ticket before entering as there is not a blue jumpr (!). This essentially means buy a ticket and get it electronically stamped before entering, but of course, no one ever does this and many local people jump black. Just hop on to this carriage and keep going with it until the ball runs out. From there, you can get another local Ubjent train until that ball runs out again! So use this easy jump style until you get to your destination. Like I said, I managed to travel from Tonsberg to Holden, about 250km, using this method.''<br />
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It is true, that is really easy train in some parts of Norway, especially around Oslo. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] was train in Norway - in area 20-50 km north from Oslo in March 2016. Generally - there are two most common types of train in Norway. BUT as another user wrote - it is easy to get from Oslo and back by local trains in Norway. Region around Oslo is very easy. Some regions around big town can be easy too. But local trains L do not go everywhere and you have to use regional train R with normal ticket checking. But ticket checking is not so often, just after bigger cities. You can use short distant ticket trick (not in local train L) or you can try WC method or something else.<br />
If you will be captured, you can be kicked out of the train or you can get fine NOK 1150 (about Eur 130), it is reduced to NOK 950 (about Eur 105), if you pay directly. But it is true, that you do not have to pay if you do not live and work in Noway. But there are not so many people in train and conductor can check whole train in one or two stops. Time between stops is usually 10-30 min and 10-50 km (bigger distance in north). If you are kicked out, then many stations can be without waiting room especially in north or in some small stop, many stops are request only (north from Oslo and Trondheim, around Roros, Tynset). There are 3 trains a day and one night train (with not all stops) between Oslo and Trondheim. But there are more trains with shorter journey and more stops. You can wait 2-6 hours or whole night for next train and some stations are without waiting room. Winter temperature in this region, it is various. Temperature is usually from +5 to -15 with west wind and a lot of rain and snow. Bout some stations are further from sea, even in mountains and temperature can drop to -20 or even to -30. It can cause death during exam in case that you fail and waiting room is not in your station (and waiting rooms can be close during night).<br />
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Fist type is '''Orange doors - local train L''' (you can find this type of train by letter L in station departures table and if you look to idos.cz , this type of train is market like R, and you can see at idos.cz all stops during trip). Local train has in the middle blue part with blue door and is it possible to buy ticket or being checked there (You can buy ticket in train in blue door area, for example if control is coming – it is good idea to sit in orange part, but close to blue part. Or you can sit in first wagon and you will see ticket inspectors in platform (group of people with uniforms), when train is arriving). Conductor is most of time in blue part. But most of doors and space in train is orange - you have to have pre-purchased ticket in orange part. But usually nobody checks it. Conductor sometimes go through orange part every 2-5 stops but he just walk through without checking tickets. Sometimes, maybe once a 15-30 rides, few ticket inspectors check orange part too. But they don't give penalty probably, they just sell ticket in orange part or some people just tell them that they have already ticket. But you can get penalty from them – they are there for giving fines. Almost nobody have ticket in orange part during suddenly checking. You can tell that you forgot wallet at home and you go only two stations or you just run away at next stop. Penalty is NOK 1150 (About Eur 130), but it is pretty rare to get penalty from Ministry of transport (Ministry of Norwegian train).<br />
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The same penalty NOK 1150 is in Oslo public transport (Buses, Trams, Underground). The blue jumprs (ticket inspectors) are in group of two-three with reflective jackets and many local residents suddenly leave tram after recognizing them. You can use ships from one to another side of fjord, close to Oslo. There are quite a lot of passengers and nobody check tickets during boarding or during ride. Ship go usually once a hour until late night. If the ticket inspection suddenly start on the ship, you can jump into water and swim 2-4 km to side. But water is not warm. There are buses in another side of fjord than Oslo and in Oslo outer zones. In direction from Oslo usually nobody checks tickets but in direction to Oslo from outside – there is no ticket shop and you have to go around driver and show or buy tickets. You can try to tell that you have Euro only or ticket in phone and empty battery.<br />
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Around Oslo - a lot of local orange trains go, usually every 1 hour (sometimes once a 2 hour, but somewhere once a 20 minutes) since early morning to midnight. Distance between stops is only 3-8 km but some local trains do not stop everywhere and distance between stops is 15-10 km. Sped is about 70-110 km/h. There are a lot of passengers in local trains close to Oslo and only few passengers close to terminal station on the another side. Orange trains have only one toilet usually. Toilet is not easily visible, it is usually in middle of train. <br />
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Next type is '''R train''' (Regional ?, R at departure board, '''REG''' at idos.cz) R trains don't have orange or blue door but there is normal ticket inspection like in Sweden. Some R trains are with orange door everywhere, but it does not mean anything. R-trains are quite crowded close to Oslo, between Oslo and Hamar, close to Trondheim. Conductor usually check tickets after big town and not so often during a trip after. Many stops can be request only. But if not so many people come into train, there is long journey without ticket checking. And you can try just sleep, read a book, like you were already checked (it does not work at first checking). Conductor almost don't care who is new. Distance between stops is about 10-20 (50+) km and interval to next train about 2-12 hours in south of Norway. Regional trains are marked with R on departures table and at www.idos.cz like REG-trains. You can see at idos.cz all stops. Trains around Oslo are quite crowded, and there is quite lot of people around bigger town. There are small R trains too, with few passengers only and many stops by request. Conductor almost do not check tickets during a trip, only at begin or after bigger town. On the other side, it is easy to find, who is new between few passengers. Conductor just walk through train often and if there is checking of all passengers, they say in Norwegian '''Biljet Kontrol''' in train speaker, with some talking around. You can try to stay on the WC during checking, '''conductor usually do not checks toilets''' (You can leave door unlocked and sit like during shitting). Or you can try to tell that you have ticket in phone and empty battery or your friend is booking your ticket just now - but you risk penalty with this. You can run away in next station in case of troubles. You can use too short distant ticket trick - that you buy ticket only for 1-3 stations and you continue more far after checking. But if you change train, you need new ticket. And tickets in Norway are expensive (about Eur 5-10 per 30 km, if you buy ticket by internet long time before ride, price can be Eur 1 per 5 km). There are no cheaper tickets “Mini Pris” for shorter distances. Mini Pris tickets are for distances like 100+ km at nsb.no and it cost more than 200 NOK always (around Eur 25). But you can find ticket for 300-500 km long journey with MiniPris 250-300 NOK (30-40 Eur). Standard price for 300-500 km can be 600-900 NOK (around 70-100 Eur).<br />
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Some regional trains (Norwegian train company NSB) are going from Oslo to Moss, Halden, Goteborg and back. Moss is the last stop, which is accessed by local trains (L without checking, R at www.idos.cz) with orange door and it is 5 stops by regional train (R at departure table, REG at www.idos.cz) from Moss to Halden (last stop in Norway) and 3 more stops to Goteborg. There are regional 4 trains a day from Oslo to Goteborg wit not so many passengers inside (Ticket inspection can be just after Oslo resp. Goteborg, maybe after Halden and Moss), from Oslo 7:01,13:01,15:28. It is 10 stops, journey from Oslo to Goteborg has duration 3:40 – 4:00 hours. Back from Goteborg to Oslo trains go: 4:35,6:55,13:00,17:55, journey has duration 3:47-3:57 hours. This train is probably mostly for SE-NO or NO-SE ride, because stops in first country are only for boarding and stops in second country are only for getting off.<br />
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There are another not so common types of trains. First '''F-trains''' with F letter on departure Table. This trains go from Oslo to Airport and back. F-train goes from-to Oslo Airport and Oslo central station. Ticket cost NOK 90 (about Eur 10) and PeterOB does not know anything about ticket control in F-train.<br />
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''Swedish high-speed train SJ Snabbstaag''' between Stockholm and Oslo, stops are ''(Oslo - Kongsvinger (NO) - Arvika (SE) - Karlstad (SE) - Kristinehamn - Degerfors - Hallsberg - (Katrineholm) - (Södertälje Syd) - Stockholm)'' Only few SJ Snabbtaags stops in ''Katrineholm'' or 'Södertälje Syd' It is 8 stops (for one trains 9 or 10 stops). There was high-speed train without stop between Stockgolm and Karlstad (3 hours between these stops), but not anymore (4 stops total) Concrete schedule changes quite lot every day-week. One train goes in Morning (early, except Saturday), one in late morning and 1-3 trains in afternoon. You can find concrete train at idos.cz Generally, number of High-Speed trains between Oslo and Stockholm goes 4-5x in Friday, 2x in Saturday, 3x in other days in each direction There is sometimes identity checking on platform in Oslo after leaving train from Sweden because of immigrants. Only few passengers go between Arvika and Oslo. So blue jumprs probably do not check ticket so often in this part of journey. When PeterOB was train there in SJ Snabbstaag - blue jumprs stayed in Bistro area and they was drinking coffee. But sometimes, they check between Oslo and Arvika, especially in train from Oslo. If you are kicked out in '''Kongsvinger''', you can take orange local train to Oslo without ticket checking. . Some Swedish trains go from Kongsvinger to Arvika and Karlstad, but they have a lot of stops, tickets checking every 1-3 station. And only few trains a day stops in some stops, many local stops are without waiting room and winter temperature can be bellow -20. It can be difficult to get from Arvika, because next SJ Snabbstaag can get echo and local Swedish trains between Karlstad - Arvika - Konsvinger (NO) have lot of stops (only few trains stops at ''Lerot, Os, Lene, Bransberg''). From Konsvinger to Oslo goes local train L and there are more trains (SJ Snabbstaag and regional with more stops) and you can hide between many passengers or in tolilet.<br />
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'''Norway is very long country with very low population density in the north''' Distance to next village can be 50-100+ km, and there are not so many people in north villages. Not so many cars go to north and you can wait long time on the road. If you go to North, there are 24 hours light in June and many mosquitoes and rain in Summer, temperature about 5-15degrees. But in winter is more difficult – only pretty short days and various weather. Landscape close to ocean has a lot of wind and snow with not so deep frost, but sometimes, especially in some mountain parts temperature can be bellow -30 (Region '''Roros – Tynset – Koppang – Rena – Elverum''' is famous for temperatures bellow -20 or even bellow -30 (it can be -35 in Tynset or Roros). It is valley, where cold heavy air from Sweden flows). Everyone want to take train instead of standing on the road in strong frost, BUT only around Oslo, Trondheim or another big city, local trains goes often and many trains are without ticket checking. Journey to North is difficult, even through Roros – Tynset - Elverum mountains area (Death during exam is possible in winter time, in case that you fail, of course, seriously).<br />
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If you want to go more and more north, it is not easy. Remember that you can check all stops during journey and time-table for all European countries (not in East Europe) at www.idos.cz. Select „Vlaky“ - trains. It help a lot for planing journey. If you select „Pouze přímá spojení“ - it means no train change during journey between two stations. It will choose only direct trains from A to B. Idos.cz works for trains like this in Europe, not for buses (for buses only in Czech Republic and Slovakia and some buses in Europe, usually long journey buses).<br />
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You can '''look on nature and landscape pretty easily now before you will go to train''' – by cabwiev on youtube. The rail road from Trondheim to Bodoe is here (just put the code into Youtube URL) – Spring ( tnsQ8DjD6YE ), Summer ( TY1sbKvjNcY ), Fall ( 0Tpq2mLtXDc ), Winter ( 9pVWfzsgLoQ ). More CabViews - Nordlandsbahn 1920x1080 h264 ( 831Drz4YQdQ ), BergensBanen ( z7VYVjR_nwE ), from Oslo to AAl ( 7o7ecadHJmU ). From Halden to Oslo, Goteborg-Oslo rail-road (Nu8z33KYPAA), Bergen-Oslo (xisVS_DKpJg), Nordic train from Sweden – between Kiruna and Narwik (r7XJo6qzyCE), in winter in north Sweden (39RB_IGEA2k) and (_QftmL-KDVs) and (dvxe9U8otTo) and (qr4Ghzcs0g8). And more. Whole URL is youtube.com/watch?v= CODE <br />
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From Oslo to Trondheim goes R train (REG at idos.cz) with fewest stops (much more R-trains with more stops and a lot of passengers goes between Oslo and Lillehamar). Train from Oslo to Trondheim goes at 8:02,14:02.16:02,22:46. It is 16 stops and duration is 6:29-6:47 hours. But the night train has 18 stops and stops Hunderfossen ,Kongsvoll are only by request at night. Night train wait long time in some stops and journey takes 8:08 (22:46-6:54). There are beds inside night train. You need only for night train seat reservation. For blackriding – day trains are probably more easily, because there are more passengers, no seat reservation and beds (You can try to hide one or two more person together into sleeping bag or under blanket and 2 or 3 persons can go on one-person ticket). You have more possibilities to hide, but night train should be difficult. Back from Trondheim to Oslo trains go 8:23, 13:28, 15:30 and night train 23:30. Day trains have 16 stops and duration is 6:34 to 6:40. Night train has 18 stops, seat reservation obligatory, long standing on some stops. Duration is 7:30 (23:20-6:50).<br />
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If you want to go more north, to '''Bodoe''', from Oslo-Trondheim, you always have to change train in Trondheim. Lets search for trains from Trondheim to Bodoe. Blue-Black train here can be pretty difficult. You have only one train during day and one train at night. Daily train R or IC (REG 471 at idos.cz) goes from Trondheim S 7:38 and arrives to Bodoe 17:28, so it takes 9:50, almost 10 hours. It is 26 stops and 11 stops are with request only. There are high probability for changing conductors during journey. But conductor all check tickets probably after Trondheim resp. Bodoe and probably not or just few times between, but you can try just pretend sleep, conductor do not remember after long time and he does not care so much, who is new.<br />
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This is '''most north Norwegian train line by NSB''', and '''it goes through Arctic Circle (66.55 degrees or 66 degrees 33 minutes)''' Arctic circle is between Mo i Rana and Bodoe, ore exactly between Mo i Rana (66.3905 north) and Loensdal (66.7432 north), northest stations Valnesfjord (67.2995), '''Tverlandet''' (67.3019), Moerkved (67.2838), Bodoe (67.2864), northest point of track loks to be by fjord coast (67.3305 north, 15.1567 east). This is onle of four nancing lines in EU-Shenghen, that's goes through Arctic circle. Two are in Finland (''from Oulu to Kolari'' and second line to ''Rovaniemi, Kemjarvi and Murmansk in Russia'' without trains after Kemjarvi and the most north train line is between ''Kiruna (SE) - and Narvik (NO)''). But there is not so much cold around Bodoe and Mo i Rana, because of Atlantic ocean. Temperature is here in winter around zero, sometimes -10, sometimes even 5-10, only rarely temperature drop to -20, but here is lot of wind, rain and, snow, lot of clods and Aurora is not so good visible. Summer is with lot of rain, temperature 10-15 degrees and never-ended light.<br />
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Stops are: ''(Trondheim S 7:38 ,Vaernes 8:10-8:11 ,Stjoerdal 8:16-8:17 ,Levanger 9:06-9:07 ,Verdal 9:18-9:19 ,Steinkjer 9:44-9:46 ,Joerstad 10:16-10:17 R ,Snaasa 10:23-10:24 ,Grong 10:50-10:53 ,Harran 11:04-11:05 R ,Lassemoen 11:17-11:18 R ,Namsskogan 11:41-11:42 R ,Majvatn 12:03-12:04 R ,Trofors 12:36-12:37 ,Mosjoeen 13:06-13:09 ,Drevvatn 13:34-13:35 R ,Bjerka 13:55-13:56 ,Mo i Rana 14:17-14:20 ,Loensdal 15:39-15:40 R ,Roekland 16:00-16:01 R ,Rognan 16:14-16:15 ,Fauske 16:37-16:46 ,Valnesfjord 16:53-16:54 R ,Tverlandet 17:10-17:11 R ,Moerkved 17:17-17:18 R ,Bodoe 17:28)'' R means request stop. Daily train has a lot of stops and regular checking is probably not so often, probably not so many passengers. You can try to hide between passengers or in toilet. You do not need reservation for daily train.<br />
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'''Night train''' goes 23:40 from Trondheim S to Bodoe 9:15. Type of train is IC or R-Regional (REG 475 at idos.cz). It is 20 stops and 8 stops are request only. Journey takes 9:35. Train stops only for 1-4 minutes at station. There are beds inside and seat reservation obligatory.<br />
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Stops are: ''(Trondheim S 23:40 ,Vaernes 0:05-0:06 ,Stjoerdal 0:10-0:11 ,Levanger 0:50-0:51 ,Verdal 1:03-1:04 ,Steinkjer 1:27-1:29 ,Snaasa 2:06-2:07 R ,Grong 2:37-2:40 ,Namsskogan 3:27-3:28 R ,Trofors 4:24-4:25 ,Mosjoeen 4:54-4:58 ,Bjerka 5:42-5:43 R ,Mo i Rana 6:05-6:08 ,Loensdal 7:26-7:27 R ,Roekland 7:47-7:48 R ,Rognan 8:01-8:02 ,Fauske 8:25-8:30 ,Valnesfjord 8:37-8:38 R ,Tverlandet 8:56-8:57 R ,Moerkved 9:03-9:04 R ,Bodoe 9:15)''<br />
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'''Back from Bodoe to Trondheim''' – situation is the same. One daily train REG 472 and one night train REG 476 only (IC or R at departure board and REG at www.idos.cz). The daily train goes from Bodoe 12:27 to Trondheim S 22:05. Duration is 9:38. It is 26 stops with 11 request stops. There are probably not so many people in train and there is probability of conductor changing during journey.<br />
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Stops are: ''(Bodoe 12:27 , Moerkved 12:32-12:33 R, TVERLANDET 12:40-12:41 R, Valnesfjord 12:56-12:57 R, Fauske 13:08-13:11 , Rognan 13:31-13:32 , Roekland 13:39-13:40 R, Loensdal 14:06-14:07 R, Dunderland 14:48-14:56 , Mo i Rana 15:28-15:31 , Bjerka 15:51-15:52 , Drevvatn 16:11-16:12 R, Mosjoeen 16:38-16:41 , Trofors 17:11-17:12 , Majvatn 17:45-17:46 R, Namsskogan 18:07-18:08 R, Lassemoen 18:31-18:32 R, Harran 18:43-18:44 R, Grong 18:58-19:07 , Snaasa 19:33-19:34 , Joerstad 19:37-19:38 R, Steinkjer 20:13-20:16 , Verdal 20:37-20:38 , Levanger 20:53-20:54 , Stjoerdal 21:32-21:33 , Vaernes 21:34-21:35 , Trondheim S 22:05)'' R means request stop.<br />
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'''Night train from Bodoe to Trondheim''' – situation is the same. There are beds and seat reservation obligatory, probably not so many passengers. You can try to hide in the dark coupe and pretended sleeping, but chance of success is dubious (or more persons inside one sleeping bag or one blanket can go with one ticket). Night train goes from Bodoe 21:10 to Trondheim S 7:47. It is REG 476 at idos.cz. Duration is 10:30 and it is 20 stops, 8 request stops include. Train wait at stops from 1 to 13 minutes.<br />
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Stops are: ''(Bodoe 21:10 , Moerkved 21:15-21:16 R, TVERLANDET 21:23-21:24 R, Valnesfjord 21:40-21:41 R, Fauske 21:54-21:58 , Rognan 22:18-22:19 , Roekland 22:26-22:27 R, Loensdal 22:57-22:58 R, Mo i Rana 0:13-0:20 , Bjerka 0:40-0:41 R, Mosjoeen 1:30-1:40 , Trofors 2:09-2:10 , Namsskogan 3:15-3:28 , Grong 4:23-4:26 , Snaasa 4:53-4:54 R, Steinkjer 5:37-5:40 , Verdal 6:02-6:03 , Levanger 6:14-6:15 , Stjoerdal 7:04-7:05 , Vaernes 7:06-7:07 , Trondheim S 7:47)'' R is request stop.<br />
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Around '''Roros - Tynset - Koppang'''. There are just small trains with one conductor and one WC, not so many passengers. One journey is ''Hamar-Elverum-Rena-Koppeng-Tynset-Tolga-Os-Roros'' Highlands starts after Rena and there is tack in valley from Koppang to Roros. Many stops are request only and not so many people in train are between Koppang and Roros. There is a lot of snow during winter (30-100 cm) and the cold heavy Arctic air is flowing from Swedenin this valley . Temperature sometimes drops bellow -20C often, sometimes bellow -30C (In extreme case daily maximum can be bellow -25C and minimum bellow -35C), Tynset is coldest place. There are six trains per day in one direction. Most of stops are with waiting room but waiting rooms are closed at night. Last train from Roros to Hamar goes around 4pm. It is possible to be kicked out there or even next train can get echo and you can be alone in station. Situation on track Roros-Trondheim is worse. Almost all stops are request only and there is a lot of stops. Some stops can be without waiting room too. There are three trains per day in one direction between Trondheim and Roros. Tynset-Roros Area has coldest winter days in Norway and death during exam is possible there in case that you fail.<br />
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'''There is no train line further north from Bodoe in Norway''' , Bodoe is the most north town or stop, where you can get by train through Norway by NSB – Norwegian train company (and it can be difficult and dangerous in winter). There is one railway from Trondheim to Storlien (Border SE-NO) and Ljusdal (and rail-road continue to Gavle and Stockholm or to Sundsvall). It is pretty long with many stops, not so many passengers and almost no cars between Norway and Sweden there. There is another railway in Sweden from Stockholm to Gavle, Sundsvall, far to north (Umeaa, Boden, Kiruna - SE, Narvik – NO).<br />
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'''Buses and cars continue from Bodoe to Narvik, Tromso, Hammerfest, NordCapp''' You can try buses – in Sweden is often only possibility pay by card or phone, no by cash, but in Norway is possible to buy ticket by cash. So you can try to say, that you have Euro only. Drivers might let you take bus for free. But it is question, how it works in long distance buses. You can try too quickly show phone, where is something like fake ticket on display (they do not check it so hard) or you can try to snick inside back door. But of course, population density is pretty low and distance between towns can be more than 100 km. There are not so often buses going, and not so many cars for hitchhiking. You can wait many and many hours on the road. Because of ocean, winter temperature is usually between +5 and -20, but with strong wind and rain, snow often. And sometimes, temperature drop bellow -30 during arctic wave. There is pretty short daylight and no Sun during December, and non-stop light in June. Some truck with food goes from south to north of Scandinavia and you can catch some truck too.<br />
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There is '''ship line around fjords (Bodoe – Lofoten – Narvik – Tromso Alta – Hammerfest (close to Nord Cap) – Vardoe – Kirkenes''' (East Finmark, close to Russian border)). But ship could be quite expensive, especially cabins. Ticket just for walkers can be cheaper, but it cost still quite a lot. Maybe, you can hitchhike a car and hide inside car. And Short Distance Ticket Trick (like in train) should work. You can try to buy ticket only for short distance, and continue further. There are usually restaurants, buffets and bars inside ships. And people leave leftovers on tables or in some special places. You can usually eat quite lot of leftovers – bread, salates, main dishes, starters etc. PeterOB ate lot of leftovers on ferry in Baltic Sea.<br />
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Food is quite expensive in Norway and more and more expensive in the North, especially in Svalbard. Some shops have trashes accessible, but many shops lock it. Situation with trashes is bad in south, quite good in north or in cold areas Roros-Tynset (not so many dumpster divers there) or in smaller tovns. And the shops throw away a lot of food. It might be not so easy to find good shop for dumpster diving, if you do not know terrain before. More and more trashes are locked especially in south of Norway or Sweden – shitty supermarkets. Good trashes behind Coop and other supermarkets are in coldest winter area – Roros, Tynset.<br />
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You can go by train in Sweden, it is log journey '''Stockholm – Gavle – Ljusdal – Ostresund – Duved – Aare – Storlien(Border SE-NO)''' ,Storlien is on the border Sweden-Norway, it is relative close to Trondheim. It is pretty easy to get to Gavle by train, but from Gavle to Duved is not so easy – only 4 trains a day in one direction, with a lot of stops (around 15-18). It can be very difficult too. There are not so many passengers and some stops are without waiting room. And winter temperature can drop to -30C. Death during exam is possible here.<br />
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There are '''R trains from Storlien to Trondheim and Heimdal''' (REG at ww.idos.cz), but only two trains a day by NSB train company. From Storlien (Border SE-NO) trains go 9:40 – 11:09 (REG 382) and 18:40-20:12 (REG 384), it is 8 stops to Trondheim and 3 more stops to Heimdal . Many stops are for request only. But conductor probably does not check tickets so often, maybe just after bigger town, if anytime. Duration is 1:28-1:31 from Storlien to Trondheim resp. From Storlien to Heimdal 9:40-11:24 resp. 18:40-20:29. Duration is 1:44 rep. 1:49.<br />
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'''Heimdal – Trondheim - Storlien(Border SE-NO)''' trains go ''REG 381 Heimdal 7:30 – Trondheim S 7:48-7:50 - Storlien(Gr) 9:25 resp. REG 383 - Melhus Skysstasjon 16:17 – Heimdal 16:26-16:29 - Trondheim S 16:46-16:50-Storlien(Gr) 18:25''<br />
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Complete station list: ''(Melhus Skysstasjon 16:17 , Heimdal 16:26-16:29 , Marienborg 16:35-16:36 R , Skansen 16:40-16:41 R , Trondheim S 16:46-16:50 , Vikhammer 17:01-17:02 R , Hommelvik 17:11-17:12 R , Hell 17:18-17:20 , Hegra 17:26-17:27 R , Gudaa 17:49-17:50 R , Meraaker 17:58-17:59 R , Kopperaa 18:06-18:07 R , Storlien(Border NO-SE) 18:25)'' R means Request stop. Both trains (morning and afternoon) and both directions have the same stops.<br />
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There are a '''lot of R and R trains between Heimdal and Trondheim, even L trains without checking''' (once a hour during night and once 5-30 min during day) whole day and night. Some trains are local (L at departure table, R at www.idos.cz) with orange doors area and no ticket checking. Orange trains (L at departure info and R at www.idos.cz) goes pretty often here, with a lot of stops and some stops are request only. Local orange trains go from Steinkjer – 9 stops to Aasen(N) - 11 stops to Trondheim S, 3 stops to Heimdal and 1 more stop to Melhus Skysstasjon. Or it can be from Heimdal 4 stops to Lundamo. But at night local orange trains do not go, only regional trains once a hour (R at departure table and REG at www.idos.cz). But it is pretty easy to jump during day by local trains L (R at www.idos.cz) Steinkjer - Aasen(N) – Trondheim S - Heimdal - Melhus Skysstasjon - Lundamo. And conductors probably not so much checks tickets at night.<br />
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By NSB train company (almost only this company is in Norway) and rail-roads in Norway – Bodoe is northest point with rail-road. BUT there is long train journey in Sweden: '''Stockholm – Gavle – Sundswall – Umea – Boden (Luleaa) – Kiruna – Narvik''' There are a lot of trains and 3 or 4 stops from Stockholm to Gavle. It is prety eassy to get there. From Gavle to Sundsvall is 3 stops by high-sped train '''SJ Snabbstaag''', or long journey train '''SJ Nattaaget''' or '''Arctic cirle train'''. From Sundwall to Umea is 4 more stops with SJ AB and many stops with local trains. And many stops can be without waiting room (stops for local trains, stops with long-journey trains should be with waiting room) and winter temperature can be -35. Only few trains a day (2-3) continues to Boden(Luleaa) and more North-West to Kiruna. Distance between stops can be 20-100 km and it takes quite long time to next stop. There are local trains too, with a lot of stops and not so many passengers. Some stops can be without waiting room and winter temperature is usually from +5C to -20C but sometimes temperature drop to -40C. And you can wait many hours for train. The area between Kiruna and Narvik is with mountains, it is very beautiful area, but with a lot of snow, grass, wetland and mosquitoes. Winter temperature here is from +5C to -25C normally, but sometimes -40C. There are only 2 trains per day in one direction and only one train per day in one direction in some stops. There are not so many passengers and there are small villages only. But conductor probably does not check ticket almost there and you can pretend sleeping.<br />
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Two trains a day in one direction goes in the north between Narvik and Kiruna. IC 95 Narvik 10:38 - 11 stops to Kiruna 13:36-13:54 - 6 stops to Luleaa 17:41 and R 93 Arctic circle train Narvik 15:12 - 8 stops to Kiruna 18:00-18:12 - 8 stops to Umeaa Central 1:42.<br />
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Back from Sweden NZ 94 Arctic Circle Train Stockholm Central 16:28 - 18 stops to Kiruna 9:31-9:49 - 7 stops to Narvik 12:36. IC 96 Luleaa Central 11:07 - 6 stops to Kiruna - 15:09-15:27 - 11 stops to Narvik 18:22. So there is only one train per day in one direction in 3-4 stops (Laaktatjaakka station, Vassijaure station, Rombakk, Bjoernfjell in direction to Narvik). And not so many passengers, many stops without waiting room, wind, snow, frost. Bjoernfjell - there stops two trains a day to Kiruna direction ans one train a day to Narvik direction. You can try to go back to Katterat (Narvik direction) 10:57. Distance between stops is 30-70 km and there are pretty small amount of passengers, and many stops can be without waiting room. And temperature in north of Scandinavia can be -40 degrees Celsius during winter. Death during exam is possible in winter time, in case that you fail and waiting room is not in your stop (and waiting room can be closed during night). Check all stops during journey for all trains (you can see it at www.idos.cz - select "Vlaky"). Watch weather forecast and have good sleeping bag. Frost can come pretty fast (from -5 to -40 degrees in 1-2 days). PeterOB do not explore trains in north of Norway. But Norway have only 5 millions inhabitants, most inhabitants close to Oslo. So there can be really empty trains behind Arctic circle and not so many trains a day (and stops can be without waiting room). But there is railway from Oslo to Trondheim and from Trondheim Bodoe (Bodoe is before Arctic circle, it is quite close to Arctic crcle) and there is NO train to Tromso (behind Arctic circle). Classic hitchhiking is probably easier in north of Norway and Lapland (But it is dangerous area, because of weather, no Sun during Winter and no dark, lot of rain and a lot of mosquitoes during summer, but mosquitoes do not bring any diseases).<br />
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== [[Poland]] ==<br />
As we can read – [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] have many experiences in black train (free riding by train) in Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Central European jump styles - Tips and trick for game with conductor is similar in all countries in central Europe (Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland). Leťs explore Poland. Tips and tricks are similar.<br />
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There are several types of trains in Poland. First type is local train. This type of train is marked like OS or R-train in Poland. Local trains have distance between stops about 2-7 km, and this type of train have a lot of stops during journey (50-200 km). Speed of local train is not so big, because of loot of stops and not so fast running. Classic speed is 40-60 km per hour (without stops 60-100 kph). Local trains have about 4-6 wagons and usually only one conductor (or two conductors), some wagons are not so long. You can see about 2-4 wagons away, where is conductor in some types of local trains. Number of passengers is not so big, but it can be more than 100 near big town, but only 10-30 passengers in some train. Conductor go usually every 2-5 stops and check only new passengers, but in some local trains from big town conductor go one time at start and no more during journey, because of almost no new passengers go to train. The conductor's walk is quite fast, but not so fast at the begin in big town with a lot of passengers. You can try walk around conductor, especially in some stop get off and go to area, where tickets have been checked. But it do not work, if conductor's walk is fast. As I have told, conductor check only new passengers. You can try sleep, read a book or look out of window and do not answer for checking new passengers (you, are new, of course). But if amount of passengers is small or you do not look like average person – there is big chance for asking you to show ticket. Especially in night/late evening local train and not to close to town, you can get on as quiet as possible and conductor might do not go. Method, that [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] use in Poland is Short Distance Ticket Trick. The ticket price is about Eur 1 per 10-13 km. You bu ticket only for short distance (20-30 km, few stops), and you go near conductor, show your ticket during control and continue journey much further than distance in your ticket. The conductor do not remember final destination of all passengers and check only new passengers. But if you look like strange person, the chance that conductor remember your final destination is increasing. If you try to hide in toilet, do not lock the toilet, and sit down like during shitting and hold toilet paper in hand. But stay in toilet only for control time, because of another passengers go to toilet and open the door. And one more thing. Be carefull in in some stops in bigger town because of conductor change. New conductor check all passengers, not only new. And many passengers changed in big town. If you are found that you travel without ticket, you will challenged to buy ticket or you might be challenged for give your passport or identity card for write fine. The fine is Zloty 200 (about Eur 40) + Ticket price/ If you in local train refuse to give ID (do not have). You will be kicked out of train in most of cases. Interval to next train is usually 1-4 hours, it depend on location and time. But be carefull for last train at evening.<br />
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Next type of trains is IC or R-train. This type of train is faster. R-train have distance between stops about 10-20 km and IC train about 12-30 km between stops. This type of train usually have two conductors and more passengers than local train. This type of train is usually electric (Local train is usually diesel). Interval between this type of trains is usually 1-2 hours or 2-4 hours. Seat reservation is requited for this type of train, maybe because of a lot of passengers or ticket control system. Because of more passengers you can more easy walk around conductor in some stop outside or inside during control (play that you have telephone and go out of seats area around conductor) and you wait until conductor finish your carriage and you return to your seat after it. But you can do it one or two times, if you travel for long distance, it might fail. You can too use Short Distance Ticket Trick or no not respond during checking new passengers or you can hide in toilet and do not lock door, if you see when conductor is coming). And you course, be aware of conductor change in big town. If conductor found that you travel without ticket, the chance of asking you for pay penalty or give ID to conductor is bigger. And in bigger train for long distance can be coops or security, especially now because of immigrants.<br />
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The last type of train is EC-train with a lot of passengers and a lot of wagons. Seat reservation is required (long distance, a lot of passengers, because of control ? ) This type of train is sometimes international and run for very long distance. Some EC trains go from Prague (Czech) through Ostrava and Bohumin (CZ) to Katowice and Warsaw. Some EC trains go from Hungary or Austria (Budapest or Wien) through Bratislava, Zilina (SK) or Breclav, Ostrava, Bohumin (CZ) to Warsaw. Speed of this train is usually 80-120 km per hour (more than 100 kph without stops). Distance between stops is quite variable – from 10-15 km to almost 200 km, usually 15-80 km. EC-trains from capital city Warsaw to south go to Bohumin (CZ) and continue through Breclaw to Wien or through Bratislava to Budapest and some trains go to Prague. Some trains divide to two parts in Bohumin (CZ) and one part continue to Prague, Second part to Bratislava and Wien or Budapest. Look for stops, arriving time and distance between stops at www.idos.cz, choose trains - “Vlaky”. You can find for example EC 111 Praha from Prague to Warsaw (Prague 0 km 10:07, Warszaw Wschodnia 18:48 721 km, one conductors crew is from Prague to Bohumin and probably second crew from Bohumin to Warsaw). Record distance between stops is from Zawiercie to Warszawa Zachodnia 190 km and 122 minutes, averages speed 93,44 kph.<br />
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Because of number of carriages and passengers is big and distance between stops quite long, it takes a lot of time and maybe few stops when conductor come to you. I do not if the seat reservation (you have to have) is used for ticket inspection. You can go in some stops to area where tickets are already checked (interval to next control is quite long) or walk around conductor to area where tickets have been already checked by outside way or inside wagon without backpack and play telephoning (wait for finish checking your wagon and go back) or try stay in toilet during control and play shitting, do not lock the door. But the chance of toilets checking or asking you for ticket when you walk around conductor can be bigger that local, R or IC trains, because of long distance journey and long distance between stops. I am not sure, if Short Journey Ticket Trick work (you can go near conductor for checking before final stop on ticket and in is not so cheap because of long distance between stops), because of seat reservation (conductor can have in computer with seat is with passenger and which seat not and if you sit on free seat, conductor will ask you for ticket, of course). And I do not know if conductor check only new passengers in EC/IC trains (because of seat reservation). The control before boarding do not exist in Poland or Czech, Or Slovakia or Hungary except of black private Leo Express IC trains – in Leo Express black train is control before boarding and in Yellow Regioet is one conductor per wagon and conductor have free seats and seats with passengers in Regiojet train in Czech and Slovakia). But Back to Poland EC trains. Because of international Journey, the cops and security is very often in this train, especially now because of immigrants. If conductor found you without ticket, the chance of asking you for pay penalty (About Eur 40 or Zloty 200 + Ticket price) is quite big and if you refuse to pay and give ID, the chance of coops coming is big (conductor can too phone to next stops for coops because of long time between stops). Or sometimes you can be kicked out in the middle of fields or forest, this can usually happen in Czech-Slovakia high speed train (up 160 kph) Pendolino with small passengers, seat reservation required and expensive tickets.<br />
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And one more warning for all type of trains (OS, R, Local, IC, EC, Pendolino), which crossing border especially Czech-Poland or Slovakia-Poland and Czech-Slovakian border too. Because of cheap drugs and medicaments for drug preparing (and illegal alcohol or tobacco without mark too) in Poland, the c controls of backpacks in international trains is quite often near Polish Borders. The police usually check identities and very detailed check all thinks in your backpack and all pockets (but do not check tickets). Be prepare for this, especially if you take ganja or similar thing with you in your backpack or pocket. The amount of this non-ticket controls can rise up today because of a lot of immigrants.<br />
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But generally – trains in Poland are quite slow and with a lot of stops (almost all type of train have a lot of stops and small distance between stops) and interval to next train can be very long, especially in east of Poland (and border controls are not so pleasant), classic hitchhiking is better. Hitchhiking in Poland is quite easy, waiting time is about 10-60 minutes. It is best in east parts of Poland. So going by hitchhiking is better than take train in most cases }it is faster in most of cases even go by train with zero times be kicked of). The same situation (slow trains, a lot of stops and good hitchhiking) is in Hungary. And if you are in car, coops do not check your backpack. And one more gut sign for freegans. [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] have found quite a lot of food in trashes in city and a lot of bread and cakes behind supermarket. This is in Poland quite good, better than Czech Republic. But supermarket workers an be sometimes angry.<br />
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But in Poland - you can probably buy quite cheap ticket for local trains. If you buy ticket for 15 km, price is about ZL 5, if you buy ticket for 40 km, price is ZL 10, for 90 km ZL 20. But the price per km is really reduced for long distances. Maximum length is 800+ km and it cost ZL 47 (about Eur 13). Prices are from year 2015. But Peter OB do not know, if you can use this for all trains, maybe only for local trains, which do not go so far and you have to make several changes of train. EC and IC trains go really far but there is seat reservation obligatory. And it is probably more expensive than local trains (at least passengers need to buy seat reservation). There s a lot of stops, even in IC trains.System of trains in Poland is not so developed and only few trains and railways are in east of Poland.<br />
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== [[Spain]] ==<br />
There are many different types of trains (Cercanias/Rodalia, regional, regional express and Catalunya express are obviously the worst, as they have the most stops) and you have to be aware of the fact that depending on where you are, trains may not go frequently. The conductor may either check the whole train several times or after initial check rely on his memory to see who has just hopped on the train or he may have a list. He doesn´t get off the train while checking, so you can jump off the train and jump back on on that part that he has already checked. Trains have only one inspector, even if they are composed of two parts between which you can´t walk. They don´t call the police if you refuse to pay or show a proof of identity, you simply have to get off at the next stop. White timetables (those showing trains going between two locations, not just those stopping from a particular station) list only regional trains - well, in case, you´re wondering why there are so few trains listed. Trains seem to have only one toilet, if any. In bigger cities (Barcelona, Castellon, Valencia, Alicante, ...) and in many smaller cities which may be even worse since there is less people and security can easily notice you it seems to be the rule that you need a ticket to get to the platforms. Sometimes you need a ticket to get only to Cercanias/Rodalia trains, sometimes only to express trains, sometimes both. If you are kicked out of the train, security may kick you out of the station too, so sometimes the only option is to hitchhike. When leaving Barcelona, take any Rodalies train to Passeig de Gracia where all trains going from Estacio de Franca south and from Estacio de Sants north and Rodalies trains stop at the same platform - that is, there are two platforms for each direction, you don´t need a ticket to go between them.<br />
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== [[Sweden]] ==<br />
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Sweden is really big country from South to North (about 2000 km) and about 300-400 km from East to West. But there are not so many inhabitants (about 9,5 millions But about 7 millions Ingenious people). Population density is not so bad in south (highest density in south province Scaane and close to Stockholm - south from capital city). Hitchhiking in Sweden is not so easy (worse than average), but not really bad. Many cars drive for short distance and there are not so many good places for standing on main roads. Weather is really hostile sometimes. There are very short days during winter time, very long days during summer time, especially in the north. Temperature during winter can be during clod wave -10 to -20 in south, -30 in the middle and -40 in north (Lapland) . And in north regions – there is really small amount of cars and small population density or roads network. Public transport (train, buses) is quite good developed and expensive. And interval to next train or bus can be pretty long with terribly weather in north part. PeterOB was train in many types of train, include high-speed trains (SJ Snabbstaag) with long distance between stops. He was captured many times. But he was always kicked out of train, nobody wants his ID. But in one case - conductor from high-speed train gave message to next trains and PeterOB has not unusual appearance. It was difficult for him to get into next train. It is written on the train door, that you can get fine SEK 1200 in SJ trains or SEK 1000 resp. DKR 750 in Oresundstaag train. But probably only for Swedish people - they can maybe get fine. If you speak English and not Swedish, you will be not asked for ID or fine. The fine SEK 1200 is too in Goteborg public transport, but that is question, if you get fine like non-Swedish resident.<br />
You can find the train connection, points for change train, and Swedish train names and train companies at www.sj.se , but there is not journey plan for every train (stops and time, starting and terminal station) (you can not find, where you can be kicked out and when next train will go). So PeterOB recommends to use www.idos.cz You can find there train type and company too, and all stops and time for every stop, first and last stop for every train and train change points and of course, next train, if you are kicked out from previous one. Select “Vlaky” - trains. If you want to find only direct trains without train change, choose “Pouze prima spojeni”.<br />
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There are in Sweden some local-regional trains with distance between stops about 5-15 km (different names at departure board and different companies, blue R trains at www.idos.cz) (Crosataagen, Pagataag, BersTaag, TiB-SJ) .<br />
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Long journey trains and high-speed trains with distance between stop 30-100 km (or up to around 300 km) – (SJ SnabbsTaag, SJ IC, SJ Nattaaget at dearture table, green X2, IC, NZ trains at www.idos.cz ).<br />
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''There are regional trains with distances between stops around 10-50 km (SJ Regional, SJ Övriga in north, Oresundstaag, TiB-SJ, X-taag (X-taaget), NorrTaag, Ostgota, Lanstaag, Veolia).''<br />
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''The long journey trains usually belongs to SJ train company (SJ Nattaag, SJ SnabbsTaag, SJ IC). There are seat reservation obligatory in SJ trains and a ticket belongs to name (if you say that you lost ticket, it is easy to look for ticket in system, include SJ Regional and SJ Övriga). You can not buy ticket inside SJ train after boarding, so if you will be captured and you will not speak Swedish, you will be kicked out without showing ID, but you can get penalty SEK 1200 (about Eur 130).''<br />
''You can not buy ticket inside OresundsTaag train. But tickets probably do not belongs always to name there. So if you say that you have ticket in phone and battery off, or you lost ticket, you will have to get off without showing ID, if you do not speak Swedish. Penalty is DKR 750 or SEK 1000 (About EUR 105), but probality of getting penalty is small.''<br />
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''There is usually not seat obligatory reservation in another type of trains (excluding SJ and OresundsTaag trains) and you can buy ticket inside train. But is some type of train (Veolia) you can pay only with credit card (so you just say that you have cash only and you will have to get off only).''<br />
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''PeterOB was captured many times, including SJ Snabstaag and he was always only kicked out without penalty or showing ID. But one time - they ask for his ID in SJ SnabbTaag and they made extra stop for small station for kicking him out. And during another journey - they gave echo to next trains in SJ Snabbstaag from Malmo to Stockholm. BUT if you are more north, (not close to Malmo), then some stations have not waiting room, you have to wait outside (or waiting room can be closed during night). Next train can be many hours later (there is only 1 train per day (in one direction) in few stations) and winter in Sweden is not like winter in Italy. Death during exam is possible in winter time in case tat you will fail and there is not waiting room in your station (or waiting room is closed during night).''<br />
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''PeterOB has been finding quite hard system of train names, types and companies, and correlation with train types and types at www.idos.cz . There are many train companies in Sweden, name of train company is not always the same name like name of train type. Many long journey trains (include regionals) belongs to SJ train company. And at www.idos.cz there are local and regional blue trains (usually R or REG in north) and green long journey trains (X2, IC, NZ). All green trains and few blue trains belongs to SJ. In north – the regional SJ train (Övriga, blue at www.idos.cz) can be part of long-journey green train (NZ, SJ Nattaag). It is usually branch from Boden to Luleaa – short branch from long journey Stockholm-Narvik, or even between Sundsvall and Luleaa can be blue R train – SJ Övriga the same like green NZ train – SJ Nattag between Sundsvall and Boden. NZ 10093 is blue at www.idos.cz, but is long journey SJ Nattag (and SJ Ovria during part of journey).''<br />
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First type is '''high-speed train - SJ Snabbstaag'''. It is high-speed train with fewest stops and you can go with this train for long distances. SJ Snabbtaag has usually 5-6 wagons and second or third wagon is usually bistro wagon with small bar. First class is usually first or last wagon. Distances between stops are about 5-100 km, sometimes even more and speed is usually 140-200 kph. Conductor goes sometimes every station, but sometimes once 2-3 stations and they don't check tickets so often last 2-3 stations (especially if the train goes to Oslo or Copenhagen). They check at first all passengers and they ask only, who is new, during next checking. If there is a lot of passengers, 2-3 blue jumprs check tickets together (especially first checking), but most of time only one conductor checks new passengers.<br />
There is quite lot of passengers, so you can just sit and sleep or read a book, like you have been there before, if the first checking was done (if your appearance is not unusual). There are doors with glass between wagons and you can see, when ticket checking is coming (sit close to corridor, not close to window and watch booth sides). When checking is close in neighbour wagon, you will go to toilet for a while (you can lock or do not lock door) and wait for a while (other passengers can go to toilet too). Conductors usually do not check toilets. BUT there are waiters in bistro wagon with same clothes like conductors. Do not exchange them and do not hide in toilet from waiters, they will stay in Bistro.<br />
If you are captured, do not tell them final destination, but the next station only, or last station, which is gone or some city with another direction and another train. If you tell them final destination, they can give echo to next train. You can not buy ticket inside train SJ SnabbTaag or SJ Regional. So you will be probably kicked out. Tickets belongs to names, so trick that you have ticket inside phone and battery out or you lost you ticket, does not work (you can try to tell common Swedish surname). Probably all stations with SJ SnabbTaag and most of stations with SJ Regional has waiting room.<br />
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The line with '''SJ SnabbTaag''' is once 1 hours '''between Copenhagen or Malmo and Stockholm''' with (plus minus) 8 stops ''([Copenhagen], Malmo, Lund, Hassleholm, [Älmhult station], Alvesta, Nassjo, [Tranaas station], [Mjolby], Linkoping, Norrkoping, Sodertajle, [Stockholm Flemingsberg], Stockholm Central)'' Trains goes usually once a hour between Malmo and Stockholm, during weekend once a 2 hours. Only some trains stops in stations with brackets. Usualy every second train (once a 2 hours) continue to Copenhagen. Not all SJ Snabbtaag stops in Mjolby, many of them do not stops between Nassjo and Linkoping.<br />
Only trains from Malmo 14:11 and 19:11 stops at Tranaas station instead of Mjolby. And only some trains stops at Almhult – these trains do not stop at Mjolby. Not all trains goes from or to Copenhagen (DK). <br />
SJ Snabbstaag X2 500 X 2000 from Malmo 5:36 is best with fewest stops - (Malmö Central 5:36 BO, Lund Central 5:46 5:48 BO, Hässleholm Central 6:18, Linköping Central 8:09, Stockholm Central 9:46 GO).<br />
SJ Snabbstaag from Stockholm to Malmo 17:06 is best with fewest stops - (Stockholm Central 17:06 BO, Alvesta station 19:54-19:56, Hässleholm Central 20:31-20:33, Lund Central 21:03-21:05 GO, Malmö Central 21:15 GO).<br />
If you are kicked out, you can wait for next SJ Snabbtaag, but it is better to get out from Tranas and Almhult to better station (Alvesta resp. Mjolby-Linkoping). There is once a hour (once a 2 hour in weekend) good Oresundstaag train between Malmo-Lund_Hassleholm-Alvesta-(Kalmar), you can use it for this region. And there is usually often (once a 30-60 min) Ostgotapendel train between Tranaas-Mjolby-Linkoping. Lot of local trains with lot of people goes between Linkoping-Norkoping-Stockholm. There are only few trains with lot of stops between Alvesta-Nassjo-Mjolby, it is really good idea to take SJ Snabtaag only there.<br />
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There is once a day train '''from Malmö to Stockholm – Veolia transoprt Sverige AB''' (R 9340 at ww.idos.cz like regional), train goes from Malmo 9:20 (R 3940) to Stockholm 14:31. Stops with Veolia company are: ''(Malmö, Lund, Eslöv station, Hässleholm, Alvesta, Nässjö, Linköping , Norrköping, Södertälje, Stockholm)''. Another direction - R 3941 9:14 from Stockholm to Malmö (Stockholm Central 9:14 BO, Södertälje Syd 9:33 BO, Norrköping Central 10:51, Linköping Central 11:19, Nässjö Central 12:18, Alvesta station 12:59, Hässleholm Central 13:45 GO, Eslöv station 14:10 GO, Lund Central 14:20 GO, Malmö Central 14:40 GO). This train has about 4-5 wagons and relative lot of people inside, it is quite crowded train in daytime with most of passengers, so it should be easy there (long train, lot of passengers, and conductor do not see you). This train is on departure table SJ Snalltaget and blue R at www.idos.cz. It is usually only one SJ Snalltaget during day, but some days more SJ SnallTagets go (One Friday PeterOB found 3 SJ Snalltaget per day from Malmo to Stockholm. And the SJ Snalltaget after noon do npt stop between Alvesta and Linköping.) There is even better train once a day between Malmo and Stockholm in afternoon. This train has about 9 wagons (pretty long train) and pretty lot of people inside (almost no free seat). How many conductors are inside train and how often they check - that is question.<br />
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'''IC 204''' (Sometimes IC 10204) (Malmö Central 15:16 BO, Lund Central 15:27-15:29 BO, Hässleholm Central 16:03-16:05, Alvesta station 16:47-16:49, Nässjö Central 17:30-17:32, Linköping Central 18:33-18:35, Norrköping Central 19:00-19:02, Södertälje Syd 20:12-20:13 GO, Stockholm Central 20:33 GO)<br />
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'''IC 207''' (Sometimes IC 10207) (Stockholm Central 14:59 BO, Södertälje Syd 15:19 BO, Norrköping Central 16:41-16:43, Linköping Central 17:10-17:12, Nässjö Central 18:12-18:14, Alvesta station 18:53-18:55, Hässleholm Central 19:36-19:38, Lund Central 20:09-20:11 GO, Malmö Central 20:22 GO)<br />
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Between Malmo and Stockholm goes once a night train '''SJ Nattaget''' (NZ1 at idos.cz) Between Stockholm and Malmo journey takes almost 8 hours. Stops are similar like SJ SnabbTaag, but not the same.<br />
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There are quite lot of local trains between Alvesta and Malmo and between Mjolby and Stockholm too. But '''between Alvesta - Nässjö - Mjölby''' only long journey trains go often, if you are somewhere between big stations, there is only Crosatagen with 2-3 wagons and lot of stops, and only once 1-6 hours.<br />
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Usually once 2 hours '''SJ SnabbTaag goes from Malmö to Goteborg''' with 3 stops (Lund, Helsingborg, Halmstad, Goteborg) Stops are always the same. First train from Malmo 6:05 and Last train from Malmo 18:00. SJ Snabbstaag goes from Malmo (to Goteborg): 6:05, 6:59, 9:37, 11:05, 13:05, 16:00, 18:00.<br />
First train continues two more stops to Skovde and Katrineholm – Malmo 6:05 –----- Goteborg 8:20, Skovde 9:34, Katrineholm 10:41).<br />
From Gotebörg to Malmö SJ Snabbstaag goes: 6:40, 7:40, 10:10, 12:40, 14:40, 16:40, 18:40. Stops are the same (Göteborg Central, Halmstad Central, Helsingborg Central, Lund Central, Malmö Central). Last train goes from Hallsberg - (Hallsberg station 16:39, Skövde Central 17:19, Göteborg Central 18:25-18:40, Halmstad Central, Helsingborg Central, Lund Central, Malmö Central 20:56).<br />
There are a lot of '''Oresundstaag '''(OTU at www.idos.cz trains, once a hour (once a two hours during weekend) between Goteborg and Malmo-Copenhagen, it is 12 stops between Goteborg and Malmo. You can use this train too, if you are konced out.<br />
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About once 3 hours runs '''high-speed train SJ SnabbTaag between Stockholm – Karlstad - Oslo''' (train line by 59 degrees lattitude, close to big lake) with stops: ''(Stockholm, [Sodertajle Syd], [Katrineholm], Hallsberg , Degerforos, Kristinehamn, Karlstad, Arvika SE, Konsvinger NO, Oslo S NO)'' Some SJ Snabbtaag goes between Stockholm and Karlstad only and some of them takes whole journey between Oslo and Stockholm. Only some trains stops in Katrineholm and Sodertajle Syd, most of trains does not stops between Hallsberg and Stockholm. There was SJ Snabbtaag without stop between Stockholm and Karlstad, but not anymore.<br />
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It can be '''SJ IC''' train instead of '''SJ Snabbtaag''' between Karlstad and Stockholm with the same stops. And there is twice a day between Goteborg – Karlstad – Hallsberg – Stockholm train <br />
Bergslagstaag (blue R at idos.cz) with lot of stops between Goteborg and Karlstad buts stops between Karlstad and Stockholm are (Stockholm, [Flren Station], Katrineholm, Hallsberg , Degerforos, Kristinehamn, Karlstad).<br />
If you are kicked out, it is usually better to wait for next train with not so many stops. Local trains goes by Lattidude 59 journey, but with plenty of small stops. There is quite good connection with long journey trains between Stockholm and Katrineholm, plenty of commuter trains between Sodertajle and Stockholm. There are some local trains between Degerfors, Kristinehamn, Karlstad usually once 1-2 hour, bust with more stops and not so many people. There is every hour local train between Karlstad and Arvika, number of stops is variable and some stops are small with not so many trains. Only few local trains with almost no people goes between Arvika (SE) and Konsvinger (NO), but there are many super small stops. In Norway – There is local train without ticket checking inside L14 between Oslo and Konsvinger once a hour.<br />
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There is '''once a hour high-speed train SJ SnabbTaag between Goteborg-Stockholm''' First train goes quite early and latest train quite late and sometimes, SJ Snabbtaag goes more than once a hour. It is usually 0 or 2 or 3 stops between Goteborg and Stockholm and stops are very variable, every trains stops in another stops. It means, if you are kicked out, next train can be in many hours, if you are on bad stop, SJ Regional stops in all these stops, but it has much more stops. But some trains does not stop at all between Goteborg and Stockholm (about 5 trains per day).<br />
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SJ Snabshaag X2 420 X 2000 5:05 has 7 stops and only this SJ Snabbstaag stops at Falköping and Töreboda. So this train is not good. Most trains have 2-3 stops between Goteborg and Stockholm All possible stops are ''([Helsingborg Central], [Halmstad Central], Göteborg Central, [Herrljunga station ],[Falköping Central] ,[Skövde Central], [Alingsaas station], [Töreboda station], [Hallsberg station], [Katrineholm] , [Södertälje Syd], Stockholm Central)'' Most of trains stops at Skövde, Katrineholm usual number of stops is 2-3.<br />
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There is regional train '''SJ Regional''' with pretty much stops between Goteborg and Stockholm. (R at www.idos.cz, SJ Regional at departure board). It is 18 stops and duration is about 4:40. Stops are: ''(Göteborg Central, Alingsaas station, Vaargaarda station, Herrljunga station, Falköping Central, Skövde Central, Töreboda station, Laxaa station, Hallsberg station, Kumla Station, Örebro Södra, Örebro Central, Arboga station, Köping station, Västeraas Central, Enköping station, Baalsta station, Sundbyberg station, Stockholm Central)'' BUT R92 (SJ Regional) has much less stops.<br />
You can try go by night train '''SJ Nattaaget''' between Goteborg – Stockholm - Lulea NZ 92 to Stockholm, Lulea and NZ91 from Lulea, Stockkholm to Goteborg. Some days NZ 91 and NZ 92 goes only between Lulea-Stockholm, not between Stockholm-Goteborg all days.<br />
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PeterOB have not experiences with night trains. There are obligatory of seat reservation like in high-speed trains. And it can be beds only and locked coupes inside.<br />
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'''High-speed train SJ SnabbTaag goes north from Stockholm''' Journey is '''Stockholm-Gavle-Hudiksvall-Sundsvall-Umea''' Most of JS SnabbTaag goes only between Stockholm-Sundsvall or few trains can go only between Stockholm-Hudiksvall. About 2-4 SJ SnabbTaags per day in one direction go whole train line Stockholm – Umeaa. Once a 2 hours goes SJ Snabbtaag Stockholm-Sundsvall. It takes about 3:34 hours Stockholm-Sundsvall and about 6:24 hours Stockholm-Umeaa. Usually one SJ Snabbtaag goes another north-west journey Stockholm -Gavle - Ljusdal – Ostersund.<br />
Stops by North train line SJ SnabbTaag are: ''(Stockholm Central, Arlanda Central, Uppsala Central, Gävle Central, Söderhamn station, Hudiksvall station, Sundsvall Central, Timraa station, Härnösand station, Kramfors, Örnsköldsvik C, Umeaa Östra station, Umeaa Central)''<br />
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If train does not go whole journey, it does not matter, every stop is good. Stops with SJ SnabbTaag are always the same. As you know – it is visible to neighbor wagon, so you watch, when conductor is coming and you hide on toilet during checking. Toilets are not usually checked. Or conductor check only new passengers and you play, that you are here long time before.<br />
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There are two night trains per day in journey ''Stockholm – Gavle – Sundsvall – Umea – Lulea'' even with little bit less stops. train '''Arctic circle train''' from-to Kiruna, Narvik is best with fewest stops. Really a lot of trains goes between Stockholm and Gavle, it is 3 or 4 stops. There is local train '''X-Taaget '''between Gavle and Sundsvall with more stops. Norrtaag train company with more stops goes between Sundsvall and Umeaa. Between Umeaa and Boden goes only 3 trains pr day in one direction. One NorrTaag train and two night trains. NorrTaag has one-two extra stop close to Umeaa.<br />
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North-West journey Stockholm-Gavle-Ljusdal-Ostersund has about 1 SJ SnabbTaag per day and 1 SJ IC with more stops plus one more SJ regional with more stops and only to Ljusdal. Stops with SJ SnabbTaag are: Stops with SJ SnabbTaag: ''(Stockholm Central, Arlanda Central, Uppsala Central, Gävle Central, Bollnäs station, Ljusdal station, Aange station, Bräcke station, Östersund Central)''<br />
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There is '''Night train - SJ Nattaget''' (SJ Nattaget at departure board and green NZ at idos.cz) by main train long journey lines (Malmo-Stockholm), (Goteborg-Stockholm-Gavle-Sundsvall-Umea-Boden-Luleaa), and long journey night train Arctic circle train ''(Stockholm-Gavle-Sundsvall-Umea-Boden-Kiruna-Narvik)'' It is in one line one night train per night in one direction. NZ93 and NZ 94 Arctic circle train goes between Stockholm and Narvik, it is best with fewest stops at all. NZ 91 and NZ 92 goes between Goteborg – Stockholm – Luleaa, but some days only between Stockholm and Luleaa. NZ 91 and NZ 92 can be like blue regional R91 and R 91 at idos.cz resp. '''SJ Orviga''' between Sundsvall-Umeaa-Boden-Luleaa.<br />
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Night trains has beds and seats too, and there is seat reservation obligatory. Night train is usually slower than daily train, because it stand longer time in some stops.<br />
PetterOB haven't try Swedish night train yet and he do not know, how ticket checking works in night train.<br />
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'''NZ 94 Arctic Circle Train''' from Stockholm to Narvik 19:00 hours<br />
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(Stockholm Central 17:29 BO, Arlanda Central 17:50 17:53 BO, Uppsala Central 18:14 18:21 BO, Gävle Central 19:23 19:26, Söderhamn station 20:23, Hudiksvall station 21:16 21:21, Sundsvall Central 22:19 22:34, Härnösand station 23:23, Kramfors 23:52, Örnsköldsvik C 0:44, Umeaa Central 1:40 1:50, Bastuträsk station 3:23, Jörn station 3:46, Älvsbyn station 4:45 4:46, Boden Centralstation 5:24 5:51, Murjek station 7:23, Nattavaara station 7:50, Gällivare station 8:24, KIRUNA STATION 9:36 9:54, Abisko Östra Station 10:57, Abisko Turiststation 11:02, Björkliden station 11:12, Katterjaakk station 11:36, Riksgränsen station 11:41, Katterat 11:59 12:00, Narvik 12:29 GO)<br />
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'''NZ 93 Arctic Circle Train''' from Narvik to Stockholm 18:00 hours<br />
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(Narvik 15:15 BO, Katterat 15:42 15:43, Bjoernfjell 15:59 16:00, Riksgränsen station 16:04, Katterjaakk station 16:10, Björkliden station 16:31, Abisko Turiststation 16:41, Abisko Östra Station 16:47, KIRUNA STATION 17:58 18:25, Gällivare station 19:34, Nattavaara station 20:08, Murjek station 20:41 20:42, Boden Centralstation 21:38 21:55, Älvsbyn station 22:24, Jörn station 23:25, Bastuträsk station 23:48, Umeaa Central 1:15 1:19, Örnsköldsvik C 2:17, Kramfors 3:03, Härnösand station 3:31, Sundsvall Central 4:24 4:35, Hudiksvall station 5:39, Söderhamn station 6:18 6:29, Gävle Central 7:25 7:27, Uppsala Central 8:26 8:33 GO, Arlanda Central 8:51 8:54 GO, Stockholm Central 9:15 GO)<br />
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'''NZ92 from Goteborg-Stockholm to Luleaa''' 16:41 hours<br />
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(Göteborg Central 18:30 BO, Herrljunga station 19:17, Skövde Central 19:51, Hallsberg station 20:55, Stockholm Central 22:35-22:40, Arlanda Central 23:04, Uppsala Central 23:26, Gävle Central 0:23, Söderhamn station 1:10, Hudiksvall station 1:43, Sundsvall Central 2:47-2:58, Härnösand station 3:52, Kramfors 4:21, Örnsköldsvik C 5:07, Nordmaling station 5:47, Umeaa Östra station 6:19, Umeaa Central 6:25-6:30, Vindeln station 7:14, Bastuträsk station 8:28, Jörn station 8:51 8:53, Älvsbyn station 9:52, Boden Centralstation 10:22-10:37, Sunderby sjukhus station 10:59-11:01 GO, Luleaa Central 11:11 GO)<br />
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'''NZ 91 from Luleaa to Goteborg-Stockholm''' 18:04 hours<br />
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(Luleaa Central 17:31 BO, Sunderby sjukhus station 17:44 BO, Boden Centralstation 18:06-18:25, Älvsbyn station 19:01, Jörn station 20:04, Bastuträsk station 20:33-20:34, Vindeln station 21:26, Umeaa Central 22:21-22:26, Umeaa Östra station 22:29, Nordmaling station 23:03, Örnsköldsvik C 23:34, Kramfors 0:21, Härnösand station 0:50, Sundsvall Central 1:47-1:52, Hudiksvall station 2:52, Söderhamn station 3:26, Gävle Central 4:27-4:30, Uppsala Central 5:30-5:43, Arlanda Central 6:04-6:06, Stockholm Central 6:31-6:41, Hallsberg station 9:00, Skövde Central 9:56, Herrljunga station 10:37, Göteborg Central 11:35 GO) <br />
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'''NZ 91''' and '''NZ 92''' do not goes all days from-to Goteborg, some days only between Stockholm and Luleaa.<br />
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'''NZ 1 from Stockholm to Malmo''' 07:46 hours<br />
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(Stockholm Central 23:09 BO, Södertälje Syd 23:38 BO, Norrköping Central 1:05, Linköping Central 1:42-1:47, Nässjö Central 3:07 3:51, Alvesta station 4:45, Älmhult station 5:18, Hässleholm Central 5:53-5:56 GO, Lund Central 6:36-6:44 GO, Malmö Central 6:55 GO).<br />
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'''NZ 2 from Malmo to Stockholm''' 07:46 hours<br />
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(Malmö Central 22:08 BO, Lund Central 22:23-22:24 BO, Hässleholm Central 23:08 BO, Älmhult station 23:44, Alvesta station 0:16, Nässjö Central 1:11, Linköping Central 2:29-3:13, Norrköping Central 3:45-3:52, Katrineholm 4:26, Södertälje Syd 5:25-5:27 GO, Stockholm Central 5:54 GO).<br />
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Next type of trains is '''OTU – Oresundstaag''' (Oresundstaag at departure board, blue OTU at www.idos.cz). Name is from '''Oresund bridge''' between Malmo (SE) and Copenhagen (DK), which this trains pass. Oresundstaag train goes from Helsingor (DK) to Copenhagen (DK), Malmo (SE), Lund. Oresundstaag continues from Lund to 3 branches in Sweden, first branch is to Hassleholm, Alvesta, Vaxjo, Kalmar (Some trains goes only from-to Vaxjo), second branch is to Hassleholm, Kristianstad, Ronneby, Karlskrona. This branch has no stop between Hassleholm and Lund. Third branch is from Lund to Helsingborg, Halmstad, Goteborg.<br />
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There is once a hour Oresundstaag train in every branch (once a 2 hour between Vaxjo, Kalmar and almost in all branches during weekend), it means that Oresundstaag goes once a 20 min (once a 40 min in weekend) between Lund, Malmo, Copenhagen(DK), Helsingor (DK).<br />
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Common stops are: ''(Helsingoer, Snekkersten, Espergaerde, Humlebaek, Nivaa, Kokkedal, Hellerup, Oesterport, Noerreport,Koebenhavn H, Oerestad, Taarnby, Kastrup Lufthavn, Malmö Hyllie station, Malmö Triangeln station, Malmö Central, Lund Central)'' There are many stops around Copenhagen, it is usualy less than 5 min to next stop, distance is 1-8 min, 14 min between Kokkedal st and Hellerup st, 12 min in Oresund Bridge between Malmö Hyllie (SE) and Kastrup Lufthavn (DK). At idos.cz – you see Oresundstaag like blue OTU between Copenhagen H and final destination in Sweden, and blue OTU with another number between Helsingor and Copenhagen. But it is one train, not two trains.<br />
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'''Oerestad''' is station close to good hitchhicking point to west and south (to Denmark, Germany). Good entrance to motorway E20 is about 200-300 m west from station. If you want to get to Malmo, best is train. But hitchiking point is last crossroad before bridge-tunnel, about 300 m east from station Kastrup Lufthavn.<br />
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There is usually only one ticket checking between Malmo and Copenhagen and train is quite crowded, especially inside Malmo. Ticket checking is usually during crosing bridge. PeterOB made this journey 4 times and he was always hiding in toilet, when conductor is near. PetterOB does not know, how is it between Helsingor and Copenhagen.<br />
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After Lund – '''OTU train line splits to 3 branches''' Distance between stops is usually 10-30 km and 10-25 min. Conductor comes usually once 1-2 stations and he checks only new passengers. Train is usually crowded and toiled is often occuped, but you can simple hide between passengers, when conductor is checking new passengers only. OTU trains are crowded between Alvesta – Hassleholm – Lund – Malmo – Copenhagen, but relative empty near Karlskrona or Kalmar.<br />
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Stops for '''Kalmar Branch''' (only once a 2 hours trains go between Kalmar and Vaxjo):<br />
''(Kalmar Central, Nybro Station, Emmaboda station, Lessebo station, Hovmantorp station, Växjö station, Alvesta station, Älmhult, Osby(S), Hässleholm Central, Höör Station, Eslöv station, Lund Central)''<br />
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Stops ''Karlskrona branch:''<br />
''(Karlskrona Central, Bergaasa station, Ronneby station, Bräkne-Hoby station, Karlshamn Station, Mörrum station, Sölvesborg station, Bromölla station, Kristianstad Central, Hässleholm Central, Lund Central)''<br />
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Stops '''Goteborg Branch:'''<br />
''(Göteborg Central, Mölndal Nedre station, Kungsbacka Station, Varberg Station, Falkenberg(S), Halmstad Central, Laholm station, Bastad station, Ängelholm Station, Helsingborg Central, Landskrona station, Lund Central)''<br />
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'''Pagataag''' is local train in Scane (around Malmo), it goes between most of bigger towns. Train is usually violet, with long wagons, you can see quite far in train. Conductor goes once a few stations and he check new passengers. Some Pagataag trains are crowded. You can just hide between passengers, or you can go t toilet, when conductor is coming. If you are captured, you can be me kicked out from train, if something happen. But of course, some small stations can be without waiting room.<br />
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Distance between stops is about 3-10 km and 3-10 minutes. Interval to next train is usually 20-120 minutes. Pagataag goes quite often is some lines. Trains goes between Malmo, Trelleborg (south coast, ferry to Germany, Poland), Ystad (coast, place with ferries), Lomma, Landskrona, Lund, Hasssleholm, Helsingborg, Kristiandstad and other places.<br />
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'''Crosataagen''' is local yellow train with lot of stops in region north from Hassleholm and Skane, in Kronnobergs lan and Jonkopings lan (between Hassleholm, Osby, Almhult, Alvesta, Vaxjo, Ljungby, Varmano, Jonkoping and other towns). It is small yellow train with 2-3 wagons. There can be relative lot of passengers after big town, but many stops are almost with no people and train can be quite empty. Interval between trains is 1-3 hours. Conductor goes usually after big town or every few stops. Line Alvesta – Nassjo – Jonkoping is with quote lot of stops and not so many people.<br />
Distance between stops is 5-10 km only. Some stops are without waiting room by small village. You can try just hide between passengers or in toilet. If you will be captured, conductor ask you first for buy ticket. And you can be kicked out from train after.<br />
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'''Kustpilen''' is train between Ostergotlan and Kalmar lan. Journey is between ''Kalmar – Linkoping and Vastervik – Linkoping'' One branch with one stop is from Berga to Oskarshamn. There is ferry from Oskarshamn to Visby – Gotland Island.<br />
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Train has about 3-4 vagons and it is not so good visible from one vagon to another. Istance between stops is about 10-40 km. Conductor goes usually once a 1-2 stops and he checks new passengers. There is quite lot of people in train, so you can try to hide between passengers like you was already there. Or you can hide in toilet, conductor does not check it.<br />
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If you are captured, conductor ask you for buy a ticket. There is possible to use credit card only in train, no cash. It is written on the door, that penalty is SEK 1000, but you will bee just kicked out. But some stops are without waiting room. Interval to next train is usually 1-3 hours, last train is not so late (about 19-21).<br />
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Stops are: (Kalmar Central, Blomstermaala station, Högsby, Berga (Högsby kn) station, Hultsfred station, Vimmerby, Kisa, Rimforsa, Linköping Central) It is one stops with another train between Berga and Oskarshamn.<br />
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Stops during second journey: ''(Västervik station, Gamleby station, Överums Bruk station, Falerum station, Aatvidaberg station, Linköping Central)''<br />
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Situation with regional trains is similar in region '''Motala, Mjolby, Linkoping, Norrkoping – Östgötapendel''' trains run every 30 or 60 minutes and usually relative late (until 21-24 hours). Number of stops is big – stop is every 5-10-15 km usually. Motala – Mjolby – Norrkoping. A lot of local train goes Motala – 2 stations to Mjolby – 3 stations to Linkoping– 3 stations to Norrkoping – every 30 or 60 min. Train is not so long with one toilet in the middle. You can see through whole train. Conductor goes nce a 1-3 stops and he checks new passengers. Unfortunately, place, where conductor sits, is close to toilet. It is good connection to Motala and only one station from Motala to Hallsberg with Taag I Berslagen. Ammount of Passengers in Ostgotapendel is not so small, but not really big.<br />
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There are R train '''from Goteborg to Kalmar''' with company '''SJ Regional''' (SJ AB train company) (SJ Regional at departure board) in R-group at www.idos.cz. There is seat reservation and ticket before boarding obligatory (it is not possible to buy ticket in this train). Only 4 trains a day goes from Goteborg to Kalmar (6:05 10:05 16:05 18:05) or from Kalmar to Goteborg (5:00 9:55 11:51 15:57). Stations are: ''(Göteborg, Boraas, Limmared, Hestra, Gnosjö, Värnamo, Alvesta, Växjö, Hovmantor, Lessebo, Emmaboda , Nybro, Kalmar)'' If you will be captured, you will be kicked out of train, but interval to next train is here pretty long. At least most of stops have waiting room inside. <br />
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'''From Goteborg to Oslo''' there is '''NSB train company''' (NSB at departure board, NSB is main Norwegian train company,). NSB Company belongs to Norway, so it is higher chance to get penalty in this train. At www.idos.cz you will see R-train 4 stops from Goteborg to Halden (first stop in Norway) and "REG" train from Halden to Oslo (7 stops, 5 stops Halden-Moss, Moss is first station, where starts local orange norwegian train to Oslo, without checking), but it is still one train Between Goteborg and Oslo. NSB trains go from Goteborg 4:35 6:55 13:00 17:55 and from Oslo 7:01 13:01n 15:28 18:02. REG NSB trains between Halden and Oslo goes quite often, usually once a hour.<br />
Between Oslo and Moss train goes every hour, it is local train with orange door, without ticket checking.<br />
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'''Västtrafik''' train company is in area '''Stormstad - Uddevallaa -Goteborg''' There is only six trains during day between Stormstad and Goteborg. Interval to next train is 2-4 hours. It is 8 stops Goteborg-Uddevalla Central and 8 more stops between Uddevalla Central to Stromstad. Many stops are without waiting room and it is during winter, windy weather with rain and snowing difficult. Temperature during January can be -15 or even -20 during night. There is road from Uddevallaa to Stromstad close to many stops (for hitchhiking). But be kicked out from last train into dark is not so nice. There are lot of passengers between Uddevalla and Goteborg, but train is only with few passengers close to Stormstad. Conductor goes and checks new passengers every 1-3 stations, not so often between Uddevalla and Goteborg. You can stay long time, or when conductor is coming in toilet, almost nobody goes to toilet close to Stormstad.<br />
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The good connection (every hour or more othen) with a lot of stops is Goteborg – Boras (7 stops) or Nassjo – Linkoping. From Uddevalla to Goteborg trains go every 1-2 hour and this is 8 stops.<br />
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Local train '''Värmlandstrafik''' ('''Lanstaag''' at departure board, R-trains at www.idos.cz) goes between '''Kristinehamn, Karlstad, Arvika, Charlottenberg, Konsvinger (NO)''' The distance between stops is only 5-10 km and many stops are without waiting room. Number of passenger is quite big, conductor goes almost every stops and checks new passengers. Trains have usually 2-3 wagons an 1-2 WC. You can try to be hidden in WC or between passengers which were already checked. If you will be captured, you will be asked for buy ticket.<br />
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Local trains goes only once a 2-4 hours from Karlstad to Arvika and Charlottenberg (SE), some trains continues to Konsvinger (NO). Stops are ''(Karlstad Central, Kil Station, Fageraas station, Högboda station, Edane station, Arvika station, Aamotfors station, Charlottenberg station, [Konsvinger (NO)])'' There can be some trains with more stops - Lene, Brunsberg before Arvika and Ottebol station, Lerot, As after Arvika. These stations are small without waiting room and not so many trains stops there, if any. It is easy to stack there during night. And death during exam is possible there.<br />
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Local trains Lanstaag goes once a 2 hour between Karlstad and Kristinehamn. Stops are: (Karlstad Central,Valsviken station, Väse station, Kristinehamn Station). But there are many trains with no stops between Karlstad and Kristinehamn. It is SJ regional, which goes only this short journey, Berglasbanen, trains from Goteborg to Stockholm or Falun and SJ IC or SJ Snabbtaag. SJ Snabbtaag, that continues to Oslo, stops Kristinehamn, Karlstad, Arvika, Konsvinger (NO). Some Lanstaag goes whole journey Charlottenberg – Kristinehamn.<br />
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Between '''Goteborg, Karlstad Kristinehamn, Stockholm, Falun''' goes another train – '''Bergslagstag''', (BersTaag at departure board). There are only one or two trains per day between Goteborg and Stockholm, through Karlstad. But not all days this train goes, only in some days. Second branch is from Karlstad to Falun, with 1 or 2 trains per day, if any. So it means that time to next BersTaag is many hours or even days. But There are usually many another trains, but not '''between Kristinehamn and Grangesberg''' It is specific danger place, where trains are really rare and only Hallefors is close to road. Distance between stops is 10-30 km and many stops are small, withouth waiting room.<br />
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BersTaag is small train with one or two wagons. Number of passengers is really small on way Falun-Kristinehamn, but there can be lot of people in another lines. Conductor goes once 1-2 stations, and he checks nef passengers. But it is with not so many people easy to see, who is new. But almost no body goes to toilet, you can try to hide there.<br />
Stops on line Goteborg – Karlstad – Stockholm are: ''(Göteborg Central, Trollhättan Central, Öxnered station, Mellerud station, Aamaal Station, Säffle station, Grums station, Kil Station, Karlstad Central, Kristinehamn Station, Degerforos, Hallsberg, Katrineholm, [Flen Station], Stockholm)'' Another branch is between Goteborg and Falun. Stops between Goteborg and Kristinehamn are the same, but branch to Falun continues: ''(Kristinehamn, Storfors, Nykroppa, Grythyttan, Hällefors, Bredsjö, Grängesberg, Ludvika, Borlange, Falun)'' Only one otr two Berglastaag goes between Karlstad and Falun, if any. There is no train on this line many days. Stations Grängesberg, Ludvika, Borlange, Falun are not so bad, because there is waiting room and every two hours another train. But stations Storfors, Nykroppa, Grythyttan, Hällefors, Bredsjö are really dangerous. Next train goes in any direction after many hours, or days and these stations are without waiting room. Only Hallefors is close to road, other stations are nowhere in the forest. Here can be -15 during day and -25 at night.<br />
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There is another train line with '''Berglasbanen,''' between Goteborg and Karlstad. Only one BersTaag per day goes this journey, if any, but many other trains goes there: ''(Göteborg Central, Herrljunga station, Falköping Central, Skövde Central, Töreboda station, Laxaa station, Degerefors, Kristinehamn Station, Karlstad Central)''<br />
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''''SJ Regional''' goes once a two hours between Goteborg and Karlstad. It is 8 stops, distance between stops is 10-30 km. There can be quite lot of passengers and train has few wagons. You can hide in toilet, when conductor is coming (not so easy to see to another wagons), or just between many people like you were already checked. Stos are the same: ''(Göteborg Central, Trollhättan Central, Öxnered station, Mellerud station, Aamaal Station, Säffle station, Grums station, Kil Station, Karlstad Central, [Kristinehamn Station])''<br />
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There is in area '''Mjolby – Hallsberg – Orebro – Borlange – Falun – Gavle – Mora – Fargesta''' local train '''Taag i Bergslagen''' - Svenska Tagkompaniet AB ('''TiB SJ''' at departure board). Taag I Bergslagen is regional train (blue R at idos.cz), however the train lines and balls are quite long. Distance between stops is 15-50 km. Train is not so long, with 1-2 long wagons. It is quite easy to see through train and when conductor is coming. Conductor check tickes once 1-2 stations, usually after bigger station and conductor checks new passengers only. There is about 20-60 people in train and 5-20 passengers get in-out in station. You can try to hide between passenger, just do like you are here long time, when conductor ask, who is new. There are two toilets in train, close to begin and end. Conductor usually does not checks toilets. Toilets are free most of time. Population density is getting less after 59 degrees line and distance between villages is bigger.<br />
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There is long train line '''Mjolby – Orebro – Borlange – Falun – Gavle''' with Taag I Bergslagen. Train goes there once a 2 hours. Mostly only TiB goes there. Most of stops are with waiting room, but not Koppaberg, Stora, don't be kicked out in winter there. There is road Hallsberg – Borlange – Falun for hitchicking too. Last train does not go so late. From Mjolby to Motala goes often and to late night Ostgotapendel and sometimes, but rare goes BerglasTaag from Falun to Grangesberg, Hallefors (area with really bad connection). Comlete journey Mjolby-Gavle is with 19 stops and almost 6 hours. Stop list: ''(Mjölby Station, Skanninge station, Motala station, Hallsberg station, Kumla Station, Örebro Södra, Örebro Central, Frövi station, Lindesberg station, Storaa station, Kopparberg Station, Ställdalen station, Grängesberg station, Ludvika station, Borlänge Central, Falun Central, Hofors station, Storvik station, Sandviken, Gävle Central)''<br />
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There is about oncea two hours Taag I Bergslagen (SJ AB) between '''Borlange and Mora, Morastrand''' It is 9 stations and 74 minutes though this line. Distance between stations is about 5-20 km. Stops are: ''(Borlänge Central, Djuraas station, Gagnef station, Insjön station, Leksand station, Tällberg station, Rättvik station, Mora station, Morastrand station)'' Mora is already in Dalarnas lan, close to Norwegian mountains. Here can be bellow -30 during winter and already in Falun-Borlange area can be bellow -25. Mora is quite close to Hippie Village '''Skattunbyn'''<br />
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Once a 2-4 hours, 5 times per day, goes Taag I Bergslagen from '''Hallsberg though Avesta to Gavle'''. It looks that there are not so many people and lot of stops can be without waiting room. Interval to next train can me long. Stops are: ''([Laxaa station], Hallsberg station, Kumla Station, Örebro Södra, Örebro Central, Frövi station, Skinnskatteberg station, Fagersta Central, Karbenning station, Avesta Krylbo station, Fors(S), Horndals Bruk station, Torsaker, Storvik station, Sandviken, Gävle Central)''<br />
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There is rail-road triangle '''Storvik-Ockelbo-Gavle''', only from Gavle to Ockelbo trains go. '''X-Taaget '''or X-trafik AB train companies are there, only one station between Gavle and Ockelbbo, train continues to Ljusdal 8 stops.<br />
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train company '''X-Taaget''' is similar to Taag I Bergslagen. Trains are not so long, it should be with two toilets and toilets are free most of time. However in this area, amount of passengers is not so big, it is difficult to hide between passengers. Many stations are small without waiting room and interval to next train can be many hoour (and last train is not so late). Temperature in this area can be in winter bellow -30 or even -35 already.<br />
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X-Taaget goes '''between Gavle and Sundsvall''', it takes by local train about 130 minutes and 6 stops. Local X-Taaget goes only once 3-4 hours. Stops are: ''(Gävle Central, Ljusne station, Söderhamn station, Iggesund station, Hudiksvall station, Gnarp station, Sundsvall Central, Sundsvall Västra station)'' However there is high-speed train between Stockholm-Gavle- Hudiksvall-Sundsvall-Umea. '''SJ SnabbTaag''' between Stockholm and Sundsvall goes once 2 hours and between Stockholm and Hudiksvall even more often. Stops with SJ Snabbtaag and long journey trains are are here ''( Gävle, Söderhamn, Hudiksvall, Sundsvall)''.<br />
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Second line for X-Taaget is '''beteween Gavle and Ljusdal'''. X-Taaget goes here once a 2 hours usually. Stops are: ''(Gävle Central, Ockelbo station, Lingbo (Ockelbo kn) station, Holmsveden (Söderhamn) station, Kilafors station, Bollnäs station, Arbraa station,Vallsta station, Järvsö station, Ljusdal station)''.<br />
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There is 2-3 times per day long journey train SJ IC or or SJ SnabbTaag SJ Regional '''Stockholm- Gavle – Ljusdal – [Ostersund]'''. Stops with SJ IC : ''(Stockholm Central, Arlanda Central, Uppsala Central, Gävle Central, Bollnäs station, Järvsö station, Ljusdal station, Aange station, Bräcke station, Östersund Central)''. Stops with SJ Regional: ''(Stockholm Central, Arlanda Central, Uppsala Central, Gävle Central, Ockelbo station, Bollnäs station, Järvsö station, Ljusdal station)''. Stops with SJ SnabbTaag: ''(Stockholm Central, Arlanda Central, Uppsala Central, Gävle Central, Bollnäs station, Ljusdal station, Aange station, Bräcke station, Östersund Central)''.<br />
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'''Area around Stockholm''' is connected well. There are plenty of local trains every 30-60 min with a lot of stops, but almost no controll. '''Commuter trains – Pendeltaag''' goes from Stockohm to many directions – To Arlanda airport, to Sodertalje, and other directions. Distances between stops are only 2-7 km and commuter trains are quite full. There is almost no ticket checking. You can see quite far inside train, when conductor is coming and you can go to area, where thickets were already checked. If you are captured, then nothing happpens, maybe, you can be kicked out. There is no toilet in commuter trains. From Sodertalje to Gnesta goes commuter trains once a 0.5-2 hours. There is ticket checking and no toilet. You can see quite far in train. If you are captured, then nothing happens. There are gates – turnstiles from-to commuter train platforrms in Stockholm and from-to Stockholm subway too. But it is pretty easy to go behind somebody, the “Gate workers” do not go to you, if you pass behind somebody. There are conductors in Stockholm trams, they ask everybody for a ticket. And ticket checking is in stockholm city buses too, when you are entering. Bud trams and buses in Goteborg are without checking, only randomly ticket inspection.<br />
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Many trains goes '''from Stockholm, to north – to Gavle'''. It is night train (SJ Nattaget) to north, SJ Snabbtaag to Hudiksvall, Sundsvall, Umea and trains to Ostersund and Ljusdal. It is usually 3 or 4 stops from Stockholm to Gavle - ''(Stockholm central, Arlanda Central, Uppsala Central, [Tierp station], Gavle Central)''. Arlanda is airport. There is local train with lot of stops every few km between Uppsala and Gavle – Upptaget. It is from Gavle to Tierp 5 or 6 stops and 6 stops from Tierp to Uppsala.<br />
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'''SJ Regional Trains goes Linkoping, Norrkoping, Sodertajle, Stockholm'''. It is with regional trains about 6 stops from Norrkoping to Stockholm, but SJ SnabbTaag and Snalltaget or IC stops only Linkoping, Norrkoping, Sodertajle, Stockholm. SJ SnabbTaag from Stockholm to Goteborg has forst stop Katrineholm or Sodertajle and SJ SnabbTaag to Karlstad or Oslo stops usually in Hal;sberg first stop after Stockholm (It can be Katrineholm or Sodertajle too). It is good way, how to get out from Stockholm.<br />
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'''Journey to north''' is possible by X2 - SJ Snabbstaag train, it is from Gavle to Sundsvall only 3 stops and next 6 stops from Sundsvall to Umeaa (more north in Baltic coast). The same with night trains NZ 90 and NZ 92. NZ90 has only 4 stops between Sundsvall and Umea.<br />
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There is '''NorrTaag train company''' in north of Sweden (blue R at idos.cz and NorrTaag at departure board.) - Sundsvall and more north, one branch is from Sundsvall to west, to Storlien (border with Norway and close to Trondheim). Norrtaag train company goes like local train with 12 stops '''from Sundsvall to Umeaa'''. And only one Norrtaag train per day goes '''from Umeaa to Boden and Luleaa'''. But it has the same stops like two night trains and 1-2 more stops close to Umeaa. Three trains per day – NorrTaag train company goes '''between Boden and Kiruna with 4 stops only''' (same stops like trains from-to Narvik). But one Norrtaag per day has three more stops before Kiruna. This train is probably most dangerous in winter.<br />
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Area around '''Storlien-Sunsvall-Umeaa''' is still far from Arctic circle, but here are quite short winter days. Temperature here can be -30 or -35 and you can wait many hours for next train. Many stations can be without waiting room. Death during exam is possible here. The Umeaa-Boden has only 3 trains per day in one direction, with 4-6 stops. Only one train per day is NorrTaag with 6 stops.<br />
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'''Norrtaag train line between Boden and Kiruna''' cross Arctic circle. There are three Norrtaag local trains (blue R at idos.cz), one IC train between Luleaa and Narvik and one train between Stockholm and Narvik, so it is 5 trains in one direction per day. Almost all trains have 4 stops between Boden and Kiruna, but one Norrtaag train per day has 3 extra stops close to Kiruna. Here are days in December pretty short and temperature in winter can be here bellow -30, frost can be up to -40. Most of stations should have waiting room, but three extra stations close to Kiruna are dubious. Death during exam is possible here with NorrTaag train company, especially if train has extra stops close to Kiruna.<br />
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'''Norrtaag train line Sundsvall – Aare – Duved - Storlien (SE-NO border)''' There are three trains from Sundsvall to Aare, Duved (5:03, 8:05, 18:13), train 8:05 ends in Aare, train 5:03 continues fo Storlien (NO-SE border). It is 20 stops from Sundsvall to duved, it takes about 3:41-3:46 hours (19 stops and 3:32-3:39 from Sundsvall to Aare) and lot of stations are without waiting room and nowhere in forest with almost no people. Interval to next train can be many hours even during day and temperature can be -35. Death during exam is possible here.<br />
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From Aare to Sundsvall trains go 12:12, 15:21 and 19:30, it is 19 stops and it takes 3:35-3:41. Afternoon train starts 15:12 in Duved (20 stops and 3:47 hours) and night train starts 18:47 in Storlien and takes vhole journey (23 stops, 5:13 hours).<br />
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Stops are: ''(Sundsvall Central, Sundsvall Västra station, Stöde station, Torpshammar station, Fränsta station, Ljungaverk station, Erikslund (Aange kn) station, Aange station, Bräcke station, Stavre (Bräcke kn) station, Gällö station, Pilgrimstad station, Brunflo station, Östersund Central, Östersund Västra station, Krokom station, Mörsil, Järpen station, Undersaaker station, Aare station, Duved station, Aann station, Enafors station, Storlien-Gr)''.<br />
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Once a 1-3 hours goes '''NorrTaag between Sundsvall and Umeaa'''. It is 11 stops. Stops are: ''(Umeaa Central, Umeaa Östra, Hörnefors, Nordmaling, Husum(S), Örnsköldsvik Norra, Örnsköldsvik C, Kramfors, Härnösand, Timraa, Sundsvall Västra, Sundsvall Central )''. Many stops can be without waiting room, small stops only. And here can be wind and frost up to -30.<br />
However in one direction goes here 2-4 '''SJ Snabbtaag''' and 2 '''SJ Nattaget''' per day. It is 6 stops, but train From-To Kiruna, Narvik has ony 4 stopsa here. Stops are: ''(Sundsvall, Timraa, Härnösand, Kramfors, Örnsköldsvik C, Umeaa Östra, Umeaa Central)''.<br />
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'''NorrTaag between Umea – Boden - Lulea''' goes only once a day. Stops are: Stops are ''(Umeaa Central, Vannasby, Tvaralund, Vindeln, Hällnäs, Bastuträsk, Jörn, Älvsbyn, Boden, Sunderby sjukhus, Luleaa Notviken, Luleaa Central)''. It is only one train per day - R 7108 Norrtaag Umea C 16:11 – Boden C 19:27 - Lulea central 20:05 and journey from Luleaa to Umeaa goes NorrTaag in Early morning withouth stop in '''Hällnäs''' – there probably stops only one train in one direction only. There are night trains '''NZ 91''' and '''NZ 92''' between '''Luleaa and Stockholm (Goteborg)''' with less stops, stops are ''(Boden, Älvsbyn, Jörn, Bastuträsk, Vindeln, Umeaa)'' These trains can be marked like '''SJ Orviga''' and blue R at idos.cz too. There is too '''Arctic circle train''' between Stockholm and Narvik '''NZ 93''' resp. '''NZ 94''' with 4 stops between Boden and Umeaa - (Boden, Älvsbyn, Jörn, Bastuträsk, Umeaa).<br />
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'''NorrTaag between Kiruna and Boden (Luleaa)''' ''There is in one direction one night train (between Stockholm and Narvik) and one IC train between Luleaa and Narvik.'' Theese trains has four stops from Bodet to Kiruna or back. Stops are: ''(Boden, Murjek, Nattavaara, Gällivare, Kiruna)''. There are three NorrTaag trains per day in one direction. Two of them has the same four stops, like SJ IC and SJ Nattaget – NZ. Norrtaag train has usually only 4 same stops too, like long journey trains, '''BUT one Norrtaag train per day has 3 extra stops''' (R 7154 Norrtaag Lulea 16:30 Boden 17:03 Kiruna 20:07 and R 7151 Norrtaag Kiruna 6:20 Boden 9:27-9:29 Lulea 9:52) R 7154 and R 7151 has three more stops between Gällivare and Kiruna - '''(Fjällaasen, Kaitum, Sjisjka)'''. How many stations are with waiting room is dubious, but waiting room is closed at night. And there are three extra stations, where is easy to stack whole night or day. Especially in these dangerous stations with only one train per day in one direction - Death during exam is possible here, in case, that you fail. Temperature in winter can be easily -30 and rarely -40.<br />
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There are quite lot of trains between Boden and Luleaa, it is 1-3 stops between Boden and Luleaa. between Boden and Luleaa. '''There is no train line around baltic coast, to Finland, only road with buses and cars'''. First good stop in Finland is '''Kemi''' and it is 1 stop and 58 min to '''Oulu'''. It is possible only hitchhike or by bus around Baltic sea to Finland.<br />
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'''Between Kiruna and Narvik'''- There are twoo Long-Journey trains per day in one direction ('''SJ IC''' and '''SJ Nattaget NZ''') between '''[Luleaa] – Boden - Kiruna-Narvik'''. There is IC 95 from Narvik to Luleaa and IC 96 from Luleaa to Narvik. Only theese trains goes between Kiruna and Narvik, it is 2 trains per day in one direction. IC 95-96 has 11 stops in area Kiruna-Narvik and NZ 93 to Stockholm has 8 stops from Narvik to Kiruna. NZ 94 from Stockholm has here from Kiruna to Narvik 7 stops. Narvik is most north station in Shenghen, however in Russsia, about Murmansk is more north rail-road.<br />
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This is area with mountains and lakes and many small villages and resorts. Narvik has quite mild winter with temperature from -10 to -15, sometimes -15, but rarely -20 and mountains divide warm Atlantic air and cold continental air. There are big temperature differences in small distances or between valley and hill. By openstreetmaps.org – Narvik is most north station, position of station is (68.4417, 17.4414). Most north point of train line is close to Narvik (68.4517, 17.4986) and (68.4517, 17.4808).<br />
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'''NZ 94 Arctic Circle Train'''<br />
''(Stockholm Central 17:29 BO, Arlanda Central 17:50 17:53 BO, Uppsala Central 18:14 18:21 BO, Gävle Central 19:23 19:26, Söderhamn station 20:23, Hudiksvall station 21:16 21:21, Sundsvall Central 22:19 22:34, Härnösand station 23:23, Kramfors 23:52, Örnsköldsvik C 0:44, Umeaa Central 1:40 1:50, Bastuträsk station 3:23, Jörn station 3:46, Älvsbyn station 4:45 4:46, Boden Centralstation 5:24 5:51, Murjek station 7:23, Nattavaara station 7:50, Gällivare station 8:24, KIRUNA STATION 9:36 9:54, Abisko Östra Station 10:57, Abisko Turiststation 11:02, Björkliden station 11:12, Katterjaakk station 11:36, Riksgränsen station 11:41, Katterat 11:59 12:00, Narvik 12:29 GO)''<br />
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'''NZ 93 Arctic Circle Train'''<br />
''(Narvik 15:15 BO, Katterat 15:42 15:43, Bjoernfjell 15:59 16:00, Riksgränsen station 16:04, Katterjaakk station 16:10, Björkliden station 16:31, Abisko Turiststation 16:41, Abisko Östra Station 16:47, KIRUNA STATION 17:58 18:25, Gällivare station 19:34, Nattavaara station 20:08, Murjek station 20:41 20:42, Boden Centralstation 21:38 21:55, Älvsbyn station 22:24, Jörn station 23:25, Bastuträsk station 23:48, Umeaa Central 1:15 1:19, Örnsköldsvik C 2:17, Kramfors 3:03, Härnösand station 3:31, Sundsvall Central 4:24 4:35, Hudiksvall station 5:39, Söderhamn station 6:18 6:29, Gävle Central 7:25 7:27, Uppsala Central 8:26 8:33 GO, Arlanda Central 8:51 8:54 GO, Stockholm Central 9:15 GO)''<br />
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'''IC 96'''<br />
''(Luleaa Central 10:00 BO, Sunderby sjukhus station 10:11 BO, Boden Centralstation 10:26 10:35, Murjek station 11:50, Nattavaara station 12:14, Gällivare station 12:46, KIRUNA STATION 14:19 14:45, Abisko Östra Station 15:54, Abisko Turiststation 15:59, Björkliden station 16:08, Laaktatjaakka station 16:31, Vassijaure station 16:36 16:41, Katterjaakk station 16:47, Riksgränsen station 16:52, Bjoernfjell 16:57 16:58, Katterat 17:13 17:14, Rombakk 17:25 17:26, Narvik 17:45 GO)''<br />
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'''IC 95'''<br />
''(Narvik 11:00 BO, Rombakk 11:19, Katterat 11:30, Bjoernfjell 11:44 11:45, Riksgränsen station 11:49, Katterjaakk station 11:55, Vassijaure station 12:02, Laaktatjaakka station 12:06, Björkliden station 12:20, Abisko Turiststation 12:29, Abisko Östra Station 12:35, KIRUNA STATION 13:43 14:02, Gällivare station 15:20, Nattavaara station 16:02, Murjek station 16:30, Boden Centralstation 17:42, Sunderby sjukhus station 18:12 18:13 GO, Luleaa Central 18:22 GO)''<br />
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'''Genearlly black train in north of Sweden''' – from Gavle to Sundsvall some EC, EN and arctic circle trains goes. All long journey-trains are SJ AB (SJ Regional Sundsvall – Umeaa – Luleaa) (SJ Nattaag or Nattaaget - IC trains between Luleaa – Narvik and EN, IC trains between Stockholm – Boden - Narvik) It is 3 stops Gavle-Stockholm and 3 stopc Gavle-Sundvall, 4 stops Sundvall – Umea and 4-5 more stops to Boden. There are some local trains with more stops but it is very dangerous during winter. There are not so many passengers in train, interval between stops is 20-100 km and interval to next train 3-6 hours (somewhere 1-2 hours), (including local trains with more stops). Some places have only 2-3 trains a day in one direction (or 1 train a day). From Umea to Boden and Kiruna only 2 very long journey trains go. Distance between stops is 50-100 km and time between stops 40-75 min. Three local trains during day go from Umea to Boden and Kiruna with distances between stops 30-70 km. Only two trains goes from Kiruna to Narvik and back (7 resp. 8 stops by Arctic Circle train and 11 stops with IC train between Kiruna and Narvik). Distance between stops is 30-70 km and there are pretty small amount of passengers, and many stops can be without waiting room. And temperature in north of Sweden can be -40 degrees Celsius during winter. '''Death during exam is possible in winter time, in case that you fail and waiting room is not in your stop''' (Or waiting room can be often close during night – security comes after some hour (10pm) or last train). Check all stops during journey for all trains (you can see it at www.idos.cz - select "Vlaky", for direct train without train change select “Pouze prima spojeni”). PeterOB thinks that you can't see stops during journey at Swedish railway web pages. Watch weather forecast and have good sleeping bag. Frost can come pretty fast (from -5 to -40 degrees in 1-3 days).<br />
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== [[Switzerland]] ==<br />
The commuter trains (S-Bahn) are great (it even goes out of the country), they have A LOT of stops, which means that you can easily jump off. There is no constant presence of ticket inspectors - blue jumprs. Most often blue jumprs are undercover and get on at random stops. They can be hard to recognize so better sit in the front and keep an eye for groups of 2 to 4 people with big side bags - watch situation on the train attentively during the ball. The S-Bahns also get uniformed blue jumprs who wear blue jackets and red scarfs. You can try to jump in another train - bus. As per the buses, drivers don't check tickets, except in some areas during evenings. It is easy to get onto the bus whilst no one is looking, or through the back door. If you are stopped however, often you can get your way out of paying very easily, because the drivers are payed by the kilometer and not passenger. <br />
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Inter-Regional trains often have inspectors that check several times during the trip -- by memory or, occasionally, by asking out loud who just got on the train. This is like in central Europe. You are new and do not respond. The short distant ticket trick works well, but tickets in Switzerland are very expensive. If you loose on the train and you are caught without a ticket, you'll usually be asked to pay a 90 CHF fine (~110$), as well as the cost of the ticket. There is a bit of wiggle room with this fine, so if you see a blue jumpr, your best bet is to go towards the end of the train and buy a ticket on your phone (using the SBB Mobile app, all you need is a credit card - works on iPhones and Androids). Even though you bought the ticket after you left the platform, the controller wouldn't mind seeing as many people do so - just pretend that you care when he lectures you, and explain that their system is very slow (it is).<br />
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On the advanced long journey trains - Inter City trains (the newer, high speed trains with restaurants), there are ''always'' at least 2 blue jumprs, usually 4 during peak times and on the last train. If only two are present, they start at the end of the train each time, and work up all the way to the front. It is often possible to avoid the inspectors on short trips during the day if you sit right up against the front. At each station, they usually just go back to the back again, so you may never even be controlled. It is best not to run or act suspiciously when in front of the inspectors, as blue jumprs can add a penalty of up to 200 CHF for disrespecting the conductor in case of not so good train skills. Contrary to popular belief, there are railway police agents, and the come to the train station in extreme situations. It is very hard to avoid these fines, however there is one loophole in the system: whenever you see a controller, go to the front of the train, and there should be a kids compartment. In that kids compartment, there is a slide, and under the slide, there is a fairly large area which is big enough to hide a person, yet very hard to spot when walking past. Nevertheless, if you do get caught in this space, the penalties can be quite severe. Seeing as most trains have 2 floors, you could just walk down the stairs (calmly), however, this can arouse suspicion, and the inspector can decide to cut you off on the other side of the wagon.<br />
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== [[United Kingdom]] ==<br />
For short journeys, the UK is fairly good for fare-dodging. Quite a few young people get away with not paying fares, particularly when the trains are busy (e.g. at rush hour). Many trains have no inspectors, and rely on entry/exit barriers to validate tickets. Often these are unmonitored, so a quick hop can get you in. They are often open after 9pm (ish). It is increasingly popular for train operators to have standard fines for people caught sans-ticket. These vary from £10 (maybe, minimum fine is £20 - from 2010, when [[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] was in United Kingdom) to double the full adult fare (which is a lot!). <br />
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A good tip is to look out for 'Permit to Travel' machines. These are designed for people who for whatever reason can't but a normal ticket - the idea is that you buy a Permit to Travel with whatever money you have, then pay the difference later. It shows a general willingness to pay for a ticket - this means that you can escape any fine, so long as you have ample money to pay for a full ticket if caught. The minimum you can put into a machine and get a Permit to Travel is 5p, which is a pretty cheap price to avoid a fine. Also, if you board a train without a ticket and show willingness to pay but just by far not enough money when caught, some inspectors will let you ride for free or be satisfied with your pennies.<br />
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Permit to travel machines are largely being phased out by train operators. Those remaining are centred around London and the South East. Locations where some machines are still known to be operating are: London, Thameslink, Kent Coast, Great Northern, Great Eastern, South Western, West Anglia, West Yorkshire, Certain routes around Birmingham.<br />
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Ticket inspectors are '''not''' allowed, legally, to touch you to wake you up. So put your headphones on and fall asleep. They'll loose interest fast. Be aware some inspectors will try to bump you awake with their ticket machines, or ask the passenger next to you if they could wake you. For destinations with barriers get off at stop before and buy a low cost ticket to the next stop.<br />
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[[User:PeterOB|PeterOB]] was train in United Kingdom in Summer 2010 and he tried to use his common jump style – Short Distance Ticket Trick. But the control system in Great Britain is another than in central Europe and you have to modify jump style, of course. Blue jumpr do not go so often, only once per many stations, or at begin and before finish of ball start and he check all passengers, not only new passengers. Blue jumpr usually appear suddenly and go forward quite fast. You can try good jump style in trains with a lot of passengers - walking around conductor to area, where tickets were already checked and wait until your wagon is finish and return to your place after it. Conductor probably do not check toilets so much (you can sit there and do not lock doors during control).<br />
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But there are one more another jump style and your train skills must be better than usually – many train stations have turnstiles, especially bigger towns near London (like London Subway) and you have to put your ticket to machine during going towards train and too during leaving platform at finish. There are one or two blue jumprs near turnstiles and watch passengers (or only cameras in some places). You can try to use shadow tactic – go behind person with ticket. Or you can buy ticket for child – turnstile do not recognize your age. If you buy ticket just few minutes before departure, it is very expensive (up to Eur 1 per 4-5 km), but if you buy online ticket for non lucrative time (early morning), the price is much cheaper (Eur 1 per 10-25 km). There are exact train and seat in this ticket, but you can use it whole day. Conductor do not check tickets so much, only very fast because of a lot of passengers. You can buy only one station ticket (close stop, even your train do not stop in this destination, turnstiles do not know which train you want to use) and same think at finish – short distance ticket trick. If you do not have ticket on exit platform, you can still buy it (short distance of course).<br />
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But night traveling is better – turnstiles are open after 9pm and no control during entering to platform or leaving platform.<br />
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train in United kingdom are quite fast, 200-250 km/h is quite common, so it is quite scary prom. Many trains have own stop list and it is very different for optimalize train speed. Interval to next train is usually 15-60 minutes. Distance between stops is 25-100 km. There are usually a lot of passengers in train, especially at afternoon. Because of Britain population is huge.<br />
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There are slower local trains with more stops and without turnstiles at stop of curse.<br />
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You can always buy ticket in train (if conductor go) or from conductor that watch turnstiles in entrance and exit way from platform (not whole journey but as short as possible). If you refuse to buy ticket in train or during leaving platform (with turnstile) or you give to turnstile ticket with another final destination that you are now, you can get fine from conductor. Fine is double classic adult fare (which is about Eur 1 per km) or at least pound 20. Conductor choose more expensive fine.<br />
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If you want to go another way that through turnstile and you want to cross track, do not do it. There are cameras and penalty is pounds 1000. And trains are very fast and not all trains stops in all stops, it is variable – so crossing track is very dangerous. One train stop, but another train run through station 250 kph.<br />
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[[Category:Trains| ]]<br />
[[Category:General info]]<br />
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[[de:Eisenbahn]]<br />
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[[zh:火车]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Chamonix&diff=88568Chamonix2017-07-25T23:57:44Z<p>Smaua: </p>
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<div>'''Chamonix''' is a small village in [[France]] down of the Mt Blanc. From there you can start hiking or skiing in the Alps. But it's also a very good origin for your ride to Italy.<br />
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== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
=== South towards [[Italy]] ===<br />
The best spot is located, at a rotary 1.5 miles out of Chamonix. From there every car goes immediately to the Mt Blanc Tunnel so. To get to the rotary, you have to walk the Route Blanches (D 1506) westbound. Take care there, there's no sidewalk, but you can walk on the grass.<br />
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== Sleep ==<br />
Free:<br />
There's a laundry service room somewhere in the main shopping street, open 24/7 even with power. Look for that and stay the night there. If you wanna hitch the tunnel be aware of a lot of police. They didn't say anything through because of the hitchhiking on the speedway just after the roundabout. But it's still better to go up in front of the tunnel, better to hitch from there. Rue du Dr Paccard is the road called. It's in a little Mall I think on the bottom floor a bit hidden behind some stairs. Must be also limit WiFi there It's on the northwest side of the road, away from the river. Good luck.<br />
<br />
Otherwise:<br />
I found a good and cheap hostel called the 'vagabond' I payed 20E a night and they have free WiFi. The hostel is located near the centre at 365, avenue Ravanel le Rouge (gitevagabond.com) the hostel had a nice international flair and everyone was speaking English.<br />
<br />
== Transportation ==<br />
<br />
In the case, you should not be able to get a ride through the tunnel, go back to Chamonix. You can also get a bus through the tunnel to Courmayeur, [[Italy]] (The first village behind the tunnel. Once arrived on the other side, it's easier to hitchhike.<br />
<br />
== Personal Experiences ==<br />
I already got a ride through the tunnel on the 'Route Blanches' just after walking 500 meters. Best is to show your sign with [[Italy]] Don't show a specific city, once you're through the tunnel you can find another good spot near the motorway to hitchhike to [[Milano|Milan]], [[Torino]] or wherever you want to go.<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|France}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:France]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2015&diff=79465Hitchgathering/20152015-05-21T17:16:02Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>This page is a central dump for the organization of the 2015 hitchgathering.<br />
<br />
Discussion happens at '''[http://lists.freeactive.net/listinfo.cgi/hitch-freeactive.net the mailing list]'''.<br />
<br />
Location for 2015 is going to be '''A. Ardèche, South-east France'''.<br />
<br />
'''This is a wiki. You see something that's wrong, edit. You think something is missing, edit.'''<br />
<br />
==Main gathering location proposition==<br />
<br />
There is likely to be many pregatherings scatered around Europe, leading towards the main gathering. We need to find out where that is first before building a network of smaller parties around it.<br />
<br />
Already last year the idea was around to have two main gathering, connected by a kind of rally. Leipzig and fontpedrouse are about 1600km apart, with most of it being highways. Its a perfect route to do a lot of mileage in little time, two days maybe. We could for example start the hitchgathering in leipzig on the first of august, then from the forth to the seventh (so not everyone has to leave at the same time) continue it on the gasstation in between leipzig and fontpedrouse and then open end at the hot pools. The rules of the rally would be this: everyone hitches in a team of two. whenever you meet another team, if possible you have to stop and exchange one team member. -- [[User:Clem|Clem]] ([[User talk:Clem|talk]])<br />
<br />
===Locations in the Poll===<br />
<br />
====A. Ardèche, South-east France (+ Grenoble ?)====<br />
<br />
Suggested by lapouceuse<br />
<br />
The spot would be perfect to spend some good time among us, organize workshops, prepare ourselves for some public actions that we could organize in grenoble, a medium-size town where we could move just afterwards. Read below for more details.<br />
<br />
The place is a collective farm in south-east france, 20K from valence<br />
(south of lyon). About 15 people live there together, growing fruits and<br />
veggies, baking bread, making goat cheese for themselves and for<br />
supporting local struggles.<br />
<br />
I know them relatively well, I spent 3 weeks down there and since then<br />
we met quite regularly for some political actions and activities.<br />
The place where they live is quite lost in the hills (not a good spot<br />
for a gathering), but they own some fields in the valley closeby where<br />
their main economic activities take place ; there are more or less 2-3ha<br />
cultivated with apple trees, cereals and veggies, and a bigger "wild"<br />
area (that's where we could camp).<br />
<br />
=====Logistics=====<br />
* I would say that 2-300 tents could easily fit, possibly more. They use to host events pretty often down there, and most of the logistical issues could be easily worked out :<br />
* Water : there's 1ton tank that we can fill before the gathering with drinkable water (and refill if needed)<br />
* Electricity : small connection available, for charging cell phones but not much more<br />
* Toilets : 2 dry toilets are already built and available<br />
* Collective spaces : they could lend us 2 big tents (12x5m), that in case of rain could become our collective spaces.<br />
* As far as food is concerned, some scouting is needed for finding good dumpster-diving spots ; there should also be a way to get some organic fruit&veggies from them in exchange for work (needs to be discussed).<br />
* The location is pretty nice, it's close to a small river with a beautiful stony beach where I already took many nice baths : )<br />
* The closest neighbours are quite faraway, we shouldn't have any problems about noise.<br />
* About the date, 2015-08-01 would be perfect, because at the beginning of September the whole place (except the cultivated areas) gets regularly inundated.<br />
* To get there by hitchhiking is quite simple, it's some 20k away from the A7, one of the biggest French highways (Lyon-Marseille), and people are cool, it's one of the most alternative regions in France.<br />
<br />
Since logistics should go quite fast, organizing the gathering in this place would allow us, if we want to, to have more energy left for preparing actions/workshops - or just having a more relaxed everyday life : )<br />
<br />
=====Grenoble=====<br />
<br />
One more point, if - as suggested - we want to organize some actions in<br />
town, Grenoble is 100K far, it's a pretty alternative medium-size<br />
student town, surrounded by beautiful mountains, with one of the biggest<br />
squat scenes in france. I lived there 3 months and I would say that it<br />
could be pretty easy to find local partners for actions, and that<br />
finding places for the night wouldn't be a problem.<br />
<br />
====B. Lille Stensrud in Southern Norway====<br />
<br />
Suggested by Warlo<br />
<br />
This spot ([https://www.google.es/maps/search/lille+stensrud,+oslo/@59.8129116,10.8688326,189m/data=!3m1!1e3 here -- south of Oslo]) offers a small lake, unrestricted camping in the forest/by the lake with the closest neighbours being a Wagenplatz (occupied area where people live in trailers) and a squat, both sympathetic to a hitchgathering. There is a good dumpster nearby and the possibility of getting bicycles from the squatters to go to further dumpsters. Some cons that have been voiced include the potentiality of bad weather, expensive alcohol (although [[User:Zenit|Zenit]] knows a nearby source for cheap greenery :-) and the distance to mainland Europe. Some pros are the great dumpsters, good neighbours, the promotion of hitchhiking in Scandinavia, a display of alternative life in Oslo (I hear the city needs it) and indeed the distance to mainland Europe... after all, what kind of hitchgathering folks are afraid of the long road to Oslo?? :-)<br />
<br />
* Are hitchhikers so effing reliant on cheap alcohol to have a great time? Yuck, yuck, yuck! [[User:Prino|Prino]]<small><sup>[http://hitchwiki.org/prino/ blog], [[User talk:Prino|talk]]</sup></small> 15:26, 15 March 2015 (CET)<br />
<br />
<br />
===Further Old Text===<br />
<br />
====Leipzig, Germany====<br />
<br />
I nominate Leipzig because that's where I live and I can do shit in advance. -- [[User:Sitarane|Sitarane]] ([[User talk:Sitarane|talk]])<br />
<br />
Leipzig is a 500,000 people town in East-Germany that main attractivity is that it's insanely cheap, there's always good shit going on and it's probably the only city in the world that has ''forests'' inside it. Good place to camp for us.<br />
<br />
====Pros====<br />
* You can camp in the city, away from notice, thanks to the insane amount of forest between the neighborhood.<br />
* Cheap everything.<br />
* Full of punks. Free shops, free kitchen (Vokü), squats, you name it.<br />
<br />
====Cons====<br />
* Bad weather (Even in august, there can be cold and rain, though unlikely)<br />
<br />
====Other====<br />
* It's a city.<br />
The early gatherings were all in cities, and seen as a media event: One hundred hitchikers converge on one place in Europe to show that hitchhiking is safe and good. Starting with Portugal, it has evolved into just meeting up and having a good time, away from civilization. We could go back to the old paradigm, if only for the sake of doing things different.<br />
<br />
* It's in Schengen<br />
Good for Schengeners, bad for everyone else.<br />
<br />
===Fontpedrouse, France===<br />
See [[:nomad:Free_Hot_Springs#Fontpedrouse|nomadwiki]]. Suggested by Clemens. I Just copied some pieces from the mailinglist and nomadwiki. --[[User:N0id|N0id]] ([[User talk:N0id|talk]]) 18:26, 1 September 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
* there's plenty of space to free camp (200 people should be fine), fresh drinking water, firewood, and a lot of people go there (its a bit like kara dere in this respect, not that many people actually, but also not as big a location). the hot springs should be big enough for about 30 people at a time, but can be extended.<br />
<br />
* Free camping and fire are no problem, but keep the place clean and take your trashes down to the village with you<br />
<br />
* there's a local farmers market about 10km away, but not much local dumpster diving. its 75km from andorra (mountain roads, a doable one day return hitch if you start early), so people who pass by there can go dumpster some junk food (at least thats what i mainly found there) and buy cheap booze. <br />
<br />
* when clemens was there a year ago there was some guy camping there since 10months already together with fluctuating community of rainbow folks. they said that they were in contact with the owner of the land, who lets them stay there for free as long as they make sure that no one litters or trashes the place<br />
<br />
====Pros====<br />
* Camping and fire is not a problem<br />
* Hot springs (would be a first :) ) <br />
====Cons====<br />
* Shop / Supplies far away <br />
* No dumpster diving -- ACTUALLY it is possible and quite good.There is a Super U and a Lidl in Egat village. or nearby there. it's like 20 km from the hot springs which is not so bad and hitching is nice in that area anyway. U can also go shopping over there..<br />
<br />
==Date==<br />
<br />
Historically we have followed a numerology that dictates the next gathering should be on the 1st of August. This is the last year we can follow that tradition, but that doesn't mean we have to follow it.</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2015&diff=79463Hitchgathering/20152015-05-21T17:11:44Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>This page is a central dump for the organization of the 2015 hitchgathering.<br />
<br />
Discussion happens at '''[http://lists.freeactive.net/listinfo.cgi/hitch-freeactive.net the mailing list]'''.<br />
<br />
Location for 2015 is going to be '''A. Ardèche, South-east France'''.<br />
<br />
'''This is a wiki. You see something that's wrong, edit. You think something is missing, edit.'''<br />
<br />
==Main gathering location proposition==<br />
<br />
There is likely to be many pregatherings scatered around Europe, leading towards the main gathering. We need to find out where that is first before building a network of smaller parties around it.<br />
<br />
Already last year the idea was around to have two main gathering, connected by a kind of rally. Leipzig and fontpedrouse are about 1600km apart, with most of it being highways. Its a perfect route to do a lot of mileage in little time, two days maybe. We could for example start the hitchgathering in leipzig on the first of august, then from the forth to the seventh (so not everyone has to leave at the same time) continue it on the gasstation in between leipzig and fontpedrouse and then open end at the hot pools. The rules of the rally would be this: everyone hitches in a team of two. whenever you meet another team, if possible you have to stop and exchange one team member. -- [[User:Clem|Clem]] ([[User talk:Clem|talk]])<br />
<br />
===Locations in the Poll===<br />
<br />
====A. Ardèche, South-east France (+ Grenoble ?)====<br />
<br />
Suggested by lapouceuse<br />
<br />
The spot would be perfect to spend some good time among us, organize workshops, prepare ourselves for some public actions that we could organize in grenoble, a medium-size town where we could move just afterwards. Read below for more details.<br />
<br />
The place is a collective farm in south-east france, 20K from valence<br />
(south of lyon). About 15 people live there together, growing fruits and<br />
veggies, baking bread, making goat cheese for themselves and for<br />
supporting local struggles.<br />
<br />
I know them relatively well, I spent 3 weeks down there and since then<br />
we met quite regularly for some political actions and activities.<br />
The place where they live is quite lost in the hills (not a good spot<br />
for a gathering), but they own some fields in the valley closeby where<br />
their main economic activities take place ; there are more or less 2-3ha<br />
cultivated with apple trees, cereals and veggies, and a bigger "wild"<br />
area (that's where we could camp).<br />
<br />
=====Logistics=====<br />
* I would say that 2-300 tents could easily fit, possibly more. They use to host events pretty often down there, and most of the logistical issues could be easily worked out :<br />
* Water : there's 1ton tank that we can fill before the gathering with drinkable water (and refill if needed)<br />
* Electricity : small connection available, for charging cell phones but not much more<br />
* Toilets : 2 dry toilets are already built and available<br />
* Collective spaces : they could lend us 2 big tents (12x5m), that in case of rain could become our collective spaces.<br />
* As far as food is concerned, some scouting is needed for finding good dumpster-diving spots ; there should also be a way to get some organic fruit&veggies from them in exchange for work (needs to be discussed).<br />
* The location is pretty nice, it's close to a small river with a beautiful stony beach where I already took many nice baths : )<br />
* The closest neighbours are quite faraway, we shouldn't have any problems about noise.<br />
* About the date, 2015-08-01 would be perfect, because at the beginning of September the whole place (except the cultivated areas) gets regularly inundated.<br />
* To get there by hitchhiking is quite simple, it's some 20k away from the A7, one of the biggest French highways (Lyon-Marseille), and people are cool, it's one of the most alternative regions in France.<br />
<br />
Since logistics should go quite fast, organizing the gathering in this place would allow us, if we want to, to have more energy left for preparing actions/workshops - or just having a more relaxed everyday life : )<br />
<br />
=====Grenoble=====<br />
<br />
One more point, if - as suggested - we want to organize some actions in<br />
town, Grenoble is 100K far, it's a pretty alternative medium-size<br />
student town, surrounded by beautiful mountains, with one of the biggest<br />
squat scenes in france. I lived there 3 months and I would say that it<br />
could be pretty easy to find local partners for actions, and that<br />
finding places for the night wouldn't be a problem.<br />
<br />
====B. Lille Stensrud in Southern Norway====<br />
<br />
Suggested by Warlo<br />
<br />
This spot ([https://www.google.es/maps/search/lille+stensrud,+oslo/@59.8129116,10.8688326,189m/data=!3m1!1e3 here -- south of Oslo]) offers a small lake, unrestricted camping in the forest/by the lake with the closest neighbours being a Wagenplatz (occupied area where people live in trailers) and a squat, both sympathetic to a hitchgathering. There is a good dumpster nearby and the possibility of getting bicycles from the squatters to go to further dumpsters. Some cons that have been voiced include the potentiality of bad weather, expensive alcohol (although [[User:Zenit|Zenit]] knows a nearby source for cheap greenery :-) and the distance to mainland Europe. Some pros are the great dumpsters, good neighbours, the promotion of hitchhiking in Scandinavia, a display of alternative life in Oslo (I hear the city needs it) and indeed the distance to mainland Europe... after all, what kind of hitchgathering folks are afraid of the long road to Oslo?? :-)<br />
<br />
* Are hitchhikers so effing reliant on cheap alcohol to have a great time? Yuck, yuck, yuck! [[User:Prino|Prino]]<small><sup>[http://hitchwiki.org/prino/ blog], [[User talk:Prino|talk]]</sup></small> 15:26, 15 March 2015 (CET)<br />
<br />
<br />
===Further Old Text===<br />
<br />
====Leipzig, Germany====<br />
<br />
I nominate Leipzig because that's where I live and I can do shit in advance. -- [[User:Sitarane|Sitarane]] ([[User talk:Sitarane|talk]])<br />
<br />
Leipzig is a 500,000 people town in East-Germany that main attractivity is that it's insanely cheap, there's always good shit going on and it's probably the only city in the world that has ''forests'' inside it. Good place to camp for us.<br />
<br />
====Pros====<br />
* You can camp in the city, away from notice, thanks to the insane amount of forest between the neighborhood.<br />
* Cheap everything.<br />
* Full of punks. Free shops, free kitchen (Vokü), squats, you name it.<br />
<br />
====Cons====<br />
* Bad weather (Even in august, there can be cold and rain, though unlikely)<br />
<br />
====Other====<br />
* It's a city.<br />
The early gatherings were all in cities, and seen as a media event: One hundred hitchikers converge on one place in Europe to show that hitchhiking is safe and good. Starting with Portugal, it has evolved into just meeting up and having a good time, away from civilization. We could go back to the old paradigm, if only for the sake of doing things different.<br />
<br />
* It's in Schengen<br />
Good for Schengeners, bad for everyone else.<br />
<br />
===Fontpedrouse, France===<br />
See [[:nomad:Free_Hot_Springs#Fontpedrouse|nomadwiki]]. Suggested by Clemens. I Just copied some pieces from the mailinglist and nomadwiki. --[[User:N0id|N0id]] ([[User talk:N0id|talk]]) 18:26, 1 September 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
* there's plenty of space to free camp (200 people should be fine), fresh drinking water, firewood, and a lot of people go there (its a bit like kara dere in this respect, not that many people actually, but also not as big a location). the hot springs should be big enough for about 30 people at a time, but can be extended.<br />
<br />
* Free camping and fire are no problem, but keep the place clean and take your trashes down to the village with you<br />
<br />
* there's a local farmers market about 10km away, but not much local dumpster diving. its 75km from andorra (mountain roads, a doable one day return hitch if you start early), so people who pass by there can go dumpster some junk food (at least thats what i mainly found there) and buy cheap booze. <br />
<br />
* when clemens was there a year ago there was some guy camping there since 10months already together with fluctuating community of rainbow folks. they said that they were in contact with the owner of the land, who lets them stay there for free as long as they make sure that no one litters or trashes the place<br />
<br />
====Pros====<br />
* Camping and fire is not a problem<br />
* Hot springs (would be a first :) ) <br />
====Cons====<br />
* Shop / Supplies far away <br />
* No dumpster diving -- ACTUALLY it is possible and quite good.There is a Super U and a Lidl in Font Romeu village. or nearby there. it's like 20 km from the hot springs which is not so bad and hitching is nice in that area anyway. U can also go shopping over there..<br />
<br />
==Date==<br />
<br />
Historically we have followed a numerology that dictates the next gathering should be on the 1st of August. This is the last year we can follow that tradition, but that doesn't mean we have to follow it.</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Smaua&diff=78272User:Smaua2014-12-26T12:00:01Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>I hitch and hike and squat and skip :)<br />
smautza@gmail.com</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Marseille&diff=78271Marseille2014-12-26T11:58:33Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div><map lat='43.30043258598672' lng='5.376176834106445' zoom='14' view='3' float='right' /><br />
'''Marseille''' is the second biggest city of [[France]], located in the south.<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
Going to Marseille is usually easy, but getting out of it might be a bit more complicated as there are many highways crossing nearby.<br />
<br />
=== North or West by A7, towards A8, [[Aix-en-Provence]], [[Avignon]], [[Lyon]], [[Montpellier]] or [[Nice]] ===<br />
<br />
* You can stand on the entrance to the [[L'Autoroute de Soleil]] (A7), 3 minutes' walk northwest from the central station Gare Saint Charles. From the station main entrance, follow the blue road signs for the autoroute. It is quite possible that there will be other hitchhikers there. Cars are going quite fast here, and you are actually standing on the motorway, but police are unlikely to bother you. There is not so much long distance traffic, so if you're heading far away, a "Lançon" sign is recomended. Get a lift to the [[péage]], or the big [[petrol station]] and you'll easily get a ride to Lyon, Montpellier or anywhere further.<br />
<br />
* Another option is to travel by bus to Aix en Provence (5 Euros) and from there either to Avignon or to Nice.<br />
* You can also take a bus (4 Euros) to the first petrol station on the A7 in Vitrolles from the trainstation St.Charles. At the terminal of the bus (called Pierre Plantée) with the terminal at your back you go down the street on the other side of the roundabout. Arriving at the highway you turn right and you will see the pertrolstation (Agip). Its only a little station but you can get a ride to Lançon from there.<br />
<br />
=== East to [[Nice]] and [[Italy]] and Toulon ===<br />
<br />
* It is highly recommended to first go north via A7 and then take the A8. The alternative - A50 east to [[Toulon]] and then up to A8 - is by far less frequented, since the highway goes directly through the city of Toulon, with traffic lights and speed limits.<br />
Stand just before the entrance of the motorway [[Toulon]], [[Aubagne]] :<br />
boulevard Rabatau, just in front of the Kyriad Hotel or Boulevard Jean Moulin, just after the last trafic light, at the entrance of the motorway which turns on the left. With a sign Nice it'll work!<br />
<br />
Got an easy ride to Toulon from a decent spot on Bd Vincent Delpuech just before the roundabout where the A50 begins. Nice open space opposite traffic lights with an extra lane for drivers to pull over in good time.<br />
<br />
== Public Transportation ==<br />
<br />
The metro is easy to blackride, walk through the open doors or follow somebody who is walking through the turnstiles with a ticket. People will hold open the doors for you if you have a backpack. If you see security, wait until they look away or go for a cigarette break. Buses are even easier, the drivers don't check for tickets and inspectors (very rare, found sometimes around Vieux-Port) wear black-purple uniforms. The amount of purple on their uniforms is just one very thin line across their chest..so you have to look out really well. Trams are easy too, just be careful around the center and you`ll be fine. A lot of people blackride in this city.<br />
<br />
{{hitchbase_city|160}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Bouches-du-Rhône}}<br />
<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
[[Category:France]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Marseille]]<br />
[[fr:Marseille]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Russia&diff=77863Russia2014-11-10T16:30:36Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Russia<br />
|language = Russian<br />
|capital = [[Moscow]]<br />
|pop = 145,274,019 <br />
|currency = Ruble (RUB)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='ru' /><br />
|BW = RU<br />
}}<br />
'''Russia''' is the largest country on Earth, and is a fantastic country for hitch hiking. It is well ingrained within the country's culture, and it is a much more comfortable way to see the country, compared to taking the train. Despite the popularity of hitch hiking compared to other countries, people will still be surprised by what you are doing.<br />
<br />
It is possible to cover vast distances per day when hitching, greater than 1000 km if you are lucky, but generally only when using major M roads in Western Russia or Siberia through Trans-siberian railway mainline.<br />
<br />
== Roads ==<br />
Do not expect all M roads to be dual carriageways – sometimes even a major road is a narrow, unpaved muddy patch. Generally speaking, the further East you go, the worse the road condition gets. But even on main connections in less remote areas, for example from Moscow to Kazan, the road is not always in good shape in connection with the huge traffic, travelling will take much more time than in Western Europe. There are real motorways, though, marked with a green sign of an autobahn same as in Europe. Standards are improving too; there is an ongoing policy of funding the rebuilding many roads in Russia, which will bring standards to a much higher level.<br />
<br />
In spite of the country's size, there are very few roads, there is little ambiguity in where you could be going, when hitching from a given location. In areas about 50 km from cities you may just stay on the road and you will get rides with high success which other cities the roads go to.<br />
<br />
=== Maps ===<br />
In mostly all bigger book stores in Russia one can find the [http://www.allmaps.ru/avto_km_stolb/russia/ Автоатлас России] (''Auto Atlas Russia'') which is perfect for hitchhiking Russia. Including gas stations, DPS stations, even traffic lights along main roads. The atlas also includes city maps and maps of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and the Baltic states as well. Price is 377 RUB (July 2009).<br />
<br />
Also, there are maps almost completely presenting full infrastructure of some cities including public transportation system at [http://www.2gis.ru/ 2gis.ru]. November, 1st 2009 there were 22 cities: Астрахань, Барнаул, Бийск, Екатеринбург, Иркутск, Казань, Кемерово ,Красноярск ,Курган, Нижневартовск, Нижний Новгород, Новокузнецк, Новосибирск, Одесса, Омск, Пермь, Самара, Тольятти, Томск, Тюмень, Уфа, Челябинск. U can use on-line version or download installer and use maps off-line. Also there is opportunity to use 2gis on Windows Mobile platform and even on usual cellphone with Java MIDP-2 engine (needs internet access).<br />
<br />
== Hitching ==<br />
Also, there is a possibility to get a lift by talking to drivers on gas stations. You will not be misunderstood but since there are almost no highways and you can point your thumb anywhere, wasting time on a gas station waiting for cars is not preferred unless there is heavy raining, or the spot is bad etc. If there are two of you one can hitch on the road and the other one ask people on nearby gas station; that really might bring you a lift faster. But the “default” method of hitchhiking in Russia is still thumbing on the roadside ;)<br />
<br />
Do not write places names on cardboards – nobody in this country cares to read them. Or, if you still want to use the paper, write a region number instead of the name (see below for a list of reg numbers). Because you can get dropped off and immediately hitch onwards on nearly all roads in Russia, using a sign is never necessary and in fact the community recommends against it. Again, in spite of the country's size, there are very few roads, there is little ambiguity in where you could be going, when hitching from a given location.<br />
<br />
You must take a raincoat (it sometimes rains in summer and very often in autumn), good shoes, a warm jumper for summer (the winter starts in October), some cash (and not credit cards or cheques), perhaps a tent with a sleeping bag.<br />
<br />
=== Trains, Boats, etc ===<br />
taken from a post on squattheplanet forum:<br />
<br />
"In Siberia, it is apparently common and easy (and ALLOWED) to hitch-hiking on cargo ships and freight trains, in the unit. Trains are not manifested ahead of time, but instead are done on a day-to-day basis (CHAOS?!). This means that you show up at the 'yard' (really only a load/unload with a siding or two), and ask the workers or security for the engineer/brakeman lounge. Sometmes the security will hassle you, but if you simply explain that you are a traveler, it's totally allowed! So, ask around, find a train going your way, find out when it leaves, and ask if you can hop on. You ride in the unit, which while heated (Siberia is fucking cold), has no toilet, so don't drink too much, and take a pregame dump. Ride to where you're going, simple as that! Also, every yard has a cafe for the workers, and food is apparently wicked cheap.<br />
Boat-hitching is apparently similar. Ask around, get permission, get on, and go! The only significant problem would be the language barrier, but people are absolutely THRILLED to meet travelers, especially ones from foreign lands (remember, Russia is HUGE).<br />
Additionally, it's possible to stay for a night at monasteries all over Russia. If you want to stay longer, they will usually ask you to help out with chores. I REALLY want to try this!"<br />
<br />
== Language ==<br />
Hitchhiking in Russian is called ''автостоп'' (avtostop). It literally means “car stopping”, and is basically the only word understood as hitching (i.e. travelling by getting lifts for free). A more colloquial word for it is "попутка" (poputka). When people ask you anywhere in Russia: "куда ты едешь?" (where are you going to?) you should answer: "я еду автостопом" (ya yedu avtostopom), then they will ask you another question and this time you say the name of the city. It might be better and more polite to ask "Вы могли бы подкинуть меня в направлении ..." (Vy mogli by podkinut menya v napravlenii ...), which means "Could you give me a lift in the direction of ...".<br />
<br />
Level of speaking English is rather low especially among people older than 40 and even not all young people speak it with a sufficient level. You might ought to learn Cyrillic script for your own convenience. It is quite simple for a person familiar with English or Greek alphabet and is learnable in 2-3 days. People, their friendliness and mentality differ much from part of Russia they are from (there are many national republics and indigenous nations), and also from the type of town (for example, notorious "monogorod" - monotowns) and by their social status.<br />
<br />
== Safety ==<br />
[[File:2001 Hitch-hiking in Russia.jpg|thumb|280px|left|[[User:Sigurdas|Sigurdas]] hitch-hiking towards [[Murmansk]] from [[St. Petersburg]]. Winter 2001.]]<br />
In spite of popular belief about the dangers of Russia, and perceived problems with the police, as a hitch hiker you will more than likely have no problems in the country. Police will usually not bother you at all, especially when they know you are a foreigner (except at the border - that is another matter). You should also avoid drunk people and people who look aпgressive or look like "[[:wiki:ru:гопник|gopniks]]". and as long as you take the usual precautions, you will not find yourself in danger from any person - the cold however, in winter time, is a much bigger issue. Being offered copious amounts of alcohol can also be a problem!<br />
<br />
Some consider Russian roads are not among the safest on Earth; this might or might not be true. The concentrartion of dashing driving is higher than in Europe. Many drivers and their passengers do not fasten their belts outside cities, but you always may do it for yourself.<br />
<br />
Its common knowledge Russians like to drink vodka, but you will unlikely meet a drunken driver unless you go deep into some village area; driving drunk is heavily penalized in Russia so majority of people don't want to run the risk if there is at least a single police checkpoint on the road (on all the major roads, there are many). But, just in case you encounter a car with a drunken driver inside – wave him away and wait for a sober one.<br />
<br />
[[File:IMG 9652.JPG|thumb|200px|right|[[User:Lucysd|Lucysd]] 200 km from [[Mongolia]]]]<br />
If the area feels unsafe you might want to hitchhike from police post to police post. The police posts situated on all highways with intervals of about 100 km. These posts, commonly called "ДПС" (Post DPS), are good places to hitchhike since cars will drive by slowly, and police is always close. You can also ask the police officers to help you get a ride which really might work. Be prepared to be asked for your ID or even run a cell-phone check (verification that your cell is not in the stolen cells database), though.<br />
<br />
The southern provinces of Russian Caucasus like [[Dagestan]], [[Chechnya]] (worldwide most victims), [[Ingushetia]], [[North Ossetia]] and [[Kabardino-Balkaria]] have problems with terrorists and land-mines and it could be very dangerous for travelling there for both foreigner and for Russian from Central Russia. These areas better be avoided.<br />
<br />
Small towns might have a small chance of being a little dangerous if the person differs much from locals, especially in the night. Villages and big town are completely safe.<br />
<br />
=== Girls and solo-hitching ===<br />
<br />
Many Russian girls do hitch alone, and still scary stories seldom hit the news lines. It does not at all mean that the country is free of perverts, and almost all of the solo-travelers (not necessarily girls) will tell you accounts of some sexual harassment they have encountered while hitching. 99% of such encounters end OK with nothing more serious then words but if you do not want to be asked for sex – or to hold a camera while somebody is masturbating – consider finding a travel buddy.<br />
Somehow, Russians are still very amused by foreigners, and many report that solo traveling even extremely long distances, like Central and Eastern Russia, for a foreign girl who speaks some Russian is absolutely safe since she is treated like someone ‘from the outside’ by virtually everyone. Keep in mind that being a foreigner you are somewhat protected from some issues that Russian hitchhikers face on the roads.<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings, Police, Visas and formalities ==<br />
The general consensus is that, providing your passport and visa are in order, you will have no problem entering Russia. Even hitching in at remote border crossings in the middle of the night is fine. However you are very likely to be held when leaving the country by a land crossing, particularly if hitching out. You will most likely be required to describe your trip in great detail, and explain other passport stamps. Do not worry if this happens, just answer their questions and you will be allowed to go. (eventually)<br />
<br />
Whilst hitching in Russia, the police will occasionally stop the vehicle you are travelling in to check the driver's documents. There is a small possibility that your driver will be asked about you, the passenger. This is likely to be the only time your ID is likely to be checked when hitching in Russia, other than at the borders. The police will not ask for too much information usually; they will look at your passport, visa and immigration card, and they may take notes of your name and address. They will most likely not check your visa registration. <br />
<br />
You do have to have your passport with the visa and other papers you get while crossing the border handy. A good idea is to put them in some transparent waterproof bag – the immigration card is absolutely soviet style, and will not survive even the light raining. <br />
<br />
As a visitor to Russia, it is important to understand the registration rules. Officially, you must register your visa in Russia within 3 working days of arriving in the country, and also subsequently register again in any town or city you remain in for 3 days or longer though in 2011, the rules apparently changed: Now you only have to register if you stay somewhere for upwards from seven business days, i.e. nine "real" days. The registration upon arrival also isn't necessary any more. Furthermore, the new law clearly stipulates that it's your ''host's'' responsibility to register you (i.e. hotel, hostel, or potentially private host). To be sure, check with people who know what they're talking about [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=15&keywordid=142 such as the thorn tree forum].<br />
<br />
Hotels are legally required to register foreign guests within 24 hours. Hostels are, too, but in practice often don't or only do for a fee. If you are being hosted by a private citizen then you can register at the post office. This process is complicated and time consuming unfortunately, but registration provides peace of mind that you will have no problems if the police or border police try to find any.<br />
<br />
If you do not plan to stay for a long time just have some strong evidence that you have just arrived. Buy a vegan hamburger if you can find one and keep the receipt before leaving some nice town or city you pass by (make sure there is the place‘s name on it). The train or bus tickets are the best means to persuade cops you are not hanging around St. Petersburg for half a year already, so you might take a short ride on a local train from time to time to have a set of tickets marking your way. Alternatively, you might also get your visa registered the once for peace of mind.<br />
<br />
The border police do not often check visa registration, particularly at non European borders, as it is too much hassle. Some regular tourists in Russia comment that the cost and time consumption of registering a visa is too great, and prefer to hope that they are not checked when leaving. However if you are caught with an unregistered visa, expect at least a 2000 Ruble fine (as of before 2011 -- we are not aware of how the situation is now).<br />
<br />
If you are travelling anywhere North of St. Petersburg, particularly around Murmansk and towards Norway, it is highly recommended that you register your visa. In early 2011, user haggismn had registration and other documents checked three times at the various military check points. (not including the Norwegian border itself)<br />
<br />
=== Border Crossing ===<br />
<br />
Citizens of most countries need a visa, the notable exceptions are most former Soviet states (apart from the Baltic states) and Israel. Most visa types require an invitation.<br />
<br />
==== [[Azerbaijan]] ====<br />
The border seems to be open only for holders of CIS passports.<br />
<br />
Official sources (f.e. the German ministry of foreign affairs) say that this status changed and now it is possible also for Non CIS passport holder.<br />
<br />
Please check the discussion about this. Before there is an confirmation by a traveller that crossed that border, the status will not be updated only to "open" instead of "disputed".<br />
<br />
==== [[Belarus]] ====<br />
<br />
The border between Russia and Belarus is open. You will feel almost like in other parts of Europe, no border controls with an everlasting que at all. This is of course a nice time-saving fact, but it also means that you will recieve no entrance stamp to Russia.<br />
After the German embassy was creative enough to recommend to go to an airport and ask random police for an entrance stamp, the ministry of foreign affairs in Moscow confirmed that this is no problem for an overland traveller on another border and at the crossing to Kazakhstan nobody asked about the missing stamp.<br />
<br />
==== [[People's_Republic_of_China|China]] ====<br />
The crossing at Zabaykal'sk/Manzhouli requires that you are on board a vehicle. It is possible to get on board a Chinese tour bus for around 300 roubles. It is also ok to stand before the entrance to the border area and wait for a ride. As long as its not too cold, you shouldn't have any problem getting a ride. If you are not Chinese, Mongolian or Russian, prepare to be interrogated by the Russian border police about your journey. Coming from China is a similar process, however you will probably not be interrogated.<br />
<br />
==== [[Estonia]] ====<br />
It is possible to cross the border by foot.<br />
<br />
==== [[Finland]] ====<br />
* [[Torfyanovka-Valimaa border crossing]]<br />
* [[Brusnichnoe-Nuijamaa border crossing]]<br />
<br />
==== [[Georgia]] ====<br />
The [[Verkhny Lars-Darial Gorge border crossing|Verkhny Lars - Darial Gorge crossing]] was reopened on March 1st, 2010 and since July 2011 is open for international travellers as well. Getting into [[Georgia]] via [[Abkhazia]] is not possible. For more specific information, check the [[Abkhazia]] article.<br />
<br />
=== [[Kazakhstan]] ===<br />
<br />
<br />
==== [[Latvia]] ====<br />
It's no problem to walk over the checkpoints between Latvia and Russia.<br />
* [[Terehova-Zasitino border crossing]], towards [[Riga]] <br />
<br />
==== [[Lithuania]] ====<br />
<br />
No border from Lithuania to the main land of Russia (so you have to go via Latvia), but there are several border crossings between Lithuania and Russia's [[Kaliningrad Oblast]]<br />
<br />
* [[Chernyshevskoye-Kybartai border crossing]]<br />
<br />
==== [[Mongolia]] ====<br />
<br />
==== [[North_Korea|North Korea]] ====<br />
As there is currently no chance for independent travelling/hitch hiking in North Korea, there is also no possibility to cross the border by hitch hiking.<br />
<br />
==== [[Norway]] ====<br />
The high amount of security between Murmansk and the border with Norway is a relic of Soviet rule, when people could escape into Norway without fear of being deported, unlike Finland. You will find that it isn't possible to walk to the border. From about 5 km out you will need to be in a vehicle. However, hitching is no problem, provided your documents and registration are in order (they will be checked). The army may also assist you in getting a ride at the military check points. If you are leaving Russia, prepare to be interrogated at the Russian side of the border about your journey.<br />
<br />
==== [[Poland]] ====<br />
<br />
* [[Bagrationovsk-Bezledy border crossing]] with Russia's [[Kaliningrad Oblast]]<br />
<br />
==== [[Ukraine]] ====<br />
The country is Russia's eternal 'native brother' and, despite all the political mess that constantly happens between the two states, [[Ukraine]] is one of the countries that is very easy to enter from Russia (Russians do not even need a foreign passport to enter it, as well as for [[Belarus]]). Make sure that the border crossing is working before attempting to use it. The big gate on the M2/E95 road ([[Moscow]] to [[Kharkiv]]) can be crossed on foot, which is very convenient because you do not have to wait in the line of the cars and you wont make your driver wait for you in case you have any delays with your passport. You will have to leave the car before all the checkpoints begin, though, or you will be considered a car passenger by the border police.<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Moscow]]<br />
* [[St. Petersburg]]<br />
<br />
* [[Cheboksary]]<br />
* [[Samara]]<br />
* [[Irkutsk]]<br />
* [[Murmansk]]<br />
* [[Novosibirsk]]<br />
* [[Omsk]]<br />
* [[Petrozavodsk]]<br />
* [[Rostov-on-Don]]<br />
* [[Sochi]]<br />
* [[Ufa]]<br />
* [[Ulan-Ude]]<br />
* [[Voronezh]]<br />
* [[Yekaterinburg]]<br />
<br />
Count about 5 days from [[Moscow]] to [[Novosibirsk]], and about 18 days from Moscow to [[Vladivostok]].<br />
<br />
=== Number plates ===<br />
Russian number plates contain a region code, that indicates the origin of the car and possibly the drivers destination.<br />
You can write it on a cardboard instead of a place name and use while thumbing. See [[Russian plate numbers]] for a list.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping ==<br />
As for 2014, a traveller may find at least 2 or 3 hostels in any city with population higher than 400k population. The average price is about 500 rubles (in some towns it may go as low as 300 RUR). Quality and amount of hostels in Moscow and St. Perersburg are renown for bad quality and high prices. Hostel network is gradually spreading over the country. To find both accommodation and company, you can also use [http://hospitalityclub.org Hospitality Club], [http://couchsurfing.org CouchSurfing] and Russian+Ukranian+Belorussian Livejournal community [http://vpiska.livejournal.com Vpiska]. The official language of the latter is Russian but you can use English as well (ask other members to translate your post to Russian in the end of your message if you like). Just post the name of the locations you are planning to stay in, or your route, the dates of your possible arrival, the number of your party, some information about you and your mobile number.<br />
<br />
If travelling long distances through the country, it is advisable to bring a sleeping bag and tent. If sleeping by the side of the road, try to find a place obscured by trees, and avoid places with stray dogs. Sleeping by the road is usually very safe, provided you are not visible. Security guards and police will usually not bother you even if they see you, since nature-tourism is still quite popular in Russia.<br />
<br />
Long-distance truck drivers are often very hospitable, and many will allow you to sleep in the second bunk of their cab.<br />
<br />
There are many transit drivers taking cars across the country to and from Vladivostok. You may find yourself with one of these drivers for a number of days. There have been isolated incidents where people sleeping in these transit cars have been attacked and had their car stolen, and so the drivers may want you to stay with them for their own safety.<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://010-vladok.reitsma.ru/ Story about hitchhiking from Rotterdam to Vladivostok] {{en}}<br />
* [http://no-planes.de/?p=76/ Story about hitchhiking from Hamburg to Lake Baikal] {{en}}<br />
* [http://hike.ru/ Russian hitchhiking website] {{ru}}<br />
* [http://www.bpclub.ru/index.php Russian backpacker & hitchhiker's forum] {{ru}}<br />
* [http://avp.travel.ru/ Academy of Free Travel, Moscow based hitchhiking club] {{ru}}<br />
* [http://vpiska.livejournal.com Livejournal 'Vpiska' community], mostly {{ru}} but {{en}} speakers are also welcome<br />
* [http://ru_autostop.livejournal.com Russian] hitchhiking communities. {{ru}}, but you can ask questions and get replies in {{en}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Asia}}<br />
{{IsIn|Eastern Europe}}<br />
{{Subdivisions of Russia}}<br />
{{Europe/countries}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
[[trash:Russia]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Russia| ]]<br />
[[Category:Eastern Europe]]<br />
[[Category:Asia]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Russland]]<br />
[[es:Rusia]]<br />
[[fi:Venäjä]]<br />
[[fr:Russie]]<br />
[[ru:Россия]]<br />
[[tr:Rusya]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Russia&diff=77862Russia2014-11-10T16:29:58Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Russia<br />
|language = Russian<br />
|capital = [[Moscow]]<br />
|pop = 145,274,019 <br />
|currency = Ruble (RUB)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='ru' /><br />
|BW = RU<br />
}}<br />
'''Russia''' is the largest country on Earth, and is a fantastic country for hitch hiking. It is well ingrained within the country's culture, and it is a much more comfortable way to see the country, compared to taking the train. Despite the popularity of hitch hiking compared to other countries, people will still be surprised by what you are doing.<br />
<br />
It is possible to cover vast distances per day when hitching, greater than 1000 km if you are lucky, but generally only when using major M roads in Western Russia or Siberia through Trans-siberian railway mainline.<br />
<br />
== Roads ==<br />
Do not expect all M roads to be dual carriageways – sometimes even a major road is a narrow, unpaved muddy patch. Generally speaking, the further East you go, the worse the road condition gets. But even on main connections in less remote areas, for example from Moscow to Kazan, the road is not always in good shape in connection with the huge traffic, travelling will take much more time than in Western Europe. There are real motorways, though, marked with a green sign of an autobahn same as in Europe. Standards are improving too; there is an ongoing policy of funding the rebuilding many roads in Russia, which will bring standards to a much higher level.<br />
<br />
In spite of the country's size, there are very few roads, there is little ambiguity in where you could be going, when hitching from a given location. In areas about 50 km from cities you may just stay on the road and you will get rides with high success which other cities the roads go to.<br />
<br />
=== Maps ===<br />
In mostly all bigger book stores in Russia one can find the [http://www.allmaps.ru/avto_km_stolb/russia/ Автоатлас России] (''Auto Atlas Russia'') which is perfect for hitchhiking Russia. Including gas stations, DPS stations, even traffic lights along main roads. The atlas also includes city maps and maps of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and the Baltic states as well. Price is 377 RUB (July 2009).<br />
<br />
Also, there are maps almost completely presenting full infrastructure of some cities including public transportation system at [http://www.2gis.ru/ 2gis.ru]. November, 1st 2009 there were 22 cities: Астрахань, Барнаул, Бийск, Екатеринбург, Иркутск, Казань, Кемерово ,Красноярск ,Курган, Нижневартовск, Нижний Новгород, Новокузнецк, Новосибирск, Одесса, Омск, Пермь, Самара, Тольятти, Томск, Тюмень, Уфа, Челябинск. U can use on-line version or download installer and use maps off-line. Also there is opportunity to use 2gis on Windows Mobile platform and even on usual cellphone with Java MIDP-2 engine (needs internet access).<br />
<br />
== Hitching ==<br />
Also, there is a possibility to get a lift by talking to drivers on gas stations. You will not be misunderstood but since there are almost no highways and you can point your thumb anywhere, wasting time on a gas station waiting for cars is not preferred unless there is heavy raining, or the spot is bad etc. If there are two of you one can hitch on the road and the other one ask people on nearby gas station; that really might bring you a lift faster. But the “default” method of hitchhiking in Russia is still thumbing on the roadside ;)<br />
<br />
Do not write places names on cardboards – nobody in this country cares to read them. Or, if you still want to use the paper, write a region number instead of the name (see below for a list of reg numbers). Because you can get dropped off and immediately hitch onwards on nearly all roads in Russia, using a sign is never necessary and in fact the community recommends against it. Again, in spite of the country's size, there are very few roads, there is little ambiguity in where you could be going, when hitching from a given location.<br />
<br />
You must take a raincoat (it sometimes rains in summer and very often in autumn), good shoes, a warm jumper for summer (the winter starts in October), some cash (and not credit cards or cheques), perhaps a tent with a sleeping bag.<br />
<br />
=== Trains, Boats, etc ===<br />
<br />
taken from a post on squattheplanet forum:<br />
"I'm putting this under the “other forms of travel” section for a reason: it's not Train-hopping as we know it in the US. In Siberia, it is apparently common and easy (and ALLOWED) to hitch-hiking on cargo ships and freight trains, in the unit. Trains are not manifested ahead of time, but instead are done on a day-to-day basis (CHAOS?!). This means that you show up at the 'yard' (really only a load/unload with a siding or two), and ask the workers or security for the engineer/brakeman lounge. Sometmes the security will hassle you, but if you simply explain that you are a traveler, it's totally allowed! So, ask around, find a train going your way, find out when it leaves, and ask if you can hop on. You ride in the unit, which while heated (Siberia is fucking cold), has no toilet, so don't drink too much, and take a pregame dump. Ride to where you're going, simple as that! Also, every yard has a cafe for the workers, and food is apparently wicked cheap.<br />
Boat-hitching is apparently similar. Ask around, get permission, get on, and go! The only significant problem would be the language barrier, but people are absolutely THRILLED to meet travelers, especially ones from foreign lands (remember, Russia is HUGE).<br />
Additionally, it's possible to stay for a night at monasteries all over Russia. If you want to stay longer, they will usually ask you to help out with chores. I REALLY want to try this!"<br />
<br />
== Language ==<br />
Hitchhiking in Russian is called ''автостоп'' (avtostop). It literally means “car stopping”, and is basically the only word understood as hitching (i.e. travelling by getting lifts for free). A more colloquial word for it is "попутка" (poputka). When people ask you anywhere in Russia: "куда ты едешь?" (where are you going to?) you should answer: "я еду автостопом" (ya yedu avtostopom), then they will ask you another question and this time you say the name of the city. It might be better and more polite to ask "Вы могли бы подкинуть меня в направлении ..." (Vy mogli by podkinut menya v napravlenii ...), which means "Could you give me a lift in the direction of ...".<br />
<br />
Level of speaking English is rather low especially among people older than 40 and even not all young people speak it with a sufficient level. You might ought to learn Cyrillic script for your own convenience. It is quite simple for a person familiar with English or Greek alphabet and is learnable in 2-3 days. People, their friendliness and mentality differ much from part of Russia they are from (there are many national republics and indigenous nations), and also from the type of town (for example, notorious "monogorod" - monotowns) and by their social status.<br />
<br />
== Safety ==<br />
[[File:2001 Hitch-hiking in Russia.jpg|thumb|280px|left|[[User:Sigurdas|Sigurdas]] hitch-hiking towards [[Murmansk]] from [[St. Petersburg]]. Winter 2001.]]<br />
In spite of popular belief about the dangers of Russia, and perceived problems with the police, as a hitch hiker you will more than likely have no problems in the country. Police will usually not bother you at all, especially when they know you are a foreigner (except at the border - that is another matter). You should also avoid drunk people and people who look aпgressive or look like "[[:wiki:ru:гопник|gopniks]]". and as long as you take the usual precautions, you will not find yourself in danger from any person - the cold however, in winter time, is a much bigger issue. Being offered copious amounts of alcohol can also be a problem!<br />
<br />
Some consider Russian roads are not among the safest on Earth; this might or might not be true. The concentrartion of dashing driving is higher than in Europe. Many drivers and their passengers do not fasten their belts outside cities, but you always may do it for yourself.<br />
<br />
Its common knowledge Russians like to drink vodka, but you will unlikely meet a drunken driver unless you go deep into some village area; driving drunk is heavily penalized in Russia so majority of people don't want to run the risk if there is at least a single police checkpoint on the road (on all the major roads, there are many). But, just in case you encounter a car with a drunken driver inside – wave him away and wait for a sober one.<br />
<br />
[[File:IMG 9652.JPG|thumb|200px|right|[[User:Lucysd|Lucysd]] 200 km from [[Mongolia]]]]<br />
If the area feels unsafe you might want to hitchhike from police post to police post. The police posts situated on all highways with intervals of about 100 km. These posts, commonly called "ДПС" (Post DPS), are good places to hitchhike since cars will drive by slowly, and police is always close. You can also ask the police officers to help you get a ride which really might work. Be prepared to be asked for your ID or even run a cell-phone check (verification that your cell is not in the stolen cells database), though.<br />
<br />
The southern provinces of Russian Caucasus like [[Dagestan]], [[Chechnya]] (worldwide most victims), [[Ingushetia]], [[North Ossetia]] and [[Kabardino-Balkaria]] have problems with terrorists and land-mines and it could be very dangerous for travelling there for both foreigner and for Russian from Central Russia. These areas better be avoided.<br />
<br />
Small towns might have a small chance of being a little dangerous if the person differs much from locals, especially in the night. Villages and big town are completely safe.<br />
<br />
=== Girls and solo-hitching ===<br />
<br />
Many Russian girls do hitch alone, and still scary stories seldom hit the news lines. It does not at all mean that the country is free of perverts, and almost all of the solo-travelers (not necessarily girls) will tell you accounts of some sexual harassment they have encountered while hitching. 99% of such encounters end OK with nothing more serious then words but if you do not want to be asked for sex – or to hold a camera while somebody is masturbating – consider finding a travel buddy.<br />
Somehow, Russians are still very amused by foreigners, and many report that solo traveling even extremely long distances, like Central and Eastern Russia, for a foreign girl who speaks some Russian is absolutely safe since she is treated like someone ‘from the outside’ by virtually everyone. Keep in mind that being a foreigner you are somewhat protected from some issues that Russian hitchhikers face on the roads.<br />
<br />
== Border Crossings, Police, Visas and formalities ==<br />
The general consensus is that, providing your passport and visa are in order, you will have no problem entering Russia. Even hitching in at remote border crossings in the middle of the night is fine. However you are very likely to be held when leaving the country by a land crossing, particularly if hitching out. You will most likely be required to describe your trip in great detail, and explain other passport stamps. Do not worry if this happens, just answer their questions and you will be allowed to go. (eventually)<br />
<br />
Whilst hitching in Russia, the police will occasionally stop the vehicle you are travelling in to check the driver's documents. There is a small possibility that your driver will be asked about you, the passenger. This is likely to be the only time your ID is likely to be checked when hitching in Russia, other than at the borders. The police will not ask for too much information usually; they will look at your passport, visa and immigration card, and they may take notes of your name and address. They will most likely not check your visa registration. <br />
<br />
You do have to have your passport with the visa and other papers you get while crossing the border handy. A good idea is to put them in some transparent waterproof bag – the immigration card is absolutely soviet style, and will not survive even the light raining. <br />
<br />
As a visitor to Russia, it is important to understand the registration rules. Officially, you must register your visa in Russia within 3 working days of arriving in the country, and also subsequently register again in any town or city you remain in for 3 days or longer though in 2011, the rules apparently changed: Now you only have to register if you stay somewhere for upwards from seven business days, i.e. nine "real" days. The registration upon arrival also isn't necessary any more. Furthermore, the new law clearly stipulates that it's your ''host's'' responsibility to register you (i.e. hotel, hostel, or potentially private host). To be sure, check with people who know what they're talking about [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=15&keywordid=142 such as the thorn tree forum].<br />
<br />
Hotels are legally required to register foreign guests within 24 hours. Hostels are, too, but in practice often don't or only do for a fee. If you are being hosted by a private citizen then you can register at the post office. This process is complicated and time consuming unfortunately, but registration provides peace of mind that you will have no problems if the police or border police try to find any.<br />
<br />
If you do not plan to stay for a long time just have some strong evidence that you have just arrived. Buy a vegan hamburger if you can find one and keep the receipt before leaving some nice town or city you pass by (make sure there is the place‘s name on it). The train or bus tickets are the best means to persuade cops you are not hanging around St. Petersburg for half a year already, so you might take a short ride on a local train from time to time to have a set of tickets marking your way. Alternatively, you might also get your visa registered the once for peace of mind.<br />
<br />
The border police do not often check visa registration, particularly at non European borders, as it is too much hassle. Some regular tourists in Russia comment that the cost and time consumption of registering a visa is too great, and prefer to hope that they are not checked when leaving. However if you are caught with an unregistered visa, expect at least a 2000 Ruble fine (as of before 2011 -- we are not aware of how the situation is now).<br />
<br />
If you are travelling anywhere North of St. Petersburg, particularly around Murmansk and towards Norway, it is highly recommended that you register your visa. In early 2011, user haggismn had registration and other documents checked three times at the various military check points. (not including the Norwegian border itself)<br />
<br />
=== Border Crossing ===<br />
<br />
Citizens of most countries need a visa, the notable exceptions are most former Soviet states (apart from the Baltic states) and Israel. Most visa types require an invitation.<br />
<br />
==== [[Azerbaijan]] ====<br />
The border seems to be open only for holders of CIS passports.<br />
<br />
Official sources (f.e. the German ministry of foreign affairs) say that this status changed and now it is possible also for Non CIS passport holder.<br />
<br />
Please check the discussion about this. Before there is an confirmation by a traveller that crossed that border, the status will not be updated only to "open" instead of "disputed".<br />
<br />
==== [[Belarus]] ====<br />
<br />
The border between Russia and Belarus is open. You will feel almost like in other parts of Europe, no border controls with an everlasting que at all. This is of course a nice time-saving fact, but it also means that you will recieve no entrance stamp to Russia.<br />
After the German embassy was creative enough to recommend to go to an airport and ask random police for an entrance stamp, the ministry of foreign affairs in Moscow confirmed that this is no problem for an overland traveller on another border and at the crossing to Kazakhstan nobody asked about the missing stamp.<br />
<br />
==== [[People's_Republic_of_China|China]] ====<br />
The crossing at Zabaykal'sk/Manzhouli requires that you are on board a vehicle. It is possible to get on board a Chinese tour bus for around 300 roubles. It is also ok to stand before the entrance to the border area and wait for a ride. As long as its not too cold, you shouldn't have any problem getting a ride. If you are not Chinese, Mongolian or Russian, prepare to be interrogated by the Russian border police about your journey. Coming from China is a similar process, however you will probably not be interrogated.<br />
<br />
==== [[Estonia]] ====<br />
It is possible to cross the border by foot.<br />
<br />
==== [[Finland]] ====<br />
* [[Torfyanovka-Valimaa border crossing]]<br />
* [[Brusnichnoe-Nuijamaa border crossing]]<br />
<br />
==== [[Georgia]] ====<br />
The [[Verkhny Lars-Darial Gorge border crossing|Verkhny Lars - Darial Gorge crossing]] was reopened on March 1st, 2010 and since July 2011 is open for international travellers as well. Getting into [[Georgia]] via [[Abkhazia]] is not possible. For more specific information, check the [[Abkhazia]] article.<br />
<br />
=== [[Kazakhstan]] ===<br />
<br />
<br />
==== [[Latvia]] ====<br />
It's no problem to walk over the checkpoints between Latvia and Russia.<br />
* [[Terehova-Zasitino border crossing]], towards [[Riga]] <br />
<br />
==== [[Lithuania]] ====<br />
<br />
No border from Lithuania to the main land of Russia (so you have to go via Latvia), but there are several border crossings between Lithuania and Russia's [[Kaliningrad Oblast]]<br />
<br />
* [[Chernyshevskoye-Kybartai border crossing]]<br />
<br />
==== [[Mongolia]] ====<br />
<br />
==== [[North_Korea|North Korea]] ====<br />
As there is currently no chance for independent travelling/hitch hiking in North Korea, there is also no possibility to cross the border by hitch hiking.<br />
<br />
==== [[Norway]] ====<br />
The high amount of security between Murmansk and the border with Norway is a relic of Soviet rule, when people could escape into Norway without fear of being deported, unlike Finland. You will find that it isn't possible to walk to the border. From about 5 km out you will need to be in a vehicle. However, hitching is no problem, provided your documents and registration are in order (they will be checked). The army may also assist you in getting a ride at the military check points. If you are leaving Russia, prepare to be interrogated at the Russian side of the border about your journey.<br />
<br />
==== [[Poland]] ====<br />
<br />
* [[Bagrationovsk-Bezledy border crossing]] with Russia's [[Kaliningrad Oblast]]<br />
<br />
==== [[Ukraine]] ====<br />
The country is Russia's eternal 'native brother' and, despite all the political mess that constantly happens between the two states, [[Ukraine]] is one of the countries that is very easy to enter from Russia (Russians do not even need a foreign passport to enter it, as well as for [[Belarus]]). Make sure that the border crossing is working before attempting to use it. The big gate on the M2/E95 road ([[Moscow]] to [[Kharkiv]]) can be crossed on foot, which is very convenient because you do not have to wait in the line of the cars and you wont make your driver wait for you in case you have any delays with your passport. You will have to leave the car before all the checkpoints begin, though, or you will be considered a car passenger by the border police.<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Moscow]]<br />
* [[St. Petersburg]]<br />
<br />
* [[Cheboksary]]<br />
* [[Samara]]<br />
* [[Irkutsk]]<br />
* [[Murmansk]]<br />
* [[Novosibirsk]]<br />
* [[Omsk]]<br />
* [[Petrozavodsk]]<br />
* [[Rostov-on-Don]]<br />
* [[Sochi]]<br />
* [[Ufa]]<br />
* [[Ulan-Ude]]<br />
* [[Voronezh]]<br />
* [[Yekaterinburg]]<br />
<br />
Count about 5 days from [[Moscow]] to [[Novosibirsk]], and about 18 days from Moscow to [[Vladivostok]].<br />
<br />
=== Number plates ===<br />
Russian number plates contain a region code, that indicates the origin of the car and possibly the drivers destination.<br />
You can write it on a cardboard instead of a place name and use while thumbing. See [[Russian plate numbers]] for a list.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping ==<br />
As for 2014, a traveller may find at least 2 or 3 hostels in any city with population higher than 400k population. The average price is about 500 rubles (in some towns it may go as low as 300 RUR). Quality and amount of hostels in Moscow and St. Perersburg are renown for bad quality and high prices. Hostel network is gradually spreading over the country. To find both accommodation and company, you can also use [http://hospitalityclub.org Hospitality Club], [http://couchsurfing.org CouchSurfing] and Russian+Ukranian+Belorussian Livejournal community [http://vpiska.livejournal.com Vpiska]. The official language of the latter is Russian but you can use English as well (ask other members to translate your post to Russian in the end of your message if you like). Just post the name of the locations you are planning to stay in, or your route, the dates of your possible arrival, the number of your party, some information about you and your mobile number.<br />
<br />
If travelling long distances through the country, it is advisable to bring a sleeping bag and tent. If sleeping by the side of the road, try to find a place obscured by trees, and avoid places with stray dogs. Sleeping by the road is usually very safe, provided you are not visible. Security guards and police will usually not bother you even if they see you, since nature-tourism is still quite popular in Russia.<br />
<br />
Long-distance truck drivers are often very hospitable, and many will allow you to sleep in the second bunk of their cab.<br />
<br />
There are many transit drivers taking cars across the country to and from Vladivostok. You may find yourself with one of these drivers for a number of days. There have been isolated incidents where people sleeping in these transit cars have been attacked and had their car stolen, and so the drivers may want you to stay with them for their own safety.<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://010-vladok.reitsma.ru/ Story about hitchhiking from Rotterdam to Vladivostok] {{en}}<br />
* [http://no-planes.de/?p=76/ Story about hitchhiking from Hamburg to Lake Baikal] {{en}}<br />
* [http://hike.ru/ Russian hitchhiking website] {{ru}}<br />
* [http://www.bpclub.ru/index.php Russian backpacker & hitchhiker's forum] {{ru}}<br />
* [http://avp.travel.ru/ Academy of Free Travel, Moscow based hitchhiking club] {{ru}}<br />
* [http://vpiska.livejournal.com Livejournal 'Vpiska' community], mostly {{ru}} but {{en}} speakers are also welcome<br />
* [http://ru_autostop.livejournal.com Russian] hitchhiking communities. {{ru}}, but you can ask questions and get replies in {{en}}<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Asia}}<br />
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{{Subdivisions of Russia}}<br />
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__NOTOC__<br />
[[trash:Russia]]<br />
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[[Category:Russia| ]]<br />
[[Category:Eastern Europe]]<br />
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[[ru:Россия]]<br />
[[tr:Rusya]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Ireland&diff=77814Ireland2014-11-06T20:19:49Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = Ireland<br />
|map = <map lat='53.4' lng='-8.1' zoom='6' view='0' width='270' height='320' country='Ireland'/><br />
|language = Irish, English<br />
|capital = [[Dublin]]<br />
|pop = 4,422,100<br />
|currency = Euro (€) (EUR)<br />
|BW = IE<br />
|hitch = <rating country='ie' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Ireland''' ('''Republic of Ireland''') is a member state of the [[European Union]] but with only partial participation in the [[Schengen Agreement]]. It is a great country for hitchhiking. The recent economic upsurge has changed this situation a little bit though. But the recent and inevitable economic downturn has made the people a bit more accommodating and brotherly again.<br />
<br />
[[Hitchhiking]] is the easiest and fastest way to travel in the countryside and in the less inhabited regions where public transportation such as [[train]] or [[bus]] is not available or it is not as frequent as a traveler might expect (one or two buses per day). You can easily get multiple lifts from one village to another for really short distances, and people are very welcoming. You can get a lift virtually anywhere, even on the smallest roads.<br />
<br />
Most people are very happy to see backpackers hitchhiking. Even if they don't pick you up, many will motivate you by waving, honking, showing thumbs up, and so on. Drivers are very communicative here!<br />
<br />
Long distance traveling can be a little slow, but the country isn't big. It's possible to get from one coast to the other in one day, on the national (N) roads. These roads connect cities or bigger towns in the country. Usually they lead directly into the town centers, so all the long-distance-traffic has to use them. This makes it very easy to hitch a ride at the end of town. Some bigger towns have bypasses which make it more difficult, but it's usually possible to hitch a ride to the bypass.<br />
<br />
Some national roads have a dual carriageway, so they are similar to [[highway|motorways]], except that it is [[laws|allowed]] to stand on the side of the road on dual carriageways – perfect for you, it is however dangerous in certain areas of these roads. It is technically illegal to walk or cycle on these, but the police (called guards or gards in Ireland) won't bother you.<br />
<br />
'''For medium distances or short distances''', stick to national secondary (R) roads, using R and N roads, you could technically get to '''anywhere''' in Ireland, but it all depends on the area.<br />
These are expanded country roads, with a lot of traffic, getting a lift/ride is, on average, easy.<br />
<br />
It's illegal to hitch on motorways, but the Irish will still pick you up if you do it, and the police/guards aren't very likely to show up or, if they do, do more than tell you to get away. Good places to hitchhike, would be near bus stops (as there's space to park), a large driveway, but people don't mind stopping for you in the middle of a road.<br />
<br />
On rare occasions, if drivers see you walking, they will offer you a lift/ride even if you haven't put your thumb out.<br />
<br />
Showing your thumb is the common way to hitchhike, but using a sign (when on a national road) reduces waiting times a lot. It is recommended to put only the name of the next town on a cardboard. You will be much faster with many short rides than by waiting for a long one.<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* '''[[Dublin]]''', the capital<br />
* '''[[Cork]]''', second most populous city<br />
* '''[[Galway]]''', on the west coast, often called ''The party town''<br />
* '''[[Limerick]]''', halfway point between Cork and Galway<br />
* '''[[Waterford]]'''<br />
* '''[[Kilkenny]]'''<br />
<br />
See also:<br />
* '''[[Belfast]]''', the capital of [[Northern Ireland]] (situated on the same island as Republic of Ireland)<br />
<br />
== Maps ==<br />
The AA has published a very good nation-wide map. It has a scale of 1:300 000. You can get it on in main street bookshops in Ireland for about EUR 8. The road network is growing very fast at the moment (as of 2008). So make sure you have a map which is not older than a year.<br />
<br />
An extremely useful resource for travelers and explorers is the website of the [http://www.osi.ie/ 'Ordnance Survey Ireland'], who have a free (Republic of)Ireland-wide map, free to view online which goes into the minutest detail, just click into the little Ireland icon, it operates much like Google Maps. It shows all the maps one could need for traveling and also shows real-life aerial photography if you click in enough times. It also shows various archaeological or historic features such as castles, megalithic tombs, stone circles etc. in your area which you could have otherwise passed by and unfortunately missed.<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking to and from Ireland ==<br />
<br />
UNVERIFIED INFO: Rumour has it there is a new service from Cherbourg in france to ireland that might be pay by car and therefore maybe hitchable..but this needs to be checked. anyone??<br />
<br />
At the moment, it doesn't seem to be possible anymore to hitchhike ferries from the UK or France to Ireland as you usually don't pay per vehicle but per passenger. Fruupp proposes on digihitch: <br />
<br />
:One way of doing it is to call some of the Dublin Removals companies who haul household contents to the UK and the continent. If you are going one way and are willing to work to unload one of their jobs they might hire you. They save on the fact that your trip is one way so they aren't paying per hour for the regular labor that would be returning to Ireland. Some of the freight companies might also give you passage and labor in the same way.<br />
<br />
:Another way would be to take the DFDS Seaways ferries that leave from Dublin port (not Dun Laoghaire) or Belfast. Two ferries per day, one in the morning and one in the evening. If you can find a driver who has already paid for his car + 1, then it is possible to amend that ticket and check in with the driver for only 10 euros. It would still be paying, but on the ferry you get a dinner buffet and breakfast buffet.<br />
:Your driver will also get a cabin with his ticket with four bunk-beds in it, so you will depending on whether your driver wants you in the cabin or not, get a night on real sheets. (Cheapest alternative I have been able to come across if you are still to do it in any legal way. Credit to SamanthaofTarth on the westeros internet forum for this initial info.)<br />
<br />
A good way to go about finding a driver would be to start from the toll-booths at the mouth of the port. You would have to hitchhike to the terminal of DFDS anyway as there isn't a pathway for walking all the way as there is a stretch of highway is just before the terminals 1,2 and 3 (with very big ominous signs saying you are not allowed to walk there at the beginning of the highway).<br />
<br />
:The ferry from Dun Laoghaire is more expensive as you will save only 2 euros compared to the price of a foot passenger (31 euros); however, the staff seems to be rather nice with hitchhikers and you probably can catch long rides quite easily.<br />
<br />
There is a ferry from [[Rosslare]] to [[Fishguard]] in Wales that with a bit of risk might be hitched for free.<br />
<br />
July 2014: Antoine and Avery successfully hitchhiked a yacht from [[Holyhead]] to [[Dublin]], having waited less than 15 minutes by asking sailors at the marina.<br />
<br />
== Accommodation and Sleeping ==<br />
All the usual hotels and hostels exist around the big touristy areas and towns, but are still quite expensive and would not be a long term solution. Camping is by far the most reliable for of long term sleeping arrangement as tucked away, empty fields can be found just minutes outside even the biggest towns. The farmers would probably appreciate your asking if you could stay but for the most part they probably wouldn't even care. Just try not to go into fields with crops or livestock and never light a fire that would be visible from a road or house. Forest fires aren't really an issue in Ireland either as it's usually so very wet. Be careful about [[Donegal]], though, because some areas tend to be very boggy without a lot of fields. You could also try [http://www.couchsurfing.org/ CouchSurfing] for accommodation if you're interested in meeting local people. Most showers of rain in Ireland pass quickly but if you're unlucky enough to experience the weeks of drizzle and rain which can sometimes plague the country at any time of year you might need to cash out for a B&B to get a good nights sleep or to get a chance to dry out. <br />
<br />
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{{hitchbase_country|94}}<br />
[[wikipedia:Republic of Ireland]]<br />
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[[trash:Ireland]]<br />
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[[pl:Irlandia]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=London&diff=74454London2014-03-19T09:53:47Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
<br />
'''London''' is the capital of [[England]] and the [[United Kingdom]].<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking around London ==<br />
<br />
London has a ring-road, the [[M25 (GB)|M25]]. You'll have to use it if you go from anywhere north of the Bristol-Oxford-London line to Dover resp. the continent, or the other way round. It's recommended to find a lift past London as it's somewhat hard to go find somebody going off the M25 into your direction from any of the service stations on the M25 - there are only three, one in the South, one in the East and one in the North-East. <br />
<br />
[[South Mimms]] services is in Potters Bar in the north of London, on the M25 and right off the [[M1 (GB)|M1]]. For some reason, although it's a big services, you can get stuck for hours here. One option, as ever, is to ask people where they're headed..but there are so many directions possible that it could take a long time to even find someone headed your way. Standing at the exit of the services is unlikely to work, for whatever reason. Several reports of hours of waiting here mean that you probably need to try something else. If you're going towards the west, you can stand at the ridiculous entrance to the west slip road onto the M25. Although insane, you should be able to get a fast ride out. Have a big sign and someone should be able to at least take you further down the M25 to a better junction, or directly to where you're going..be it to the west or down to Sussex. <br />
Any information on going east?<br />
<br />
Also, on the M25, it may be possible, if hitting London is unavoidable but it needs to be passed, to head around the ring on the junctions. The only problem is that a few of the junctions are really bad in the south..try not to get stuck in this trap and if stuck make a sign with M25 and east or west.<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
* [http://www.hitchbase.com/ergebnisse.php?LANG=eng&abfrage%5Bstartort%5D=444 Hitchbase] has some information about hitchhiking out of London<br />
<br />
Hitchhiking out of London is pretty tricky, but not impossible - the big problem is getting onto a motorway is a bit of a challenge, once you're on the motorway, stick to the petrol stations, hitching entrance ramp to entrance ramp is quite difficult, especially in the big cities.<br />
<br />
=== Direction: West England, South-West England, South Wales ===<br />
==== M4 Motorway ====<br />
<br />
<map lat='51.491738177580345' lng='-0.28118133544921875' zoom='16' view='0' float='right' /><br />
<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[West (England)|The West (London)]]'''''), [[Reading]], [[Swindon]], ('''''[[South West England|The South-West]]'''''), [[Bristol]], [[South West England|Devon]], [[South West England|Cornwall]],<br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to Zone 3 - approximately 5 UKP from Zone 1. There are also a number of buses that run by this roundabout. The H91 runs to the hitching spot itself. I'll try and get more details next time. <br />
* '''Last verified''': April 2010<br />
<br />
* '''Directions''':<br />
Get the Underground to Gunnersby tube station''(District Line)'' or the main line station at Kew Bridge. (Alternatively, the Overground Stop South Acton doesn't have barriers, but is a kilometer further away.) Both stations are on the Chiswick High Road (A315 - one west and one east of the roundabout) along which you walk 500m to Junction 1 of the M4. You want the Esso petrol station that is on the corner of the slip road onto the motorway heading west. There is a lay-by nearby with a sign saying M4 west. <br />
<br />
* '''Last verified''': 20th February 2011: I frequentlly hitch from this spot, works well, and rarely wait more than half an hour. Wait just before the bus stop as this is where people generally stop. / Verified in July 2013, got lucky and the second car on that Esso petrol station took me until Bristol.<br />
<br />
Heading for '''Cornwall''', it is much easier hitching the M4 and changing to the M5 in [[Bristol]] than trying to hitch the M3 through [[South West England|Dorset]].<br />
An alternative spot for the M4 nearer to the centre and a good one for the M3: Exit at West Kensington tube (zone 2 district line). Turn right out of the station, there are traffic lights 10m away. Turh right and there is a layby where you can stand. The advantage of this spot is that all the traffic must stop here frequently for the lights and much of it is going to either of the motorways. (It's also cheaper to get to). I never normally wait more than 30 mins. here.<br />
<br />
=== Direction: South-East England (Kent) ===<br />
==== M20 Motorway ====<br />
<map lat='51.43983124736507' lng='0.0528717041015625' zoom='15' view='0' float='right' /><br />
<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East England|South East]]'''''), [[Maidstone]], [[Canterbury]], [[Dover]], [[Channel Tunnel|The Channel Tunnel]], [[France]] (''[[Western Europe]]'')<br />
<br />
** '''Option 1: Mottingham'''<br />
** '''Cost of public transport''': One train ticket ''from zone 1'' (approximately £3.50 off-peak) or take the Jubilee line to North Greenwich, and from there, the 161 bus to Mottingham. (Mottenham train station doesn't have barriers...)<br />
** '''Last verified''': July 2013<br />
** '''Directions:''' The train to Mottingham Station (Zone 4) departs from ''Charing Cross Station'' (Zone 1) through ''Waterloo East'' (Zone 1), ''London Bridge'' (Zone 1), ''New Cross'' (Zone 2) and ''Lewisham'' (Zone 2) stations on its way to ''Dartford'' or ''Gillingham.<br />
<br />
This is very close to the entrance to the M20 to Dover. When you come out of the train station, head for Sidcup Road (corner of 'Sidcup Road' and 'Court Road', around 800 yards). At the traffic lights turn left, where you see a Shell petrol station. This leads towards Dover. This is the A20, which eventually becomes the M20.<br />
<br />
The best ride to accept from Mottingham is one that brings you directly into the South-East along the M20 and past the M20-M25 junction, most likely to the [[Maidstone Services]]. Many drivers said that many hitch-hikers happen to stand and hitch at the junction, but the police might be more likely to pick you up. <br />
<br />
'''Last verified''': I tried the Mottingham spot and found it great (July 2013). Tuesday late morning, waited for half an hour before I got a ride to the next service station (with the McDonalds), from where I got a ride to Maidstone Services in under 5 minutes. My sign wrote "M20 (E)", the aim being to get out of the city and avoid all the local traffic.<br />
<br />
** '''Option 2: Swanley''' <br />
** '''Cost of public transport''': One train ticket ''from zone 1'' (approximately £3.50 off-peak) or take the train from Elephant & Castle in central south-east (no barriers) towards Seven Oaks for a free ride.<br />
** '''Last verified''': September 2013<br />
** '''Directions:''' You can get onto M20 from Swanley. Get a train to Kent from London Victoria (Ashford International, Gillingham, Seven Oakes, etc.). Some trains will go directly there, otherwise change at Bromley South. <br />
<br />
'''Swanley By pass:''' From the station head away from town on London Road, onto Maidstone Road, where you'll find a hole in the fence on the left. There is a BP garage with a McDonalds, it's a longer walk than to the Texaco mentioned below but managed to get a lift there in 15 minutes at 10pm asking people (September 2013). It seemed most traffic was M20/M25, but might of been the time of night. This is perfect for getting to Maidstone.<br />
<br />
'''London Road''' Walk into town from the train station, taking London Road, out of town towards the M20. On the way there is a Texaco petrol station that seems quite busy. Further down (where I hitchhiked, August 2012) there is a big parking space, with a greasy spoon van if you're hungry or in need of a cup of coffee. The road takes you straight down to the motorway.<br />
<br />
<map lat='51.3902018510923' lng='0.188269615173336' zoom='15' view='0' float='right' /><br />
<br />
==== M2 Motorway ====<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East England|South East]]'''''), [[Rochester]], [[Canterbury]], [[Dover]]<br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': <br />
* '''Last verified''': <br />
<br />
* '''Directions''':<br />
Get the Underground to London Bridge Station ''(Northern Line - Jubilee Line)'' and get the commuter train to a station called Mottingham ''(direction Dartford)''<br />
(''Note that you can hitch along the [[M20 (GB)|M20]] and changing to the [[M2 (GB)|M2]] in [[Maidstone]]'')<br />
<br />
==== A21 Motorway ====<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East England|The South East]]'''''), [[Hastings]], [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]]<br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': <br />
* '''Last verified''': <br />
<br />
* '''Directions''':<br />
{{infoneeded| Help providing the information with the one available for the M20}}<br />
<br />
=== Direction: North-West, Scotland, North Wales ===<br />
==== M40 Motorway ====<br />
<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[West (England)|The West (London)]]'''''), [[Oxford]], [[High Wycombe]], ('''''[[West Midlands|The West Midlands]]'''''), [[Warwick]], [[Birmingham]], [[Redditch]]<br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 6 (Hillingdon) or zone 3 (Hanger Lane).<br />
* '''Last verified''': 28th October 2010 (Hillingdon), 26 January 2008 (Hanger Lane), 24 May 2009 (M40 J1)<br />
<br />
* '''Directions''':<br />
[[M40 (GB)|M40]] is different from other motorways originating from London, as it starts quite close to M25 as a continuation of the dual-carriageway A40.<br />
<br />
A40 has a number of entrances with heavy traffic, and the following 3 places have been successfully hitched from:<br />
<br />
** '''M40 junction 1'''<br />
<br />
Take a Piccadilly or Metropolitan Line to Uxbridge station (Zone 6). Exit the station onto High Street and turn right. Walk until you reach Harefield Road - turn left there, and then right at the next big roundabout. From there follow signs to M40 - you will eventually get to junction 1 slip road, and you can hitch-hike from there.<br />
<br />
Confirm with the driver that he is going straight on M40, and does not turn onto M25 (London Orbital). Also beware that Junction 2 is not very easy to hitch-hike on (see [[M40 (GB)|M40]] article)<br />
<br />
** '''Hanger Lane''' Underground station (Central Line, West Ruislip branch, zone 3)<br />
<br />
As you exit into the main hall of the tube station, have a look at the local area map and find an exit by the Westbound A40 slip road. Once you are out of the underground, keep walking along the slip road, and then A40. There are two good places to hitch from:<br />
<br />
One of them is a bus stop just past the junction with Lynwood Rd. It has a long lay-by, which is a good place to hitch from as long as there's nothing parked there. Legally, it's a "non-stopping except buses" lay-by.<br />
<br />
The other place is half a mile further on - a little lay-by with no restrictions. I ([[User:Lnx|Lnx]]) have not personally hitched from there, but it looks like a good spot and has an advantage of being open to the entire A40 (the Lynwood Rd bus stop has a separation between the incoming slip road and the main carriageway, so you can only be picked up by traffic emerging from North Circular Road, or Lynwood Road).<br />
<br />
** '''Hillingdon''' Underground station (Piccadilly/Metropolitan Lines, zone 6).<br />
<br />
As you exit the tube station and go to the end of walkway, turn right and walk until you reach big traffic light-controlled crossroads of 'Long Lane' and 'Western Avenue' (NOT the A40 Western Avenue). Cross the road, then turn right and continue to the roundabout, whose primary exit is the slip-road to A40. Stand on the grass next to of the hatched area - the hatched area is a good and legal place for a vehicle to stop. The area is also well-lit which makes it a perfect place to hitch at night.<br />
<br />
It is advisable to have a sign saying "Oxford" or something, as a lot of traffic leaves [[M40 (GB)|M40]] at junction 1a to continue on [[M25 (GB)|M25]].<br />
<br />
There is also an Oxford Tube coach stop in Western Avenue/Freezeland Way nearby. If you happen to get really stuck (which I think you won't - I waited only about 12 minutes for a ride on an evening during a post-Christmas season) and only need to get to Oxford, this might be an alternative.<br />
<br />
Update: I took this advice to travel from London to Oxford in October 2010, and it worked very well: I didn't reach the roadside til 9pm, so the world beyond the streetlights was utterly dark, but still got a ride within half an hour. A good spot to travel Northbound from London.<br />
<br />
=== Direction: North ===<br />
==== M1 Motorway ====<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[The North (England)|The North (London)]]'''''), [[Luton]], [[Milton Keynes]], ('''''[[East Midlands|The East Midlands]]'''''), [[Northampton]], [[Leicester]], [[Derby]], [[Nottingham]], [[Sheffield]], [[Leeds]]<br />
<br />
* '''Directions''':<br />
<br />
** '''Option 1''' - [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=15386599078168394493,51.613806,-0.276014%3B7303632460877835457,51.616789,-0.260584&saddr=A5100%2FStation+Rd+%4051.613806,+-0.276014&daddr=A5100%2FHale+Ln+%4051.616789,+-0.260584+to:51.629873,-0.264659&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=15&via=1&sll=51.62617,-0.269852&sspn=0.017104,0.047035&ie=UTF8&ll=51.622306,-0.273972&spn=0.017105,0.047035&z=15 London Gateway Services]<br />
** '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 5.<br />
** '''last verified''': June 2012 (good spot indeed, we asked around the service station and were picked up after 30 min towards Northampton). November 2011 ( very good spot, we found a lift in less then 5 minutes, also in the dark)<br />
It is possible to walk from Edgware tube ''(Northern Line)'' to London Gateway Services on the M1. There are a few different ways to walk, but the simplest is: Turn right out of the station onto 'Station Road'. Follow the road along, it turns into 'Hale Lane', keep going, then turn left onto 'Selvage Lane' and keep going, you will then go over a bridge over the M1 and come to a big roundabout 'Apex Corner'. Go down into the subway under the roundabout, and come out on the A1 ('Barnet Way), just by the petrol station. Turn left just behind the petrol station onto 'Ellesmere Avenue', this road runs parallel to the high way. Keep walking until you come to a road on your left with a big sign telling you not to go down there. Walk down it and you come to '''London Gateway Services'''.<br />
<br />
<map lat='51.572129' lng='-0.230595' zoom='16' view='0' width='400px' height='200px' float='right' /><br />
** '''Option 2''' - [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=51.572780,+-0.230950&ie=UTF8&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1 Staples Corner]<br />
** '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 3.<br />
** '''Last verified''': <br />
<br />
[[File:Staples_corner_m1.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Hitching Spot at Staples Corner for M1]]<br />
<br />
Another option is to take the tube to Brent Cross ''(Northern Line)''. From there you follow the 'North Circular Road' westwards for about 1km (along Tilling Road), and you get to the bottom of the M1 (don't get confused with the A1 which also passes nearby, although if this road is more convenient for your destination, you can also hitch from here). After passing the shopping centre, you should see the M1. It is possible to hitch at the first entrance you see, which is the traffic coming off the 'Westbound North Circular' (there is a bus stop just after the slip road joins the North Circular, and a small lay-by further on - both adjacent to the lane for M1). You can also hitch at the traffic lights (see spot on the map to the right) or on the hard shoulder on the on-ramp that slopes up right after those traffic lights.<br />
<br />
However, it tends to go slightly quicker if you walk 2 minutes more around the roundabout ('''Staples Corner ''West'' '''). You'll see a railway bridge, go under it and there is a bus stop beside a car repair place (the bus stop itself is near Adrian Avenue and is by the ''Western'' side of the railway bridge). It doesn't look like such a great place, but it works quite well if you have a sign (worked for [[User:Lnx|Lnx]] - a 5-minute wait in the dark!). Certainly it is better than the entrance to the M1 used by traffic going eastbound on the 'North Circular', which has a big camera pointing right at where you would stand.<br />
<br />
This place seems to work really well. I get the bus to brent cross and then its about a 10 min walk to this spot.<br />
<br />
==== A1 Motorway / A1(M) Motorway ====<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[The North (England)|The North (London)]]'''''), [[Stevanage]], ('''''[[East Midlands]]'''''), ('''''[[East of England|The East]]'''''), [[Peterborough]]<br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': <br />
* '''Last verified''': <br />
<br />
* '''Directions''':<br />
''(See information for M1, Option 2 - Staples Corner. Hold the sign saying "A1 North". There must be better places to get onto A1, though...)''<br />
<br />
This is untested, but should work. Take the tube (Northern Line) to High Barnet, here take the 84 bus to South Mimms services, at the junction between the M25 and A1(M). One user tried this, and thinks the junction is too big, and the traffic too fast, for this to be a good spot. Another user spent 5 unsuccessful hours at South Mimms trying to get the A1(M) North, most people aren't likely to stop at the first service station on their way out of the city.<br />
<br />
=== Direction: East Anglia, East Coast ===<br />
==== M11 Motorway ====<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[East of England|The East]]'''''), [[Cambridge]], [[Peterborough]], [[Norwich]], [[London Stansted]] <br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 4<br />
* '''Last verified''': March 2012<br />
<br />
* '''Directions''':<br />
The M11 begins near Redbridge, so this is an ideal place to go to. [[User:Siinvincible|Simon]] and [[User:Whisperingofthestars|Jason]] managed to get a ride to Newmarket from the train to Redbridge, as someone noticed us making a sign.<br />
<br />
Redbridge is on the Central (Red) underground line and local buses (66) stop next to the station. Once on the station, turn right and use the subways to cross under the A406. Once on the ramp on for A406 (extending Eastern Avenue), there is a great place for vehicles to pull over. The spot is located just next to the bridge over a canal or river. The traffic will not be coming from A406, but it is really a good place to hitch a ride. It is strongly recommended that you bring a M11 sign with you. Personal experience was that even with this sign, a few cars will stop heading towards other destinations.<br />
<br />
TIP: To get to the same part of london, you can also take the Central line to Roding Valley. Here there are no barriers as you exit so if you managed to get into the underground system for free, you can get out for free. It's about a half an hour walk to the start of the M11. For getting into the underground system, you can for example get in at Finsbury Park where there are no barriers either. There are also other stations.<br />
<br />
=== Direction: South, South West - Hampshire and Dorset ===<br />
==== M3 Motorway ====<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South West England|The South West]]'''''), [[Basingstoke]], [[Salisbury]], [[Southampton]], [[Porstmouth]], [[South West England|Dorset]], [[Poole|Bournemouth]]<br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket/travelcard to zone 6 + one ticket from ''Hampton'' to ''Kempton Park'' railway station.<br />
* '''Last verified''': 27 March 2008<br />
<br />
* '''Directions''':<br />
<br />
M3 is not an easy motorway to get to, although the following worked for [[User:Lnx|Lnx]]:<br />
<br />
Take the train bound for ''Shepperton'' from ''London Waterloo'' and exit at '''Kempton Park''' station. Exit the station (do not go on the footbridge), cross the racecourse car park and turn right into Park Road, which goes into the slip road coming off A316. When you reach the A316 itself, walk on the pavement in the opposite direction to the traffic. You will immediately see a lay-by (chances are some lorries will be parked there). You can hitch from there. The position is not perfect, as the road is going downhill, and the traffic is traveling very fast (50-70mph).<br />
<br />
'''Kempton Park''' station is just outside London Transport Zones (''Hampton'', the previous station on the Waterloo-Shepperton line, is in zone 6), but it has no ticket barriers and the chances of meeting a ticket inspector between ''Hampton'' and ''Kempton Park'' should be quite remote.<br />
<br />
<br />
* '''An Alternative, joining the A316 before it becomes the M3'''<br />
<br />
Get a train on the same line as above, and get off at '''Fulwell Rail'''. Walk South on Wellington Road, and then turn right onto Park Road. Follow this road as it joins the A312 for about 1.5 km in total. Just below the A316 bridge, which you will see ahead of you as you follow the A312, there is a roundabout. The first left turn on this roundabout is an on-ramp for the A316. There is a bus stop and a pedestrian crossing here, and traffic is going uphill, and so is quite slow. One user waited here for about 30 minutes with a sign saying "M3".<br />
<br />
==== A3/A24 Motorway ====<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East England|The South East]]'''''), [[Woking]], [[Porstmouth]], [[Guildford]], [[Worthing]]<br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': <br />
* '''Last verified''': <br />
<br />
* '''Directions''':<br />
{{infoneeded|Information needed}}<br />
<br />
''Possible site along the A3 would be located between Putney Heath/Roehampton and New Malden/West Wimbledon, New Malden offering the best opportunities''<br />
<br />
''The A24 is best reached directly in Leatherhead outside the M25, there is a on-ramp to the M25 as well''<br />
<br />
==== M23 Motorway/A22 Motorway ====<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East England|The South East]]'''''), [[Brighton]], [[Pease Pottage]], [[Eastbourne]]<br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': <br />
* '''Last verified''': <br />
<br />
* '''Directions''': Take a train to Coulsdon South from East Croyden (zone 6) Turn left out of the station and walk 600m up to the roundabout. Nearly all the traffic goes to the M23 from there.<br />
<br />
=== Direction: East (Essex) ===<br />
==== A12/A13 Motorway ====<br />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[East of England|The East]]'''''), [[East of England|Essex]] , [[Chelmsford]], [[Colchester]], [[Ipswich]], [[Southend-on-Sea]]<br />
* '''Cost of public transport''': <br />
* '''Last verified''': <br />
<br />
* '''Directions''': So to go towards Ipswich, take the tube to Bow Road Station. Here you need to ask direction to the A12. Walk along Bow Road. At the end of the road you will come to a round about with traffic lights on it and also a McDonalds You can get lifts from here to Ipswich or Colchester along either the A12 or A11. I waited 20 minutes. It was OK. There is plenty of room for people to stop at there is a bus stop right near.<br />
<br />
== Airports ==<br />
Paid transport to and from airports can be expensive. Hitching can be a good alternative. The exits to the airports can also be good places to get lifts to other places. For example, if you get stuck on the western part of the M25, try to get to Heathrow, from there people are going all over the country. If you are coming from Brighton, and trying to get around London, you may get a ride quicker to where you want to go if you get dropped at Gatwick Airport than at Pease Pottage services.<br />
* [[London Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick]]<br />
* [[London Stansted]]<br />
* [[London Heathrow]]<br />
* [[Luton|London Luton]]<br />
<br />
== Transiting in Greater London ==<br />
Since nearly all the motorway networks lead towards London you probably might have to go through that urban area somehow to reach your destination. The M25 is the ring motorway that surrounds the city and connects with every possible motorway network in destination of the country. It is then better to be left at some very specific Motorway Services to manage to catch a ride further.<br />
<br />
Be careful: there are only 3 service stations on the M25, and on the whole western part there are none at all. If you get dropped at a junction rather than at services you can get really stuck, as a large part of the traffic is only going round the road a short way. If it is not possible to get a lift to one of the services, consider waiting for a ride that takes you actually to the road you want to be on, rather than just stopping somewhere random on the M25.<br />
<br />
=== Clacket Lane Services ===<br />
<br />
Possibly the best place to get lifts on the M25. There is a bridge here to cross from one side to the other, which can be useful to know if, for example, you are trying to hitch from the M4 to Brighton but get a lift with someone who is going to Dover.<br />
<br />
To get to Clacket Lane Service Station from London get a train to Bromley (you can use an Oyster card: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14836.aspx), then bus 246 (timetable here: http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/246Sum.htm)<br />
<br />
Ask the driver to tell you when you get to Pilgrims Lane, then walk down Pilgrims Lane and Pilgrims Way to Clacket Lane Services. You can see where you're going on a map here: http://www.motorwayservices.info/clacket_lane_services_m25/googlemap Where it says "Clacket Wood" is the service station. There is also a street view of this area on google maps.<br />
<br />
Clacket Lane is an excellent place to hitch to Brighton (Westbound) or Dover (Eastbound) and also fairly good for most other directions as it's a busy station. Best thing is to stand outside the main doors into the station and ask everyone that comes out if they are going your way ("excuse me, are you by any chance going to Bighton?")<br />
<br />
To get from one side to the other walk down the country lane to the back of the station until you get to the bridge and cross to the other side (couple of km)<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
''See specific article for [[Transport for London]]''<br />
<br />
== Sleep ==<br />
There are several options when it comes to finding a place to sleep. If the worst prevails and you're without a place, you're still not too bad off. Central London is relatively safe and you probably wont be bothered sleeping outside.<br />
<br />
=== Wild [[Camping]] ===<br />
Its quite possible to sleep out in London in considerable privacy despite its gigantic population of 10 million. Go North East to Trent Park (Picadilly Line North, second to last stop before Cockfosters - i.e. Oakwood Station). Find the directions for the university (Middlesex) campus and walk (or take the free bus) up the hill. Beside it and beyond the lake are quite a few miles of woodland and and it is incredibly beautiful. [[User:Whisperingofthestars|Jason]] lived here for 7 months during his final year of university. Be careful with park wardens, they eventually discovered him during the last few weeks of his studies. Build camouflage from ferns if staying for long. People are unlikely to be your greatest threat...dogs are. Dogs! A lot of people walk them here but you can find amazing places if you search hard enough. And if you search really really hard, you'll find a tree with the dates of the past dweller's residence...;) <br />
<br />
Also, outside this station (Trent Park), there is a Greek Bakery. Behind it lie huge sacks of bread every night. Please go. Its crazy that this could possibly be wasted every night.<br />
<br />
=== Squatting ===<br />
London used to have an abundance of [[squat]]s, but it has recently become more difficult. While it is still legal to squat commercial property (warehouses, offices, shops), it is illegal to squat residential buildings (if you admit you are doing this to the cops, you might be sentenced to jail time.) For all information on squatting in the UK: the '''[http://www.squatter.org.uk/ Advisory Service for Squatters]''' is helpful for people that are planning to find a place to live and cannot really help you find a place to crash. It's located at the Freedom Bookstore in Whitechapel and is another great place to meet squatters as well as get online for free. The address is Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High Street, Whitechapel, London, England, E1 7QX. (Tel. 020-32160099)<br />
That being said, there are still a good couple of squats all around London. Most squats are places where people live and go about their normal business, so don't expect too much from them. Perhaps it would be good to find some friendly squatters by word of mouth or on [http://www.couchsurfing.com couchsurfing] or similar. Don't worry about the negative connotations associated with squats. They generally aren't crackhouses or scabies-infested punk hangouts. People of all types squat in London and their homes are usually very nice. They are especially helpful if you're planning to stick around for a while, but can also be great if you're just passing through. [[User:Zac Stewart|Zac]]<small><sup>[[User talk:Zac Stewart|talk]]</sup></small> ended up with a squat to sleep in on his first night, and in [[Mayfair]] of all places! <br />
There are still some remnants of squatting communities in North London, North East London, and South London. If you want to meet some people, go to the practical squatting nights taking place every week (alternating): http://www.squatter.org.uk/for-new-squatters/practical-squatting-nights/<br />
For more info on social centers in London, check out [http://www.socialcentresnetwork.org.uk/ Autonomous London]. Generally though, it has become harder to track squats down or just pop up, as there are fewer, and more and more evictions, which means less space. This should in no way discourage you, however!<br />
<br />
<br />
== Eat ==<br />
Cheap and free food abounds in London. <br />
<br />
=== Free ===<br />
Hari Krishna offer free food from several locations in London at lunchtime: outside SOAS by Russel Square at 1pm, for example. Expect to queue for 30 minutes, arrive early to guarantee a fill - the food does run out. Otherwise...<br />
<br />
In the UK, the term for eating food that would otherwise be thrown away, is called skipping. Lots of people do it, all from people that come from poor countries and see all the food that goes to waist, to people that are political in there way of living. Many people, especially in the squat scene live totally out of food from the bins...<br />
<br />
Plenty of places throw out food at closing time. Always check the bags out front of '''Pret a Mangers''' and '''Benjy's''' at 5-7pm. If you feel up to it, you can even go inside when they are closing shop and explain that you're homeless and pick out all the food you want instead of getting it off the sidewalk. Feel no shame, you're helping to curb wastefulness! (That being said, Pret a Mangers doesn't give any food to random people, just to "charity".)<br />
<br />
The '''Coffee Republic''' on Great Marlborough Street near the Oxford Circle and Carnaby Street is reported to put out garbage bags with totally normal food--boiled potatoes, sandwiches, etc. every evening around 8pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends.<br />
The sandwich company "Eat" throw away lots of stuff everyday all over town. Have a look in there bins or outside the shops on the street.<br />
The bakery 'Paul' in Blackfriars and Paddington throw out a lot of cakes, all extremely luxurious and scrumptious. From Blackfriars station walk up the main road, and Paul's will be on your right after a few minutes.<br />
If you are into Sushi, try one of the many Wasabi places in the city when they close at 9pm or 9.30. They always leave food outside, and there are always loads of people picking it up, but you'll get some if you're on time.<br />
<br />
The most luxurious place to skip is always Waitrose. Places like Sainsburys, Marks and Spencers (generally difficult to skip!), Tesco and so on have a marking system on their packed food that says when the food should be thrown away and when it should be eaten before. The gap between this days are often two days and you can still have it more or less a week more depending on what it is.<br />
Most bins are secured by fences, cameras, etc. Don't mind them too much, it is rare that they'll call the cops on you as long as you don't "destroy property".<br />
<br />
Good places to try in Hackney are E.A.T., Iceland, supermarket metros or locals and markets.<br />
<br />
=== Cheap ===<br />
If you're going to self cater, stick to '''Sainsbury's''' and '''Tesco''' rather than the convenient Off-Licenses for better prices. If you are a bit out of Central London, you might as well look for '''Lidl''', '''Morrisons''', '''Netto''' or '''Asda'''. Anyhow with a decent and wise grocery, you can get your grocery for nearly a week for about 10-15 pounds at any of the mentioned supermarket with decent, fresh and healthy food ''(to cook)''. Be aware though that these supermarkets are not in any sense "ethical". They are wiping out local shops, taking monopoly on feeding us, destroying the environment and throwing away food every day that could feed hundreds of people. It's better to eat out of their bins. <!-- Totally irrelevant information! --><br />
<br />
If you get tired of peanut butter sandwiches or want to fill up for the weekend, try one of the many £5 all-you-can-eat '''Thai Buffets''' which are always always totally vegan! (some good all-you-can-eat start at £3,50). Go early, they get more expensive in the evening. While downtown, you can also get a ''<nowiki>'</nowiki>6-inch sandwich of the day<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' at '''Subway''' for 2 pounds.<br />
<br />
The markets in Camden Town have cheap food around 5pm, especially in the Lock Market where, if you walk for a few minutes past all the initial food courts, you can easily find dishes of noodles for £2.<br />
<br />
== Internet ==<br />
In Westminster, there's a public library which you can use for free Internet access. You might need to register yourself, though, and that process (and waiting for the next available computer) can take quite some time.<br />
<br />
Go to the Apple store (on Regent St. near Oxford Circus), ask any '''local''' around Piccadilly or Regent or Oxford street and they should be able to tell you the exact location.<br />
<br />
{{Template:Regions England}}<br />
{{Excellent}}<br />
[[trash:London]]<br />
{{IsIn|England}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:East of England]]<br />
[[Category:South East England]]<br />
[[Category:England]]<br />
[[Category:United Kingdom]]<br />
[[Category:E13]]<br />
[[Category:E30]]<br />
<br />
[[fr:Londres]]<br />
[[pl:Londyn]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Brighton&diff=74115Brighton2014-01-23T00:55:16Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Location<br />
|country = United Kingdom<br />
|state = South East England<br />
|map = <map lat="50.837053523299225" lng="-0.12917031738280688" zoom="12" view="0" float="right" /><br />
|pop = 156.000<br />
|plate = <br />
|motorways = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Brighton''' is a city on the south coast of [[England]].<br />
<br />
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove (formed from the previous towns of Brighton, Hove, Portslade and several other villages) on the south coast of Great Britain. Formerly part of the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex, it remains part of the ceremonial county of East Sussex, within the historic county of Sussex.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Hitching out ==<br />
<br />
=== North towards [[London]] ===<br />
<br />
Take the Bus 5A towards Patcham and get off at Ridgeside Avenue. Follow the road Northwards (the direction the bus was going if you came from the city centre) until you get to a big roundabout. You want to take the A23 towards London. Several spots are available to hitchhike from, with space for cars to pull over. <br />
<br />
There is also a modestly frequented petrol station, if you want to talk to people.<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Dover]] ===<br />
<br />
Walk up Preston Road, wait somewhere near the park on the opposite side in a place where the cars can see you from the traffic light, such as just before the big bend. It's better if you have a sign saying something like "M25 East"<br />
<br />
You can get dropped off in one of the laybys on the A23, before it turns into the M23 and from there you must '''only''' accept a lift that's going at least as far as Clacket Lane Services. Clacket Lane is an excellent place to hitch from, as is Maidstone Services further on. These are the only two service stations between Brighton and Dover (apart from [[Pease Pottage]], but that's no good going in that direction, only to be used hitching ''to'' Brighton)(Disputed). Do not get out anywhere other than these service stations and you will move quickly. In the service stations just walk up to people and ask "Are you by any chance driving in the direction of Dover?" or something similar. Super-quick hitching guaranteed.<br />
<br />
== Free Train ==<br />
The train route between London and Brighton is very rarely checked. It is even more rare that it is checked after 9pm at night. There are 2 companies which do this route. First Capital Connect(FCC) and Southern. Southern is checked more, FCC very rarely. Theoretically you don't need to have a ticket if you travel after 9pm any day. <br />
<br />
You can take a train from Preston Park(no barriers, one station after Brighton station, walkable from the center) that stops at either Elephant and Castle(no barriers, south London) or Blackfriars(barriers open in the evening, a bit more central than Elephant) or Farringdon(this HAS barriers but from here you can change between national rail and underground and try to get to another station without barriers in other parts of London. One such station is Finsbury Park. There is a lot stuff to know about free transport in London, best bet is to ask your local squatter.) <br />
<br />
Alternatively, if you do feel anxious jumping the train, make your way to Hove station. The barriers are open from around 8pm. Around 8.30 or 9pm you can(REALLY EASILY, esp @9pm) find day travelcards that people threw away between Hove and London zones 1-6 in the SMALL bins around the station. There is a bin just next to the barriers and some others around. This covers the trip from Hove to London and transport within all of London on the underground. It will get you through underground barriers and on buses until about 4 or 5 in the morning. So if you leave around 9pm you should get to london around 10 or 11pm. <br />
<br />
Hitching is still a great way to travel in this country, but hitching into central London is a pain and quite expensive depending on where you get dropped off. <br />
<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South East England}}<br />
[[Category:South East England]]<br />
[[trash:Brighton]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Brighton&diff=74114Brighton2014-01-23T00:53:43Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Location<br />
|country = United Kingdom<br />
|state = South East England<br />
|map = <map lat="50.837053523299225" lng="-0.12917031738280688" zoom="12" view="0" float="right" /><br />
|pop = 156.000<br />
|plate = <br />
|motorways = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Brighton''' is a city on the south coast of [[England]].<br />
<br />
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove (formed from the previous towns of Brighton, Hove, Portslade and several other villages) on the south coast of Great Britain. Formerly part of the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex, it remains part of the ceremonial county of East Sussex, within the historic county of Sussex.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Hitching out ==<br />
<br />
=== North towards [[London]] ===<br />
<br />
Take the Bus 5A towards Patcham and get off at Ridgeside Avenue. Follow the road Northwards (the direction the bus was going if you came from the city centre) until you get to a big roundabout. You want to take the A23 towards London. Several spots are available to hitchhike from, with space for cars to pull over. <br />
<br />
There is also a modestly frequented petrol station, if you want to talk to people.<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Dover]] ===<br />
<br />
Walk up Preston Road, wait somewhere near the park on the opposite side in a place where the cars can see you from the traffic light, such as just before the big bend. It's better if you have a sign saying something like "M25 East"<br />
<br />
You can get dropped off in one of the laybys on the A23, before it turns into the M23 and from there you must '''only''' accept a lift that's going at least as far as Clacket Lane Services. Clacket Lane is an excellent place to hitch from, as is Maidstone Services further on. These are the only two service stations between Brighton and Dover (apart from [[Pease Pottage]], but that's no good going in that direction, only to be used hitching ''to'' Brighton)(Disputed). Do not get out anywhere other than these service stations and you will move quickly. In the service stations just walk up to people and ask "Are you by any chance driving in the direction of Dover?" or something similar. Super-quick hitching guaranteed.<br />
<br />
== Free Train ==<br />
The train route between London and Brighton is very rarely checked. It is even more rare that it is checked after 9pm at night. There are 2 companies which do this route. First Capital Connect(FCC) and Southern. Southern is checked more, FCC very rarely. Theoretically you don't need to have a ticket if you travel after 9pm any day. <br />
<br />
You can take a train from Preston Park(no barriers, one station after Brighton station, walkable from the center) that stops at either Elephant and Castle(no barriers, south London) or Blackfriars(barriers open in the evening, a bit more central than Elephant) or Farringdon(this HAS barriers but from here you can change between national rail and underground and try to get to another station without barriers in other parts of London. One such station is Finsbury Park. There is a lot stuff to know about free transport in London, best bet is to ask your local squatter.) <br />
<br />
Alternatively, if you do feel anxious jumping the train, make your way to Hove station. The barriers are open from around 8pm. Around 8.30 or 9pm you can find day travelcards that people threw away between Hove and London zones 1-6 in the SMALL bins around the station. There is a bin just next to the barriers and some others around. This covers the trip from Hove to London and transport within all of London on the underground. It will get you through underground barriers and on buses until about 4 or 5 in the morning. So if you leave around 9pm you should get to london around 10 or 11pm. <br />
<br />
Hitching is still a great way to travel in this country, but hitching into central London is a pain and quite expensive depending on where you get dropped off. <br />
<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South East England}}<br />
[[Category:South East England]]<br />
[[trash:Brighton]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Brighton&diff=74113Brighton2014-01-23T00:46:07Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Location<br />
|country = United Kingdom<br />
|state = South East England<br />
|map = <map lat="50.837053523299225" lng="-0.12917031738280688" zoom="12" view="0" float="right" /><br />
|pop = 156.000<br />
|plate = <br />
|motorways = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Brighton''' is a city on the south coast of [[England]].<br />
<br />
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove (formed from the previous towns of Brighton, Hove, Portslade and several other villages) on the south coast of Great Britain. Formerly part of the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex, it remains part of the ceremonial county of East Sussex, within the historic county of Sussex.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Hitching out ==<br />
<br />
=== North towards [[London]] ===<br />
<br />
Take the Bus 5A towards Patcham and get off at Ridgeside Avenue. Follow the road Northwards (the direction the bus was going if you came from the city centre) until you get to a big roundabout. You want to take the A23 towards London. Several spots are available to hitchhike from, with space for cars to pull over. <br />
<br />
There is also a modestly frequented petrol station, if you want to talk to people.<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Dover]] ===<br />
<br />
Walk up Preston Road, wait somewhere near the park on the opposite side in a place where the cars can see you from the traffic light, such as just before the big bend. It's better if you have a sign saying something like "M25 East"<br />
<br />
You can get dropped off in one of the laybys on the A23, before it turns into the M23 and from there you must '''only''' accept a lift that's going at least as far as Clacket Lane Services. Clacket Lane is an excellent place to hitch from, as is Maidstone Services further on. These are the only two service stations between Brighton and Dover (apart from [[Pease Pottage]], but that's no good going in that direction, only to be used hitching ''to'' Brighton)(Disputed). Do not get out anywhere other than these service stations and you will move quickly. In the service stations just walk up to people and ask "Are you by any chance driving in the direction of Dover?" or something similar. Super-quick hitching guaranteed.<br />
<br />
== Free Train ==<br />
The train route between London and Brighton is very rarely checked. It is even more rare that it is checked after 9pm at night. There are 2 companies which do this route. First Capital Connect(FCC) and Southern. Southern is checked more, FCC very rarely. Theoretically you don't need to have a ticket if you travel after 9pm any day. <br />
<br />
You can take a train from Preston Park(no barriers, one station after Brighton station, walkable from the center) that stops at either Elephant and Castle(no barriers, south London) or Blackfriars(barriers open in the evening, a bit more central than Elephant) or Farringdon(this HAS barriers but from here you can change between national rail and underground and try to get to another station without barriers in other parts of London. One such station is Finsbury Park. There is a lot stuff to know about free transport in London, best bet is to ask your local squatter.) <br />
<br />
Alternatively, if you do feel anxious jumping the train, make your way to Hove station. The barriers are open from around 8pm. Around 8.30 or 9pm you can find day travelcards that people threw away between Hove and London zones 1-6 in the bins around the station. There is a bin just next to the barriers and some others around. This covers the trip from Hove to London and transport within all of London on the underground. It will get you through underground barriers and on buses until about 4 or 5 in the morning. So if you leave around 9pm you should get to london around 10 or 11pm. <br />
<br />
Hitching is still a great way to travel in this country, but hitching into central London is a pain and quite expensive depending on where you get dropped off. <br />
<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South East England}}<br />
[[Category:South East England]]<br />
[[trash:Brighton]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Brighton&diff=74112Brighton2014-01-23T00:45:19Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Location<br />
|country = United Kingdom<br />
|state = South East England<br />
|map = <map lat="50.837053523299225" lng="-0.12917031738280688" zoom="12" view="0" float="right" /><br />
|pop = 156.000<br />
|plate = <br />
|motorways = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Brighton''' is a city on the south coast of [[England]].<br />
<br />
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove (formed from the previous towns of Brighton, Hove, Portslade and several other villages) on the south coast of Great Britain. Formerly part of the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex, it remains part of the ceremonial county of East Sussex, within the historic county of Sussex.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Hitching out ==<br />
<br />
=== North towards [[London]] ===<br />
<br />
Take the Bus 5A towards Patcham and get off at Ridgeside Avenue. Follow the road Northwards (the direction the bus was going if you came from the city centre) until you get to a big roundabout. You want to take the A23 towards London. Several spots are available to hitchhike from, with space for cars to pull over. <br />
<br />
There is also a modestly frequented petrol station, if you want to talk to people.<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Dover]] ===<br />
<br />
Walk up Preston Road, wait somewhere near the park on the opposite side in a place where the cars can see you from the traffic light, such as just before the big bend. It's better if you have a sign saying something like "M25 East"<br />
<br />
You can get dropped off in one of the laybys on the A23, before it turns into the M23 and from there you must '''only''' accept a lift that's going at least as far as Clacket Lane Services. Clacket Lane is an excellent place to hitch from, as is Maidstone Services further on. These are the only two service stations between Brighton and Dover (apart from [[Pease Pottage]], but that's no good going in that direction, only to be used hitching ''to'' Brighton)(Disputed). Do not get out anywhere other than these service stations and you will move quickly. In the service stations just walk up to people and ask "Are you by any chance driving in the direction of Dover?" or something similar. Super-quick hitching guaranteed.<br />
<br />
== Free Train ==<br />
The train route between London and Brighton is very rarely checked. It is even more rare that it is checked after 9pm at night. There are 2 companies which do this route. First Capital Connect(FCC) and Southern. Southern is checked more, FCC very rarely. Theoretically you don't need to have a ticket if you travel after 9pm any day. <br />
You can take a train from Preston Park(no barriers, one station after Brighton station, walkable from the center) that stops at either Elephant and Castle(no barriers, south London) or Blackfriars(barriers open in the evening, a bit more central than Elephant) or Farringdon(this HAS barriers but from here you can change between national rail and underground and try to get to another station without barriers in other parts of London. One such station is Finsbury Park. There is a lot stuff to know about free transport in London, best bet is to ask your local squatter.) <br />
Alternatively, if you do feel anxious jumping the train, make your way to Hove station. The barriers are open from around 8pm. Around 8.30 or 9pm you can find day travelcards that people threw away between Hove and London zones 1-6 in the bins around the station. There is a bin just next to the barriers and some others around. This covers the trip from Hove to London and transport within all of London on the underground. It will get you through underground barriers and on buses until about 4 or 5 in the morning. So if you leave around 9pm you should get to london around 10 or 11pm. <br />
Hitching is still a great way to travel in this country, but hitching into central London is a pain and quite expensive depending on where you get dropped off. <br />
<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|South East England}}<br />
[[Category:South East England]]<br />
[[trash:Brighton]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Bilbao&diff=59493Bilbao2012-02-04T13:37:40Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>'''Bilbao''' is a city in [[Spain]].<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
=== Any direction? ===<br />
This place, http://g.co/maps/2x3ze , traffic lights on Av. Sabino Arana is a good spot. Depending on the direction you are going, either stand on the right side of the road or in the middle so you get the traffic from the left lane. There's a patch of grass you can stand on if you hitch the left lane. In summertime there can be quite a few hitchhikers at that spot.<br />
<br />
=== Toward [[Donostia-San Sebastián|San Sebastian]] ===<br />
Heading toward San Sebastian there is a roundabout near the airport on the strada (street not the motorway) you can wait at. That was much quicker for Markus than waiting near the toll where the road goes in 2 directions.<br />
<br />
Near the toll there are traffic lights, but better is a little further on where the road forks, though its not a good place to wait as its in the middle of the road it is possible. The 2 directions are Santander and San Sebastian.<br />
<br />
Another spot to hitch to San Sebastian: take the metro to Etxebarri and walk to this spot: (enter the coordinates 43.235063,-2.868845 in Google maps). I got a ride there although it took 45 minutes and the cars were whizzing by.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Toward [[Santander]] ===<br />
The A8-E70 starts in downtown Bilbao. We tried there without success. Not much space for cars to stop.<br />
<br />
So instead we took the subway to the last station on the red line: Santurtzi. When you get to the Santurtzi station go to the exit that leads another small train that just takes 5 minutes, in order to take the passangers stright up to Parque Santurtzi. From there you just go down towards the water and then follow the road and it will lead to the highway entrance. We waited 10 minutes and then got a ride to santander.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Spain]]<br />
<br />
[[fr:Bilbao]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=User:Zac_Stewart&diff=58451User:Zac Stewart2012-01-14T15:42:19Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Zac sleeping in Gent, Belgium.jpg|right|thumb|266px|Camping out under my umbrella in [[Gent]].]]<br />
[[File:IMG_5336.jpg|right|thumb|266px|Zac hitchhiking out of [[Amsterdam]].]]<br />
Hi I'm Zac. I'm a big advocate of anything free. I love free food, free homes, free clothes and especially free software. It's really encouraging for me to see how quickly the open source world is expanding. Wikipedia and other sources of free information (like the Hitch Wiki!) have grown into reputable publications, Linux has become so advanced and so user friendly at the same time that it makes paying for Windows or Mac obsolete. In fact, the only part of the digital world that seems to be struggling is the copyrighted portion. To me it is proof that another, free world is not only possible, but inevitable.<br />
<br />
* Read my blog at [http://zac.apocryphalpublishing.com zac.apocryphalpublishing.com]<br />
* CouchSurf me at [http://couchsurfing.com/zacstewart zacstewart]!<br />
<br />
== Places traveled ==<br />
[[Europe]]: [[Spain]] (just [[Barcelona]]), [[France]], [[United Kingdom]] (just [[London]]), [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]].<br />
<br />
[[Africa]]: [[Morocco]]<br />
<br />
[[South America]]: [[Ecuador]]<br />
<br />
== Plans ==<br />
[[Hitchhiking Zine]]: Working on getting the first edition published. Hopefully this summer.<br />
<br />
[[Ecuador]]: Leaving for Quito on September 10. Check my [http://zac.apocryphalpublishing.com blog] for stories from the road and pictures.<br />
<br />
== Questions that I need answered ==<br />
* What am I supposed to put under "occupation" on [[immigration forms]]?<br />
: <small>Student invokes too many more questions, and college dropout invokes frowns.</small><br />
: <small>A friend of mine has "waiting for occupation", which may not be true, but who knows?</small><br />
: <small>How about "writer"?</small> <br />
: <small>Be careful that they don't interpret "writer" to be "journalist" cause that might suck too. Freelance/self employed programmer? ;) </small> <br />
* What is the cheapest way to get from [[Panama City]] to [[South America]]?<br />
you hitch all the way. boats etc. just need time. check out this guy's blogpost http://hitchtheworld.com/2010/02/13/rough-seas-rainforest-and-being-marooned-crossing-the-darien-gap/ good luck :)<br />
* How do these people I meet that say they've been traveling for about three years get past immigration without money or an employer to vouch for them?!<br />
with a credit card? they never know how much money you have on it. also the "right" nationality helps i guess..<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hitchhikers]]<br />
[[Category:Hitchhikers in the United States]]<br />
<br />
[[es:Usuario:Zac]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Lyon&diff=58139Lyon2011-12-29T20:49:27Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>__NOTOC__<br />
'''Lyon''' is a large city in southeast [[France]].<br />
<br />
The ''Autoroute du Soleil'' passes through the city, so during the summer there are huge amounts of traffic.<br />
<br />
Some hitchhikers have found Lyon easy to leave, because the motorway is so close to the city and there are plenty of spots where cars can stop. However, the city has also gained a reputation as a hitchhiking hell due to the tunnel system in '''and''' out of the city. If you are only passing through Lyon, it is best to get a ride that will take you south of Lyon.<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
<map lat='45.75135490158536' lng='4.833254814147949' zoom='15' view='0' float='right'/><br />
<br />
=== North towards [[Dijon]], [[Paris]] {{E|15}} ===<br />
* You can stop at the traffic lights on the bridge Kitchener-Marchand near Perrache. It can be better to write "Péage" (toll) or [[Villefranche]] (and then, stop at the toll or before.)<br />
* Found a [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Rue+du+Professeur+Dep%C3%A9ret&daddr=dijon&hl=fr&geocode=Fb0sugId0K9IAA%3BFe0n0gIdFPdMACl1lv3vjJ3yRzHQWBSzNM4JBA&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=13&sll=45.772073,4.790897&sspn=0.05879,0.154324&ie=UTF8&ll=45.771557,4.790294&spn=0,0.002411&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.771695,4.790451&panoid=WUVigLDlgfvZbSU7ADGAzA&cbp=12,353.24,,2,1.55 hitchhiker on Streetview!] (please someone make a screenshot before it disappears :) - Entry to A6 at Avenue Victor Hugo, looks like metro Valmy is closest, and between that station and the motorway entrance (about 1,5 km) there might be some more options.<br />
* The bridge close to metro Valmy is also really good.<br />
* You can go to the petrol station Bruyéres-Passy on the A6 North. This is a good option because it puts you already north and out of Lyon, at a petrol station right along the motorway. To get there take the metro to the stop ''Gare de Vaise''. From there catch the bus number 21 (Any bus with the number 21 will do, as this is the beginning of the route) and get off at the stop called ''Parc Sans Souci''. After you get off the bus continue walking in the direction the bus leaves (as if you were chasing it after you get off!) After about 50 meters you will hit a street called ''Rue Sans Souci'' and turn left. Continue walking following the road about 10 minutes, then turn right onto a road called ''Chemin de la Bruyere''. You should see the petrol station on the left after the Harley Davidson Warehouse/Store. There is a fence but it's usually open, otherwise jump it, it's small. The petrol station is right near a big store called Metro which you can use as a landmark if you need to ask for directions.<br />
: Jamie (a girl hitching around by herself from the states) does NOT recommend this petrol station!! It took hours to find any ride at all, and I also had to deal with some unfriendly cops. I think [http://tinypic.com/r/nxwaao/7 this graffiti] near the exit speaks for itself.<br />
* Where Tunnel de la Duchere / Rue de Bourgogne intersect. There is a great little pull-over place just after the round-about. Closest metro is Gare de Vaise. By the way, it's also good to head south (Valence, Orange, Marseille) as it can takes you to A7 as well.<br />
<br />
=== South towards [[Orange]], [[Nîmes]], [[Marseille]], [[Saint-Étienne]] {{E|15}} ===<br />
* TIP: If your final destination is in the direction of Saint-Etienne but not the city itself(i.e. Clermont Ferrand, Bordeaux, etc) then better stay at the first gas station after Lyon(Aire de Solaize) and wait for a ride taking you to a gas station that you are sure the driver goes to that is AFTER St. Etienne. After Solaize there is no other good gas station and you will be stuck with no choice but to go into the city of St. Etienne or back to Lyon. Sma tried the other gas stations and lost a whole day doing that and ending up back in Lyon in the end. The other stations after Solaize are either too small or not really on the highway so the people that go there are just going to St. Etienne and not further.<br />
<br />
* '''From near the center''': On ''Quai du Docteur Gailleton'' near ''Rue Franklin Roosvelt'' there is a bus stop which makes a great place for cars to pull over. It is very close to metro stop ''Ampère Victor Hugo'', but you can walk there easily from anywhere near the center. Getting there is very easy, follow the Rhone south on the western bank. It's a big boulevard that eventually turns into the A7 highway. When you see the blue signs (highway color), you're there. <br />There's plenty of traffic heading to [[Valence]] and [[Orange]], which is a good place to continue further East or West along the coast. Hitchhike on the left lane (cars on the right lane will then turn right...) a bit under the speed camera. <br />Quite fast you can get a ride to nearest [http://maps.hitchwiki.org/?lat=45.6504383704269&lng=4.838533401489258&zoom=15&trip=0&view=0 petrol station], which is situated 12 km south - just try hitchhiking with sign "A7 - 12km sud".<br /> Having a sign is warmly recommended, as the traffic is very divergent from there.<br />
* You also might want to try from Square Julien Gras.<br />
* Just in front of the 'Prison St-Joseph' on 'Quai Perrache' you can stand on the white-striped space between the continuing street and the lane that joins the motorway.<br />
:Very dangerous in my opinion. Heavy traffic, almost no place to stop. I was driving past there once, there was a hitch-hiker and I, of all people, didn't have sharp enough reflexes to pick him up --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
* '''Directly from a petrol station (need to ride a train)''': A petrol station on A7, south of Lyon, on the level of a town called Vernaison, is a perfect place. To get there, you should take a train heading to Vernaison at gare de Perrache (3.20€, three hour frequency). At Vernaison you cross the river (there are two bridges and an island between). Once on the other site of the river, turn left (north)and walk for a few kilometers Walk on the no-man's land between the motorway and some firm's fenced property; don't try to use the way behind the property. The distance from Vernaison train station to the petrol station is not the shortest one, but once you are there, you are really inside the motorway network, so it's worth the effort. [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=209328237440358599248.0004aef5513d637811a59 Description]<br />
<br />
=== Getting onto [[A46 (France)|A46]] (Lyon Bypass) ===<br />
There's a big service area on the Lyon bypass (''Contournement de Lyon'') motorway. There are two petrol stations, one on each side of the road. This is located to the south of the urban area. Directions are: <br />
* ''Southbound''<br />
** A7 – Marseille, [[Montpellier]]<br />
** A47 – [[Saint Etienne]]<br />
* ''Northbound''<br />
** A6 – [[Dijon]], [[Paris]]<br />
** A42 – [[Geneva|Genève]]<br />
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1,+chemin+du+tram,+communay,+france&sll=45.594822,4.837589&sspn=0.048647,0.101967&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=45.591849,4.826775&spn=0.012162,0.039568&t=k&om=1 The place on the map]<br />
<br />
There's one bus going to ''Communay'', the closest village, the bus #179 From "Rond point Darilly" (Métro "Parilly"), but it goes 7 times a day on workdays and 4 times the day on week-ends. there's several stops in the village. You can check out the timetable [http://www.rhone.fr/file/idocumentsattaches/transport/lr_ligne_179.pdf here]. <br />
If you missed it there's a bus #39 from metro ''Venissieux'', but goes only until ''Solaize'', 5 km closer to the center on road D307/N7, leading to the motorway. The station is about 1 km south from the interchange. The service-stations are sealed off from the normal road but at least for the northbound spot, you can easily climb over the fence. Finding a hitch here is very easy. If you know how to get here, it is definitely worth the hustle.<br />
<br />
Marché de Gros is situated in the very south of the Saone peninsula. Coming from "Rue Casimir Périer" You reach a street alongside A7 with lots of cars going to the the motorway. Vasy there, a lot of stop-and-go. I stood for 2h near the train station "Lyon-Perrache" and then 5 min there. <br />
<br />
A petrol station on the A6 North near Limonest is potentially good. (see above)<br />
<br />
:''It's only information I found on the net, I didn't verify it since I was dropped off at the station by someone heading '''to''' the city, but got a ride in about 1/2 hour (In Nov 2006)'' --[[User:Daniel|Daniel]] 20:21, 13 January 2007 (CET)<br />
<br />
=== Getting onto A42 - Direction Bourg-en-Bresse, [[Geneva|Genève]], [[Germany]] ===<br />
<br />
Bus 171 will take you to the village of Montluel. It runs around every hour (time table from the [http://tcl.fr/index.asp?page=horaires&etape=3&Date=2010|03|27&Line=171|Pont%20Guilloti%E8re%20-%20Cr%E9pieux%20Les%20Brosses%20(Montluel)|16|tcl171|Pont%20Guillotiere%20RD%20vers%20Crepieux%20Les%20Brosses|Crepieux%20Les%20Brosses%20vers%20Pont%20Guillotiere%20RD|1|Bus&DateFinBases=2010|5|1&DateMajBases=????|??|??&StopArea=1467|tcl5046|H%F4tel%20de%20Ville%20-%20Louis%20Pradel|Lyon%201er&submit=Valider&Direction=1 tcl.fr]. Attention, the bus stop for "hotel de ville" is actually on the banks of the river Rhone. From the hotel de ville (the actual building) walk towards the river (east) to find it. The ride costs 2€.<br />
<br />
In Montluel, go down at the train station. (The bus trip takes 50 min) Then walk direction Pérouges, turn right to direction of Niévroz. You cross under the railway and over the motorway. Looking to the left you see the petrol station you are heading for. The whole way to walk takes about 10-20min. See the place here: [http://maps.google.de/maps?f=d&hl=de&geocode=1972572113067456031,45.845405,5.070403&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=45.842912,5.07122&daddr=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=45.845363,5.062466&sspn=0.026786,0.080338&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1]<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Chambery]], [[Grenoble]], [[Geneva]] {{E|70}} ===<br />
<br />
There is an [[on-ramp]] in Lyon where you can hitch straight onto the motorway to Geneva (A43/ E70). There is a roundabout and a bike-lane where cars can stop for you. Take the metro Line D to Mermoz and walk to Rue Lionel Terray. You'll find a sign for [[Geneva]] here (see also a [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=Bron+&sll=45.688914,4.886169&sspn=0.505556,0.883026&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bron,+Rh%C3%B4ne,+Rh%C3%B4ne-Alpes,+Frankrijk&ll=45.730844,4.887159&spn=0,359.997253&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.730349,4.887796&panoid=18XTMoZRWgo7hU2KAFWmew&cbp=12,78.29,,0,12.14 Streetview]).<br />
Tell them to drop you off at the petrol station in St. Priest (Station service in french) and get a ride from there.<br />
<br />
=== Northeast toward [[Bourg en Bresse]], [[Dijon]], [[Geneva]] {{E|611}} A42 ===<br />
<br />
Bus 171 from "Hotel de ville" next to river in Lyon (dep at hours 03/33, weekend only 33), brings you close to a petrol-station on the motorway. It departs near the opera on Quai Jean moulin and takes about 45 mins (2 euros one way). It goes through some small French villages and along the way lots of big supermarkets in case you need food.<br />
<br />
Leave the bus at Montluel train station which is the second last. You will see the train station when you pass, so don't panic. Trains are faster and have to be taken from the main station in Lyon.<br />
<br />
Get off and turn right, cross under the railway tracks. Then you will enter the industrial area in Montluel. Find Rue des Chartinières to cross the motorway. Once you crossed the bridge, turn left and follow the road close to the motorway. There is a small space to enter the petrol station, only for pedestrians, behind the little house at the end of the parking lot. <br />
<br />
Cars go all directions in France from here, including with Dutch and Germans number plates going via Dijon. Halfway before the road splits in direction Geneva and Dijon (after about 30km) there is a parking and after the split another petrol station at Ceignes.<br />
<br />
== Public transport ==<br />
You can black-ride the metro, just go in quickly after someone. Not sure about bus or tram. Alternatively look for used tickets left around by people. The tickets can be used up to an hour after they were validated. Tickets also work for all public transport in the city.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping ==<br />
The parks on ''Fourvière Hill'' in ''Vieux Lyon'' are peaceful at night and if you are too, no one will bother you for [[camping]] out there. It's nearby, but it feels so far outside of the city that you can get a relaxing night of sleep without worrying about police or thieves. It is however quite difficult to find a flat place there.<br />
<br />
[[trash:Lyon]]<br />
{{IsIn|Rhône-Alpes}}<br />
{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
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[[Category:France]]<br />
[[Category:E15]]<br />
[[Category:E70]]<br />
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[[de:Lyon]]<br />
[[es:Lyon]]<br />
[[fr:Lyon]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Paris&diff=57771Paris2011-12-08T13:49:18Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
<map lat='48.83398957668602' lng='2.34283447265625' zoom='10' view='0' float='right'/><br />
'''Paris''' is the capital of [[France]]. It is situated within a ring road called ''le périphérique'', or ''le périph''. The actual city is actually small but is surrounded by endless suburbs, some of them being linked to the urban public transportation system at no extra cost, and some other being labelled as outside zones and thus more expensive to reach.<br />
<br />
Note that there is an "outer ring road" to the Paris suburb area, motorway A86 (or ''super-périphérique'') and another wider ring called "la Francillienne" which isn't completed but still used to connect . If your ride is not going to Paris itself, you might want to clarify which ring they are going to take as it may affect the place where you'd want to be dropped.<br />
<br />
__TOC__<br />
<br />
== Hitching In ==<br />
<br />
During rush hours, it is possible (but illegal) to be quickly dropped on the ring road. This is useful if your ride is not willing to get out of it to drop you (which is often the case). Within the ring area, you are definitely linked to the whole regular fare subway system. <br />
<br />
If you are coming from the Northeast and your ride is heading South (which is a normal truck route), chances are that your driver will not drop you on the ring road where it is complicated to stop. A frequent place to get dropped is the first exit South on the A6 called "Rungis". From there, you can reach the Metropolitan subway system with one ticket, then use one to your final destination. You can also reach other suburbs in the 94 department (Val de Marne) taking the TvM bus, which is also a normal Paris ticket.<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
There are plenty of excellent spots for hitchhiking North (''Aire La Courneuve''), East ([[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] and ''[[péage|barrières de péage]]'') and also South (''Aire de Lisses''). It's all about how much you are willing to pay in public transportation, and how daring you are.<br />
<br />
=== Northeast towards [[Lille]] and [[Belgium]] ===<br />
<br />
These are classified by cost in public transportation from Paris' centre.<br />
<br />
==== Porte de la Chapelle ====<br />
<br />
This option costs one local ticket. Porte de la Chapelle is where the [[A1 (France)|A1]] starts. Local drivers say they often see hitchhikers there. To get there take a metro 12 to ''Porte de la Chapelle'', then walk to the roundabout. You can try getting a ride on the roundabout (there are traffic lights, which means that cars have to stop) or you can stand on the opposite side facing the roundabout where the motorway starts. Another good option is to start hitchhiking in the same street where the metro is. There are 2 petrol stations in that very street, just 50m deeper into the city. They aren't overcrowded, and at the same time quite a few cars going up the North stop here for refill; nonetheless, at such places much is depended on your luck, and according to some hitchhikers this place won't make to the TOP10 best hitchhiking places in France. It is therefore rather recommended to hitchhike at the roundabout where a quiet lane right by the traffic lights gives you a good opportunity to get onto the motorway (avoiding at the same time all the traffic that heads for ''Boulevard Periphique'').<br />
<br />
'''THIS MOTORWAY ENTRANCE IS NOT CURRENTLY OPEN DUE TO TUNNEL RECONSTRUCTION'''... Reopening is scheduled in summer 2012. There's an entrance still in operation, for the cars coming from the Peripherique (ring highway), so the traffic coming from inside Paris is diverted through Porte d'Aubervilliers (the next Ring entrance east). You can get there taking the "PC" bus from Porte de la Chapelle east or from Porte de la Vilette west. There's a roundabout with traffic lights and cars going to A1 take the outer ring entrance ("Périphérique extérieur"). Frequent traffic jams (which may also be helpful), and this access might be closed too on evenings, nights and weekends.<br />
<br />
==== Aire La Courneuve ====<br />
<br />
[[File:Masaru.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Masaru at ''Aire La Courneuve'']]<br />
<br />
'''WARNING: This gas station is closed and under construction. There are NO cars at all stopping by here.''' Apart from being really hard to get to, if you go to this spot you will just end up hitching on the highway. And that is really really hard to do. And going back up out of the highway is also really hard with a big backpack and rain/wet leaves. Not sure how long until they finish work here but it`s gonna take a while. (20 November 2011)<br />
<br />
This option costs one local ticket or zones 1-3 ticket (EUR 2.45). The petrol station [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&hl=es&geocode=5837971829389385952,48.934623,2.393732%3B3201522175225020794,48.920638,2.410383&saddr=Aire+de+Service+de+La+Courneuve+%4048.934790,+2.393710&daddr=&mra=mr&sll=48.918269,2.403388&sspn=0.013649,0.040169&ie=UTF8&ll=48.933157,2.396951&spn=0.006823,0.020084&t=k&z=16&om=1is ''Aire de Service de La Courneuve''] is about 2 km along the A1, north of Paris. <br />
<br />
<br />
First, get closer by public transport. Some options are:<br />
* Bus 150 from ''Porte de la Villette'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (next to the motorway)<br />
* Bus 250 from ''Fort d'Aubervilliers'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (the quickest way?)<br />
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=La+Courneuve+Aubervilliers&daddr=Rue+Paul+Verlaine,+93120+La+Courneuve,+Seine-Saint-Denis,+Ile-de-France,+Frankreich&sll=48.926137,2.394161&sspn=0.01892,0.040169&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=48.928026,2.388539&spn=0.018919,0.040169&z=15&om=1 ''La Courneuve Aubervilliers''] (RER B), and walk 2 km north along ''Boulevard Pasteur''. You can catch this train from ''Gare du Nord''. This option requires a '''1-3 zones ticket''', without this ticket you will have to jump over the turnstyles to get out of the station of your destination (or talk your way out or closely follow someone else with a valid ticket).<br />
<br />
Read this carefully because if you don't, it can be hard to find it and the local people definately won't know where this is or how to get there by foot! Once at the ''Parc des Sports'' bus stop, you can see the main road if you look in the driving direction of the bus. This is the road you want to follow to the east. Basically you just walk to the right from the bus stop in the driving direction, without ever passing under the road. Follow the road and walk east parallel to the motorway. There is a wall preventing access to the motorway, but if you continue walking a few hundred metres east and up a slight hill, the wall ends. You can then follow a steep, thorny path full of nettles down towards the motorway and back west towards the petrol station. There is a fence right along the motorway, but near the petrol station it has been trampled down and you can step over it.<br />
<br />
Other ways to get to that petrol station:<br />
* Take a RER B to ''Stade de France'' and then walk up to the final traffic light where you can ask for a ride to ''Aire La Courneuve''.<br />
* Lastly, one can take a line 13 to ''Carrefour Pleyel'' and then walk along ''Boulevard Anatole France'' (see [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Carrefour+Pleyel+station,+France&daddr=charles+de+gaulle&sll=48.927631,2.383518&sspn=0.027124,0.080338&ie=UTF8&ll=48.923881,2.358456&spn=0.013563,0.040169&t=h&z=15&om=1 Google Maps]) up until the beginning of the motorway. There is a hitchhiking spot there which might be not the greatest one in the world but at least it can lead you to the petrol station (after Exit 4!).<br />
<br />
From the petrol station, most drivers are only going to the airport or local communities. You should ask for a lift at least to the [[toll station]] (''péage'') heading north. This is a 20-minute drive down the motorway and everyone has to stop here. It is a great place to get long-distance rides.<br />
<br />
==== Charles de Gaulle ====<br />
''Charles de Gaulle'' airport can be an option for hitching North-East, although waiting times might vary a lot.<br />
<br />
==== Service station at Survilliers ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 4 euros, which is the cost of a ticket for zones 1-5. The peage is 35 km North of Paris, near the town of Survilliers.<br />
<br />
From Paris, take RER D (Chatelet-les-halles or Gare du Nord), direction Orry la Ville - Coye. Get off the train at Survilliers-Fosses (35 KM North of Paris). Walk down Rue de la Gare towards Survilliers town centre, then turn right at La Grande Rue; you will find the motorway. Once there, you can hitchhike from the motorway exit towards the gas station 2KM from here (Paris direction). When you arrive, you take the local road to cross over to the opposite service station to head North.<br />
<br />
==== Senlis Péage ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 9 euros (25% discount under 26) + a local ticket to Gare du Nord. The peage is 50 km North of Paris, near the town of Senlis. <br />
<br />
Senlis has no train station, but you still buy the ticket from a train station. From Paris Nord, go to Chantilly and switch to a bus to Senlis at the "gare routière" right outside of Chantilly's train station with your ticket. Once there, you need to walk a little and you'll find a "péage" (motorway payment station - people have to stop to take a ticket). The bus driver gave me the directions. This should take around one hour.<br />
<br />
=== A4 East, towards [[Metz]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]], etc ===<br />
<br />
==== Going directly to the ''barrière de péage'' ====<br />
<br />
''This one is the most expensive, longest but takes you the furthest to a great pickup spot. Might be a good choice when you don't speak french. Maybe not so good at night.''<br />
<br />
Take RER A4 to the last stop (''Marne-La-Vallee - Chessy''). The train journey length is around 40 minutes (EUR 6 something). Take the bus number 59 (doesn't operate on Sundays, the ticket costs around 2 Euro) which leaves from the bus stop next to the RER train station at ''Eurodisney'','' Marne-La-Vallee'' ([http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/6759.11.html timetable 2008 here]). It takes ten minutes to arrive at the “Truffaut” gardening centre which is beside the péage (stop Coutevroult - Truffaut). From there, walk back a bit and go through what seems to be a police station's parking area and is called "voie de service" on the map - you will get to the green area right outside the péage - and you won't need to jump any of the fences! From this ''barrière de péage'' it is easy to get rides to [[Metz]] or even straight to [[Germany]]. You might meet people (gendarmes or motorway staff) in that "voie de service" - even if they try to talk you out of it, remember ''it is allowed'' to hitchhike ''in the car park'' by the peage.<br />
<br />
Attention, the bus 59 runs every hour. It is usually timed to start 5 min after the arrival of the RER so hurry yourself up from the train. Follow the signs "gare routière" (bus station). If bus 59 doesn't start before 30 min, consider using bus 34 (see bellow).<br />
<br />
If you decide to hitch from this péage on Sunday you can take the bus no. 34 (EUR 1.60, [http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/5134.20.html timetable]) to bus stop "Bailly-Romainvilliers - Place de l'Europe" , then walk for about 2kilometers. You will soon see the motorway A4 and péage. Here's the [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=bailly+romainvilliers+place+de+l%27europe&daddr=48.853562,2.839065&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&dirflg=w&sll=48.850992,2.833614&sspn=0.012962,0.027637&ie=UTF8&z=15 route].<br />
<br />
The ''barrière de péage'' is located [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&saddr=48.854077,2.83959&daddr=&hl=es&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=48.853788,2.839912&sspn=0.003586,0.009656&ie=UTF8&ll=48.850258,2.830095&spn=0.014346,0.038624&t=h&z=15 here].<br />
<br />
==== Via petrol station ====<br />
<br />
''Quite long trip and a bit expensive. Takes you to a great gas station. better if you speak french and good day-and-night.''<br />
<br />
The first petrol station is close to RER A station ''Bussy St.Georges''.<br />
<br />
''You can also try to catch a bus to Bussy St George nr.4 or nr.44 from the metro station ''Gutenberg''.''<br />
<br />
From this station walk South for about 1 km along a bigger road which will lead you to a roundabout. You can try hitchhiking from there but the needed petrol station will be just a bit more than 2 km from there. You can walk on the grass field next to the motorway. The petrol station is called ''La Ferrière''. Another option to reach this petrol station is to walk through the industrial zone of ''Bussy'' area, to the South of the railway, then reach the bridge over the motorway and follow further by walking on the grass until the actual petrol station (note that as of February 2011, there was a nice-sized fence to hop after crossing the bridge. nothing too difficult, but a big pack makes it harder!). Most of the walk will be on the road which means you will save some time while at the same time such a walk won't be so annoying if you happen to hitchhike in winter (then you apparently don't wanna go through the fields). You can follow [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=gare,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&daddr=chemin+de+la+rue+pavee,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&sll=48.831899,2.723193&sspn=0.01291,0.040169&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=48.831814,2.726369&spn=0.01291,0.040169&t=h&om=0 this route] on Google Maps.<br />
<br />
==== Onramp to the motorway ====<br />
''This one is close to Paris, faster and cheaper to get to, but still in the megapolis. Starting from there, you're likely to end up either on the gas station described above or at the Péage described ab-above. Not good at night.''<br />
<br />
Take the RER Line A (Red) in direction of ''Boissy St Legere'' until the station ''Nogent Sur Marne'' (EUR 2.70 (2010-11). Leave the station in direction of ''Rue Joinville'' and follow the sign to the A4. It is a 30 min walk. There is a red light before the onramp. Lots of traffic, possibility to stop on the ramp for brave drivers.<br />
<br />
Ask if your driver can take you at least to the next petrol station which is within the free motorway network. Toll gate is a bit further.<br />
<br />
=== Getting South or Southwest (A6, A10 or A11) ===<br />
<br />
These spots are close enough to the city to be getting traffic in all southern directions.<br />
<br />
==== Porte d'Orléans ====<br />
<br />
Once the most famous hitchhiking spot in France, this spot isn't bad nowadays, but it isn't great either. The good thing is that drivers aren't surprised to see people there, and that you don't need to get out of Paris in faraway suburbs. <br />
<br />
''Porte d'Orléans'' is the terminal subway station of line 4. There is an entry on the ''périphérique'' ring road where lots of people are later heading South. The best place is besides the "Novotel" building or (better) opposite it at the traffic lights. Be warned, traffic here is heavy and fast moving. If you have much baggage or more than one person I would not fancy your chances here. Waiting at the petrol station or even the adjacent war memorial will not give you the best traffic. <br />
<br />
Make sure to specify with a sign specifying that you go to [[Orléans]] (if you are heading Southwest - A10 or A11), and that the driver will leave you at least at the "péage de Saint Arnoult". If you are heading directly South, have a sign for Lyon and make sure to be left at ''Aire de Lisses'', roughly 35 km further, a little bit after Evry (drivers to Evry are not enough for you).<br />
<br />
When I was here in Sept 2011 many hitcher came and later went to get a train a local train to an outlying town because they had no luck.<br />
<br />
Whenever a diplomat travels between Paris and the Orly airport, he'll go through here. Which means that there will be police presence. The police doesn't care about you, but it is very unlikely anyone will stop while they are around. That happens often enough. They stick around for one hour.<br />
<br />
For more personal opinions and experiences check the [[Talk:Paris|talk page]].<br />
<br />
==== Porte d'Italie ====<br />
<br />
Similarly ''Porte d'Italie'' which is not far from ''Porte d'Orleans'' is a good place to hitch from. Additionally if you walk down the exit there at the traffic lights there is an overhead bypass which can keep you dry in the rain.<br />
'''<br />
<br />
'''!! The A6b road connecting Porte d'italie and A6 is closed until autumn 2011 for tunnel reconstruction. All the traffic is diverted through Porte d'Orleans or other roads.''''''<br />
<br />
=== A6 South to [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], [[Barcelona]], [[Italy]] ===<br />
<br />
==== Aire de Lisses ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 5,85 euros, a zone 1-5 ticket and takes roughly 1h15. '''Aire de Lisses''' is the first service area on the A6, situated about 35 km South of Paris. It can save you time because you avoid all outbound traffic not really heading your direction, being after all the branch-offs.<br />
<br />
Get the RER D towards Melun via Corbeil. Be careful to get on the right train as there are 2 routes for RER D towards Melun. As of 2010-02, the ID of the train you need was "ZIPE" or "ZOPO" (All trains on RER lines have a 4 letter ID depending on stations served). If it's too confusing (it's very confusing), get whatever train that goes to "Corbeil Essonne" and, from there, whatever train that goes to Melun. Get off at the station '''Villabé''', the second after Corbeil-Essonnes. The station is not marked on Google Maps but don't worry, it's there: [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Rue+d%27Ambreville,+91100+Villab%C3%A9,+Franciaorsz%C3%A1g&daddr=48.592221,2.443964&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&dirflg=w&sll=48.592959,2.44184&sspn=0.005947,0.013604&ie=UTF8&ll=48.592959,2.452869&spn=0.023786,0.054417&z=14 ''the way from Villabé RER station to Aire de Lisses'']<br />
<br />
It's a very good spot.<br />
<br />
==== Aire de Nemours ====<br />
<br />
You can take a train to Nemours Saint Pierre (transilien R from Gare de Lyon) and walk 45min to the service area ( http://tinyurl.com/2bs24sf ). Then you're already on a paying section (no local traffic), far out from Paris (80km), and can get a ride to Châlon, Mâcon or Lyon in a few minutes.<br />
<br />
=== A10 South to [[Orléans|Orleans]], [[Bordeaux]], [[Spain]] ===<br />
<br />
This motorway follows the route of the '''A6''' (see above) from Paris, and splits afterwards near [[Antony]]/[[Rungis]]. The first [[péage]] in that direction is St-Arnoult, 40 km Southwest of Paris, before the splitting of A10 and A11. There are no service station directly on the motorway before the péage.<br />
<br />
==== Massy Palaiseau ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 2,95 euros, a 1-4 zones ticket. This option is useful to get out of the rings and get directly on the A10 after all the branch-offs.<br />
<br />
Take the RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau''. From there, follow the motoway signs for the A10. There are two options: take a bus from the massive transport lot beside ''Massy-Palaiseau'' station or walk down a motorway ramp nearby. <br />
<br />
'''Motorway ramp option''': Go down the ''Avenue Carnot'' along the ''Massy-Palaiseau'' railway, towards the ''autoroute''. After a while there you will see a long stretch of a road with lots of space for cars. Keep going and you will reach a roundabout. If you keep following this road, you will reach a motorway exit underneath a bridge. Make sure to get a ride to the first ''barrière de péage'' (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or to the Briis-sous-Forges service station 5 km down the road. <br />
<br />
'''Bus Option''': The first petrol station is situated near the village called ''Briis-sous-Forges''. To get there you need to take either RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau'' From there take the bus 91.03 to ''Briis-sous-Forges''. It runs about 3 times an hour on weekdays, once an hour on Saturdays, and there are no buses on Sundays. The petrol station is situated a couple of kms North from the village. To reach it you will need to find ''Route d'Invilliers'', a small local road. Once you are there, make sure your driver takes the right road as the A11 starts not far away. It's not easy to find the road to the gas station. no one in this village knows what street he is living in let alone that route you're looking for. They don't even know that there's a gas station in the area. write the instructions and study the map!! I was lost in this village for couple of hours.<br />
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=D131&daddr=Aire+de+Service+de+Limours-Janvry&geocode=FT3X5QIdxnEgAA%3BFZke5gIdK7wgAA&hl=en&mra=ltm&dirflg=w&sll=48.64455,2.16575&sspn=0.115917,0.338173&ie=UTF8&ll=48.626839,2.135124&spn=0.028989,0.084543&t=h&z=14 Briis-sous-Forges to the gas station map]<br />
<br />
[http://maps.google.fr/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.739447,2.302011&spn=0.001638,0.003455&t=h&z=18 this one] (good enough one, according to some hitchhikers).<br />
<br />
=== A11 South-West to [[Le Mans]], [[Nantes]], [[Rennes]] and all parts of [[Bretagne|Brittany]] ===<br />
[[File:Zoe.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hitchhiker Zoe in Paris during the [[project 888|888]] event]]<br />
This motorway splits from the A10 near ''Dourdan''. There are several possibilities go get on this motorway: <br />
<br />
# The petrol station at ''Briis-sous-Forges''. Look at the A10 section's options.<br />
# Take the train from ''Paris-Montparnasse'' to ''Chartres'' (EUR 12) and start hitching from there. You might want to go to the service station ''Chartres-Gasville'' on the A11 east of ''Chartres'' (bus plus one hour walk!). From the train station, take one of many [http://www.filibus.fr/pages/55 buses] that stop at the ''Morard'' station. Here starts bus 12, take it and get off at ''N.Conté'' - some minutes before you arrive there, memorize the route: the bus croses the motorway, and comes to a big roundabout where it turns right and continues to a second small roundabout to turn right again to arrive at ''N.Conté''. Now comes 1 hour of walk: go back to the big roundabout and turn right (east) to follow the N10 until you come to a small city. There you encounter the next roundabout, where you turn left. Follow the street, it bends to the right and ends on the ''Rue du Bois Paris'' where you turn left (north). After 500 meters comes the motorway, continue until you have crossed it. The service station is 400 meters east, so try to pass through the trees on your right and follow the street to the service station.<br />
<br />
== Paris public transport ==<br />
Public transport in Paris consists of a metro (lines from number 1 to 14), RER (fast trains serving the suburbs with relatively few inner city stops, lines from letter A to E), buses (lines from number 20 to ...?) and trams (lines from T1 to T4). If you want to make a few voyages, the cheapest option is to buy a carnet of 10 single tickets (12,50 euros instead of 1,70 each - July 2011). You can travel to the end of RER lines for about 15 euros. If you stay in Paris for several days and will use transport often you can also buy a pass "Mobilis" for one or several days (EUR 5.90 for one day inside Paris) - it is valid on metro, RER and ground transportation. If you stay for a week or more - consider geting a "passe Navigo découverte", which is a chargeable card with picture (5 euros to make). You can then buy a weekly ticket for EUR 17.20. Note that this replaces the former "Carte Orange". All prices as of Winter 2010.<br />
<br />
You can blackride easily, just check for uniformed controllers before you pass the gates. The easiest way to get in on RER or Metro is to find the entrace where there are doors for people with big luggage. This way you can easily pass with them, several people at a time, no problem. Alternatively you can jump the tunstile if you are fast enough and hold the door thing open after someone has passed. It is quite easy to ask people to go in with them through the baggage gate but also you can just follow without asking. If you do get caught just give your ID and no address. They will ask if you have a french address and you say no. You don't have to sign anything they give you. They should give you a piece of paper with a fine written on it, but since there is no address don't worry.<br />
<br />
=== Metro system ===<br />
Ticket checks never occur on actual metro trains, and ticket controllers seem to employ 1 of 2 approaches: first one includes ticket controllers forming a line inside a metro tunnel or station exit and checking all the exiting travelers (since they are uniformed it is easy to see them from a distance unless they decide to hide around the corner); second one involves civil-dressed controllers watching the gates and busting those jumping over - they'll either stop them directly themselves, or radio-report to uniformed controllers who then will ask a stopped person to show a valid ticket. <br />
<br />
Checks are said never to occur during rush hours; peak times for these controls are evenings, weekends and the beginning of a new month. Except for the major stations, it is pretty easy to jump over the barriers, or pass through following other people passing to the ticket-zone. Only on major stations one is required to have a validated ticket when exiting. As in some other countries, one can be relax about the ticket booth staff since they have nothing to do with ticket checks.<br />
<br />
=== RER system ===<br />
Uniformed controllers will ask for validated tickets on trains, and since the RER shares the metro infrastructure, you might be a subject to the checks in similar order mentioned above. It is possible to travel for free, even though you stand a higher chance of being busted. It seems that checks can occur at any time, so the best time to travel for free is a rush hour when controls are impossible due to congestion. The highest risk of being checked seems to occur on transfer stations from RER to metro stations. There are 2 big ones, Chatelet and Gare du nord. If there is control at one of them, try the other. At Gare du nord it seems the luggage entrance is a little more hidden than at Chatelet so even if there are controllers you can probably pass quickly if there are lots of people around. On some RER stations that are also train stations controllers wait in the tunnels when you go down to change between platforms. <br />
<br />
You often need your ticket to get out of the stations, as price varies according to the distance. Make sure not to lose it as it can be tricky to get out otherwise.<br />
<br />
=== Buses ===<br />
Like in most cities of France, you can walk onto the bus without showing or validating a ticket. Checks are said to be rare, and occur mainly late at night.<br />
<br />
=== Fines and punishments ===<br />
French transport police won't make any exceptions for foreigners. Although it is said it might be possible to talk them out of fining a "dumb tourist" they are mainly hostile. Most commonly they will ask for a 40 euro fine which can be paid directly in cash or by credit card. Alternatively you can plead poverty, and if you show a valid ID they will post a fine to the address and the name written on ID.<br />
<br />
=== Going to ''Charles de Gaulle''/''Roissy'' airport ===<br />
Bus line 350 goes to ''Gare de l'Est'', and line 351 - to ''Place de la Nation''. You're supposed to validate 3 tickets (which is a lot cheaper than travelling by RER); checks are said rare to occur.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping in Paris ==<br />
[[File:888_signs.jpg|thumb|240px|right|A small collection of the "Paris" signs for the [[Project 888]] where over 150 hitchhikers gathered and camped in front of the Eiffel Tower.]]<br />
[[Hospitality exchange#Hospitality exchange networks|Hospitality exchange]] networks can be a great choice when staying low-budget in Paris. However, one must plan usually such staying well ahead since Paris is a popular destination for many backpackers, and many hospitality exchange networks' members are usually overloaded with requests to have guests.<br />
<br />
It is also possible to sleep in the ''Champs de Mars'' in front of the Eiffel Tower - police generally lets you sleep until 9 or 10 in the morning. There are many trees that offer you a protection in case of a rain. You can also put up a tent (at night) in a discrete spot although keep in mind that police officers will wake you up around the sunrise. You can also sleep under the bridge at the Seine river on the other side of the Eiffel Tower. During the first European Hitchhikers Week ([[project 888|888]]) around 50 people slept in front of the Eiffel Tower.<br />
<br />
There are also good places to sleep in the tunnels of Montsouris, which are part of old railway network. It is a hidden place, and maybe the most well-known unofficial entrance to the famous Paris Catacombs. You must climb over a wall near the intersection of Avenue Jean Moulin and Rue de Coulmiers ([http://is.gd/hC1Px Google maps]). Be advised that you should not enter the Catacombs alone or without a person who has a lot of experience climbing around the Paris underground. It is an extremely complicated system of tunnels, perhaps the second largest in the world. In many rooms of the Catacombs you can find a luxury of places to sleep, but you can just as easily get lost in areas where nobody has been or will go for months.<br />
<br />
== Free Showers ==<br />
[http://www.paris.fr/pratique/Portal.lut?document_id=8972&document_type_id=5&page_id=5458&portlet_id=11757 Here] you can find a map of places where you can have free showers in Paris. It seems that the closing times mon-wed are 17.30 instead of 18.00 as it writes on the website. Also you should get there 30 min before the closing time or you will not be allowed inside. So get there before 17.00. They are great! :)<br />
<br />
<br />
== Useful links ==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.ratp.fr/ Public transportation of Paris]<br />
* [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ Trains and regional transports], ticket agency<br />
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[[nl:Parijs]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Paris&diff=57461Paris2011-11-21T12:55:54Z<p>Smaua: </p>
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<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
<map lat='48.83398957668602' lng='2.34283447265625' zoom='10' view='0' float='right'/><br />
'''Paris''' is the capital of [[France]]. It is situated within a ring road called ''le périphérique'', or ''le périph''. The actual city is actually small but is surrounded by endless suburbs, some of them being linked to the urban public transportation system at no extra cost, and some other being labelled as outside zones and thus more expensive to reach.<br />
<br />
Note that there is an "outer ring road" to the Paris suburb area, motorway A86 (or ''super-périphérique'') and another wider ring called "la Francillienne" which isn't completed but still used to connect . If your ride is not going to Paris itself, you might want to clarify which ring they are going to take as it may affect the place where you'd want to be dropped.<br />
<br />
__TOC__<br />
<br />
== Hitching In ==<br />
<br />
During rush hours, it is possible (but illegal) to be quickly dropped on the ring road. This is useful if your ride is not willing to get out of it to drop you (which is often the case). Within the ring area, you are definitely linked to the whole regular fare subway system. <br />
<br />
If you are coming from the Northeast and your ride is heading South (which is a normal truck route), chances are that your driver will not drop you on the ring road where it is complicated to stop. A frequent place to get dropped is the first exit South on the A6 called "Rungis". From there, you can reach the Metropolitan subway system with one ticket, then use one to your final destination. You can also reach other suburbs in the 94 department (Val de Marne) taking the TvM bus, which is also a normal Paris ticket.<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
There are plenty of excellent spots for hitchhiking North (''Aire La Courneuve''), East ([[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] and ''[[péage|barrières de péage]]'') and also South (''Aire de Lisses''). It's all about how much you are willing to pay in public transportation, and how daring you are.<br />
<br />
=== Northeast towards [[Lille]] and [[Belgium]] ===<br />
<br />
These are classified by cost in public transportation from Paris' centre.<br />
<br />
==== Porte de la Chapelle ====<br />
<br />
This option costs one local ticket. Porte de la Chapelle is where the [[A1 (France)|A1]] starts. Local drivers say they often see hitchhikers there. To get there take a metro 12 to ''Porte de la Chapelle'', then walk to the roundabout. You can try getting a ride on the roundabout (there are traffic lights, which means that cars have to stop) or you can stand on the opposite side facing the roundabout where the motorway starts. Another good option is to start hitchhiking in the same street where the metro is. There are 2 petrol stations in that very street, just 50m deeper into the city. They aren't overcrowded, and at the same time quite a few cars going up the North stop here for refill; nonetheless, at such places much is depended on your luck, and according to some hitchhikers this place won't make to the TOP10 best hitchhiking places in France. It is therefore rather recommended to hitchhike at the roundabout where a quiet lane right by the traffic lights gives you a good opportunity to get onto the motorway (avoiding at the same time all the traffic that heads for ''Boulevard Periphique'').<br />
<br />
'''THIS MOTORWAY ENTRANCE IS NOT CURRENTLY OPEN DUE TO TUNNEL RECONSTRUCTION'''... Reopening is scheduled in summer 2012. There's an entrance still in operation, for the cars coming from the Peripherique (ring highway), so the traffic coming from inside Paris is diverted through Porte d'Aubervilliers (the next Ring entrance east). You can get there taking the "PC" bus from Porte de la Chapelle east or from Porte de la Vilette west. There's a roundabout with traffic lights and cars going to A1 take the outer ring entrance ("Périphérique extérieur"). Frequent traffic jams (which may also be helpful), and this access might be closed too on evenings, nights and weekends.<br />
<br />
==== Aire La Courneuve ====<br />
<br />
[[File:Masaru.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Masaru at ''Aire La Courneuve'']]<br />
This option costs one local ticket or zones 1-3 ticket (EUR 2.45). The petrol station [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&hl=es&geocode=5837971829389385952,48.934623,2.393732%3B3201522175225020794,48.920638,2.410383&saddr=Aire+de+Service+de+La+Courneuve+%4048.934790,+2.393710&daddr=&mra=mr&sll=48.918269,2.403388&sspn=0.013649,0.040169&ie=UTF8&ll=48.933157,2.396951&spn=0.006823,0.020084&t=k&z=16&om=1is ''Aire de Service de La Courneuve''] is about 2 km along the A1, north of Paris. <br />
<br />
<br />
WARNiNG: This gas station is closed and under construction. There are NO cars at all stopping by here. If you go to this spot you will just end up hitching on the highway. And that is really really hard to do. And going back up out of the highway is also really hard with a big backpack and rain/wet leaves. Not sure how long until they finish work here but it`s gonna take a while. (20 November 2011)<br />
<br />
First, get closer by public transport. Some options are:<br />
* Bus 150 from ''Porte de la Villette'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (next to the motorway)<br />
* Bus 250 from ''Fort d'Aubervilliers'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (the quickest way?)<br />
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=La+Courneuve+Aubervilliers&daddr=Rue+Paul+Verlaine,+93120+La+Courneuve,+Seine-Saint-Denis,+Ile-de-France,+Frankreich&sll=48.926137,2.394161&sspn=0.01892,0.040169&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=48.928026,2.388539&spn=0.018919,0.040169&z=15&om=1 ''La Courneuve Aubervilliers''] (RER B), and walk 2 km north along ''Boulevard Pasteur''. You can catch this train from ''Gare du Nord''. This option requires a '''1-3 zones ticket''', without this ticket you will have to jump over the turnstyles to get out of the station of your destination (or talk your way out or closely follow someone else with a valid ticket).<br />
<br />
Read this carefully because if you don't, it can be hard to find it and the local people definately won't know where this is or how to get there by foot! Once at the ''Parc des Sports'' bus stop, you can see the main road if you look in the driving direction of the bus. This is the road you want to follow to the east. Basically you just walk to the right from the bus stop in the driving direction, without ever passing under the road. Follow the road and walk east parallel to the motorway. There is a wall preventing access to the motorway, but if you continue walking a few hundred metres east and up a slight hill, the wall ends. You can then follow a steep, thorny path full of nettles down towards the motorway and back west towards the petrol station. There is a fence right along the motorway, but near the petrol station it has been trampled down and you can step over it.<br />
<br />
Other ways to get to that petrol station:<br />
* Take a RER B to ''Stade de France'' and then walk up to the final traffic light where you can ask for a ride to ''Aire La Courneuve''.<br />
* Lastly, one can take a line 13 to ''Carrefour Pleyel'' and then walk along ''Boulevard Anatole France'' (see [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Carrefour+Pleyel+station,+France&daddr=charles+de+gaulle&sll=48.927631,2.383518&sspn=0.027124,0.080338&ie=UTF8&ll=48.923881,2.358456&spn=0.013563,0.040169&t=h&z=15&om=1 Google Maps]) up until the beginning of the motorway. There is a hitchhiking spot there which might be not the greatest one in the world but at least it can lead you to the petrol station (after Exit 4!).<br />
<br />
From the petrol station, most drivers are only going to the airport or local communities. You should ask for a lift at least to the [[toll station]] (''péage'') heading north. This is a 20-minute drive down the motorway and everyone has to stop here. It is a great place to get long-distance rides.<br />
<br />
==== Charles de Gaulle ====<br />
''Charles de Gaulle'' airport can be an option for hitching North-East, although waiting times might vary a lot.<br />
<br />
==== Service station at Survilliers ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 4 euros, which is the cost of a ticket for zones 1-5. The peage is 35 km North of Paris, near the town of Survilliers.<br />
<br />
From Paris, take RER D (Chatelet-les-halles or Gare du Nord), direction Orry la Ville - Coye. Get off the train at Survilliers-Fosses (35 KM North of Paris). Walk down Rue de la Gare towards Survilliers town centre, then turn right at La Grande Rue; you will find the motorway. Once there, you can hitchhike from the motorway exit towards the gas station 2KM from here (Paris direction). When you arrive, you take the local road to cross over to the opposite service station to head North.<br />
<br />
==== Senlis Péage ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 9 euros (25% discount under 26) + a local ticket to Gare du Nord. The peage is 50 km North of Paris, near the town of Senlis. <br />
<br />
Senlis has no train station, but you still buy the ticket from a train station. From Paris Nord, go to Chantilly and switch to a bus to Senlis at the "gare routière" right outside of Chantilly's train station with your ticket. Once there, you need to walk a little and you'll find a "péage" (motorway payment station - people have to stop to take a ticket). The bus driver gave me the directions. This should take around one hour.<br />
<br />
=== A4 East, towards [[Metz]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]], etc ===<br />
<br />
==== Going directly to the ''barrière de péage'' ====<br />
<br />
''This one is the most expensive, longest but takes you the furthest to a great pickup spot. Might be a good choice when you don't speak french. Maybe not so good at night.''<br />
<br />
Take RER A4 to the last stop (''Marne-La-Vallee - Chessy''). The train journey length is around 40 minutes (EUR 6 something). Take the bus number 59 (doesn't operate on Sundays, the ticket costs around 2 Euro) which leaves from the bus stop next to the RER train station at ''Eurodisney'','' Marne-La-Vallee'' ([http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/6759.11.html timetable 2008 here]). It takes ten minutes to arrive at the “Truffaut” gardening centre which is beside the péage (stop Coutevroult - Truffaut). From there, walk back a bit and go through what seems to be a police station's parking area and is called "voie de service" on the map - you will get to the green area right outside the péage - and you won't need to jump any of the fences! From this ''barrière de péage'' it is easy to get rides to [[Metz]] or even straight to [[Germany]]. You might meet people (gendarmes or motorway staff) in that "voie de service" - even if they try to talk you out of it, remember ''it is allowed'' to hitchhike ''in the car park'' by the peage.<br />
<br />
Attention, the bus 59 runs every hour. It is usually timed to start 5 min after the arrival of the RER so hurry yourself up from the train. Follow the signs "gare routière" (bus station). If bus 59 doesn't start before 30 min, consider using bus 34 (see bellow).<br />
<br />
If you decide to hitch from this péage on Sunday you can take the bus no. 34 (EUR 1.60, [http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/5134.20.html timetable]) to bus stop "Bailly-Romainvilliers - Place de l'Europe" , then walk for about 2kilometers. You will soon see the motorway A4 and péage. Here's the [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=bailly+romainvilliers+place+de+l%27europe&daddr=48.853562,2.839065&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&dirflg=w&sll=48.850992,2.833614&sspn=0.012962,0.027637&ie=UTF8&z=15 route].<br />
<br />
The ''barrière de péage'' is located [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&saddr=48.854077,2.83959&daddr=&hl=es&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=48.853788,2.839912&sspn=0.003586,0.009656&ie=UTF8&ll=48.850258,2.830095&spn=0.014346,0.038624&t=h&z=15 here].<br />
<br />
==== Via petrol station ====<br />
<br />
''Quite long trip and a bit expensive. Takes you to a great gas station. better if you speak french and good day-and-night.''<br />
<br />
The first petrol station is close to RER A station ''Bussy St.Georges''.<br />
<br />
''You can also try to catch a bus to Bussy St George nr.4 or nr.44 from the metro station ''Gutenberg''.''<br />
<br />
From this station walk South for about 1 km along a bigger road which will lead you to a roundabout. You can try hitchhiking from there but the needed petrol station will be just a bit more than 2 km from there. You can walk on the grass field next to the motorway. The petrol station is called ''La Ferrière''. Another option to reach this petrol station is to walk through the industrial zone of ''Bussy'' area, to the South of the railway, then reach the bridge over the motorway and follow further by walking on the grass until the actual petrol station (note that as of February 2011, there was a nice-sized fence to hop after crossing the bridge. nothing too difficult, but a big pack makes it harder!). Most of the walk will be on the road which means you will save some time while at the same time such a walk won't be so annoying if you happen to hitchhike in winter (then you apparently don't wanna go through the fields). You can follow [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=gare,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&daddr=chemin+de+la+rue+pavee,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&sll=48.831899,2.723193&sspn=0.01291,0.040169&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=48.831814,2.726369&spn=0.01291,0.040169&t=h&om=0 this route] on Google Maps.<br />
<br />
==== Onramp to the motorway ====<br />
''This one is close to Paris, faster and cheaper to get to, but still in the megapolis. Starting from there, you're likely to end up either on the gas station described above or at the Péage described ab-above. Not good at night.''<br />
<br />
Take the RER Line A (Red) in direction of ''Boissy St Legere'' until the station ''Nogent Sur Marne'' (EUR 2.70 (2010-11). Leave the station in direction of ''Rue Joinville'' and follow the sign to the A4. It is a 30 min walk. There is a red light before the onramp. Lots of traffic, possibility to stop on the ramp for brave drivers.<br />
<br />
Ask if your driver can take you at least to the next petrol station which is within the free motorway network. Toll gate is a bit further.<br />
<br />
=== Getting South or Southwest (A6, A10 or A11) ===<br />
<br />
These spots are close enough to the city to be getting traffic in all southern directions.<br />
<br />
==== Porte d'Orléans ====<br />
<br />
Once the most famous hitchhiking spot in France, this spot isn't bad nowadays, but it isn't great either. The good thing is that drivers aren't surprised to see people there, and that you don't need to get out of Paris in faraway suburbs. <br />
<br />
''Porte d'Orléans'' is the terminal subway station of line 4. There is an entry on the ''périphérique'' ring road where lots of people are later heading South. The best place is besides the "Novotel" building or (better) opposite it at the traffic lights. Be warned, traffic here is heavy and fast moving. If you have much baggage or more than one person I would not fancy your chances here. Waiting at the petrol station or even the adjacent war memorial will not give you the best traffic. <br />
<br />
Make sure to specify with a sign specifying that you go to [[Orléans]] (if you are heading Southwest - A10 or A11), and that the driver will leave you at least at the "péage de Saint Arnoult". If you are heading directly South, have a sign for Lyon and make sure to be left at ''Aire de Lisses'', roughly 35 km further, a little bit after Evry (drivers to Evry are not enough for you).<br />
<br />
When I was here in Sept 2011 many hitcher came and later went to get a train a local train to an outlying town because they had no luck.<br />
<br />
Whenever a diplomat travels between Paris and the Orly airport, he'll go through here. Which means that there will be police presence. The police doesn't care about you, but it is very unlikely anyone will stop while they are around. That happens often enough. They stick around for one hour.<br />
<br />
For more personal opinions and experiences check the [[Talk:Paris|talk page]].<br />
<br />
==== Porte d'Italie ====<br />
<br />
Similarly ''Porte d'Italie'' which is not far from ''Porte d'Orleans'' is a good place to hitch from. Additionally if you walk down the exit there at the traffic lights there is an overhead bypass which can keep you dry in the rain.<br />
'''<br />
<br />
'''!! The A6b road connecting Porte d'italie and A6 is closed until autumn 2011 for tunnel reconstruction. All the traffic is diverted through Porte d'Orleans or other roads.''''''<br />
<br />
=== A6 South to [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], [[Barcelona]], [[Italy]] ===<br />
<br />
==== Aire de Lisses ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 5,85 euros, a zone 1-5 ticket and takes roughly 1h15. '''Aire de Lisses''' is the first service area on the A6, situated about 35 km South of Paris. It can save you time because you avoid all outbound traffic not really heading your direction, being after all the branch-offs.<br />
<br />
Get the RER D towards Melun via Corbeil. Be careful to get on the right train as there are 2 routes for RER D towards Melun. As of 2010-02, the ID of the train you need was "ZIPE" or "ZOPO" (All trains on RER lines have a 4 letter ID depending on stations served). If it's too confusing (it's very confusing), get whatever train that goes to "Corbeil Essonne" and, from there, whatever train that goes to Melun. Get off at the station '''Villabé''', the second after Corbeil-Essonnes. The station is not marked on Google Maps but don't worry, it's there: [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Rue+d%27Ambreville,+91100+Villab%C3%A9,+Franciaorsz%C3%A1g&daddr=48.592221,2.443964&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&dirflg=w&sll=48.592959,2.44184&sspn=0.005947,0.013604&ie=UTF8&ll=48.592959,2.452869&spn=0.023786,0.054417&z=14 ''the way from Villabé RER station to Aire de Lisses'']<br />
<br />
It's a very good spot.<br />
<br />
==== Aire de Nemours ====<br />
<br />
You can take a train to Nemours Saint Pierre (transilien R from Gare de Lyon) and walk 45min to the service area ( http://tinyurl.com/2bs24sf ). Then you're already on a paying section (no local traffic), far out from Paris (80km), and can get a ride to Châlon, Mâcon or Lyon in a few minutes.<br />
<br />
=== A10 South to [[Orléans|Orleans]], [[Bordeaux]], [[Spain]] ===<br />
<br />
This motorway follows the route of the '''A6''' (see above) from Paris, and splits afterwards near [[Antony]]/[[Rungis]]. The first [[péage]] in that direction is St-Arnoult, 40 km Southwest of Paris, before the splitting of A10 and A11. There are no service station directly on the motorway before the péage.<br />
<br />
==== Massy Palaiseau ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 2,95 euros, a 1-4 zones ticket. This option is useful to get out of the rings and get directly on the A10 after all the branch-offs.<br />
<br />
Take the RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau''. From there, follow the motoway signs for the A10. There are two options: take a bus from the massive transport lot beside ''Massy-Palaiseau'' station or walk down a motorway ramp nearby. <br />
<br />
'''Motorway ramp option''': Go down the ''Avenue Carnot'' along the ''Massy-Palaiseau'' railway, towards the ''autoroute''. After a while there you will see a long stretch of a road with lots of space for cars. Keep going and you will reach a roundabout. If you keep following this road, you will reach a motorway exit underneath a bridge. Make sure to get a ride to the first ''barrière de péage'' (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or to the Briis-sous-Forges service station 5 km down the road. <br />
<br />
'''Bus Option''': The first petrol station is situated near the village called ''Briis-sous-Forges''. To get there you need to take either RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau'' From there take the bus 91.03 to ''Briis-sous-Forges''. It runs about 3 times an hour on weekdays, once an hour on Saturdays, and there are no buses on Sundays. The petrol station is situated a couple of kms North from the village. To reach it you will need to find ''Route d'Invilliers'', a small local road. Once you are there, make sure your driver takes the right road as the A11 starts not far away. It's not easy to find the road to the gas station. no one in this village knows what street he is living in let alone that route you're looking for. They don't even know that there's a gas station in the area. write the instructions and study the map!! I was lost in this village for couple of hours.<br />
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=D131&daddr=Aire+de+Service+de+Limours-Janvry&geocode=FT3X5QIdxnEgAA%3BFZke5gIdK7wgAA&hl=en&mra=ltm&dirflg=w&sll=48.64455,2.16575&sspn=0.115917,0.338173&ie=UTF8&ll=48.626839,2.135124&spn=0.028989,0.084543&t=h&z=14 Briis-sous-Forges to the gas station map]<br />
<br />
[http://maps.google.fr/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.739447,2.302011&spn=0.001638,0.003455&t=h&z=18 this one] (good enough one, according to some hitchhikers).<br />
<br />
=== A11 South-West to [[Le Mans]], [[Nantes]], [[Rennes]] and all parts of [[Bretagne|Brittany]] ===<br />
[[File:Zoe.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hitchhiker Zoe in Paris during the [[project 888|888]] event]]<br />
This motorway splits from the A10 near ''Dourdan''. There are several possibilities go get on this motorway: <br />
<br />
# The petrol station at ''Briis-sous-Forges''. Look at the A10 section's options.<br />
# Take the train from ''Paris-Montparnasse'' to ''Chartres'' (EUR 12) and start hitching from there. You might want to go to the service station ''Chartres-Gasville'' on the A11 east of ''Chartres'' (bus plus one hour walk!). From the train station, take one of many [http://www.filibus.fr/pages/55 buses] that stop at the ''Morard'' station. Here starts bus 12, take it and get off at ''N.Conté'' - some minutes before you arrive there, memorize the route: the bus croses the motorway, and comes to a big roundabout where it turns right and continues to a second small roundabout to turn right again to arrive at ''N.Conté''. Now comes 1 hour of walk: go back to the big roundabout and turn right (east) to follow the N10 until you come to a small city. There you encounter the next roundabout, where you turn left. Follow the street, it bends to the right and ends on the ''Rue du Bois Paris'' where you turn left (north). After 500 meters comes the motorway, continue until you have crossed it. The service station is 400 meters east, so try to pass through the trees on your right and follow the street to the service station.<br />
<br />
== Paris public transport ==<br />
Public transport in Paris consists of a metro (lines from number 1 to 14), RER (fast trains serving the suburbs with relatively few inner city stops, lines from letter A to E), buses (lines from number 20 to ...?) and trams (lines from T1 to T4). If you want to make a few voyages, the cheapest option is to buy a carnet of 10 single tickets (12,50 euros instead of 1,70 each - July 2011). You can travel to the end of RER lines for about 15 euros. If you stay in Paris for several days and will use transport often you can also buy a pass "Mobilis" for one or several days (EUR 5.90 for one day inside Paris) - it is valid on metro, RER and ground transportation. If you stay for a week or more - consider geting a "passe Navigo découverte", which is a chargeable card with picture (5 euros to make). You can then buy a weekly ticket for EUR 17.20. Note that this replaces the former "Carte Orange". All prices as of Winter 2010.<br />
<br />
=== Metro system ===<br />
Ticket checks never occur on actual metro trains, and ticket controllers seem to employ 1 of 2 approaches: first one includes ticket controllers forming a line inside a metro tunnel or station exit and checking all the exiting travelers (since they are uniformed it is easy to see them from a distance unless they decide to hide around the corner); second one involves civil-dressed controllers watching the gates and busting those jumping over - they'll either stop them directly themselves, or radio-report to uniformed controllers who then will ask a stopped person to show a valid ticket. <br />
<br />
Checks are said never to occur during rush hours; peak times for these controls are evenings, weekends and the beginning of a new month. Except for the major stations, it is pretty easy to jump over the barriers, or pass through following other people passing to the ticket-zone. Only on major stations one is required to have a validated ticket when exiting. As in some other countries, one can be relax about the ticket booth staff since they have nothing to do with ticket checks.<br />
<br />
=== RER system ===<br />
Uniformed controllers will ask for validated tickets on trains, and since the RER shares the metro infrastructure, you might be a subject to the checks in similar order mentioned above. It is possible to travel for free, even though you stand a higher chance of being busted. It seems that checks can occur at any time, so the best time to travel for free is a rush hour when controls are impossible due to congestion. The highest risk of being checked seems to occur on transfer stations from RER to metro stations.<br />
<br />
You often need your ticket to get out of the stations, as price varies according to the distance. Make sure not to lose it as it can be tricky to get out otherwise.<br />
<br />
=== Buses ===<br />
Like in most cities of France, you can walk onto the bus without showing or validating a ticket. Checks are said to be rare, and occur mainly late at night.<br />
<br />
=== Fines and punishments ===<br />
French transport police won't make any exceptions for foreigners. Although it is said it might be possible to talk them out of fining a "dumb tourist" they are mainly hostile. Most commonly they will ask for a 40 euro fine which can be paid directly in cash or by credit card. Alternatively you can plead poverty, and if you show a valid ID they will post a fine to the address and the name written on ID.<br />
<br />
=== Going to ''Charles de Gaulle''/''Roissy'' airport ===<br />
Bus line 350 goes to ''Gare de l'Est'', and line 351 - to ''Place de la Nation''. You're supposed to validate 3 tickets (which is a lot cheaper than travelling by RER); checks are said rare to occur.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping in Paris ==<br />
[[File:888_signs.jpg|thumb|240px|right|A small collection of the "Paris" signs for the [[Project 888]] where over 150 hitchhikers gathered and camped in front of the Eiffel Tower.]]<br />
[[Hospitality exchange#Hospitality exchange networks|Hospitality exchange]] networks can be a great choice when staying low-budget in Paris. However, one must plan usually such staying well ahead since Paris is a popular destination for many backpackers, and many hospitality exchange networks' members are usually overloaded with requests to have guests.<br />
<br />
It is also possible to sleep in the ''Champs de Mars'' in front of the Eiffel Tower - police generally lets you sleep until 9 or 10 in the morning. There are many trees that offer you a protection in case of a rain. You can also put up a tent (at night) in a discrete spot although keep in mind that police officers will wake you up around the sunrise. You can also sleep under the bridge at the Seine river on the other side of the Eiffel Tower. During the first European Hitchhikers Week ([[project 888|888]]) around 50 people slept in front of the Eiffel Tower.<br />
<br />
There are also good places to sleep in the tunnels of Montsouris, which are part of old railway network. It is a hidden place, and maybe the most well-known unofficial entrance to the famous Paris Catacombs. You must climb over a wall near the intersection of Avenue Jean Moulin and Rue de Coulmiers ([http://is.gd/hC1Px Google maps]). Be advised that you should not enter the Catacombs alone or without a person who has a lot of experience climbing around the Paris underground. It is an extremely complicated system of tunnels, perhaps the second largest in the world. In many rooms of the Catacombs you can find a luxury of places to sleep, but you can just as easily get lost in areas where nobody has been or will go for months.<br />
<br />
== Free Showers ==<br />
[http://www.paris.fr/pratique/Portal.lut?document_id=8972&document_type_id=5&page_id=5458&portlet_id=11757 Here] you can find a map of places where you can have free showers in Paris. It seems that the closing times mon-wed are 17.30 instead of 18.00 as it writes on the website. Also you should get there 30 min before the closing time or you will not be allowed inside. So get there before 17.00. They are great! :)<br />
<br />
<br />
== Useful links ==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.ratp.fr/ Public transportation of Paris]<br />
* [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ Trains and regional transports], ticket agency<br />
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[[nl:Parijs]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Paris&diff=57388Paris2011-11-17T09:29:02Z<p>Smaua: </p>
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<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
<map lat='48.83398957668602' lng='2.34283447265625' zoom='10' view='0' float='right'/><br />
'''Paris''' is the capital of [[France]]. It is situated within a ring road called ''le périphérique'', or ''le périph''. The actual city is actually small but is surrounded by endless suburbs, some of them being linked to the urban public transportation system at no extra cost, and some other being labelled as outside zones and thus more expensive to reach.<br />
<br />
Note that there is an "outer ring road" to the Paris suburb area, motorway A86 (or ''super-périphérique'') and another wider ring called "la Francillienne" which isn't completed but still used to connect . If your ride is not going to Paris itself, you might want to clarify which ring they are going to take as it may affect the place where you'd want to be dropped.<br />
<br />
__TOC__<br />
<br />
== Hitching In ==<br />
<br />
During rush hours, it is possible (but illegal) to be quickly dropped on the ring road. This is useful if your ride is not willing to get out of it to drop you (which is often the case). Within the ring area, you are definitely linked to the whole regular fare subway system. <br />
<br />
If you are coming from the Northeast and your ride is heading South (which is a normal truck route), chances are that your driver will not drop you on the ring road where it is complicated to stop. A frequent place to get dropped is the first exit South on the A6 called "Rungis". From there, you can reach the Metropolitan subway system with one ticket, then use one to your final destination. You can also reach other suburbs in the 94 department (Val de Marne) taking the TvM bus, which is also a normal Paris ticket.<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
There are plenty of excellent spots for hitchhiking North (''Aire La Courneuve''), East ([[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] and ''[[péage|barrières de péage]]'') and also South (''Aire de Lisses''). It's all about how much you are willing to pay in public transportation, and how daring you are.<br />
<br />
=== Northeast towards [[Lille]] and [[Belgium]] ===<br />
<br />
These are classified by cost in public transportation from Paris' centre.<br />
<br />
==== Porte de la Chapelle ====<br />
<br />
This option costs one local ticket. Porte de la Chapelle is where the [[A1 (France)|A1]] starts. Local drivers say they often see hitchhikers there. To get there take a metro 12 to ''Porte de la Chapelle'', then walk to the roundabout. You can try getting a ride on the roundabout (there are traffic lights, which means that cars have to stop) or you can stand on the opposite side facing the roundabout where the motorway starts. Another good option is to start hitchhiking in the same street where the metro is. There are 2 petrol stations in that very street, just 50m deeper into the city. They aren't overcrowded, and at the same time quite a few cars going up the North stop here for refill; nonetheless, at such places much is depended on your luck, and according to some hitchhikers this place won't make to the TOP10 best hitchhiking places in France. It is therefore rather recommended to hitchhike at the roundabout where a quiet lane right by the traffic lights gives you a good opportunity to get onto the motorway (avoiding at the same time all the traffic that heads for ''Boulevard Periphique'').<br />
<br />
'''THIS MOTORWAY ENTRANCE IS NOT CURRENTLY OPEN DUE TO TUNNEL RECONSTRUCTION'''... Reopening is scheduled in summer 2012. There's an entrance still in operation, for the cars coming from the Peripherique (ring highway), so the traffic coming from inside Paris is diverted through Porte d'Aubervilliers (the next Ring entrance east). You can get there taking the "PC" bus from Porte de la Chapelle east or from Porte de la Vilette west. There's a roundabout with traffic lights and cars going to A1 take the outer ring entrance ("Périphérique extérieur"). Frequent traffic jams (which may also be helpful), and this access might be closed too on evenings, nights and weekends.<br />
<br />
==== Aire La Courneuve ====<br />
<br />
[[File:Masaru.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Masaru at ''Aire La Courneuve'']]<br />
This option costs one local ticket or zones 1-3 ticket (EUR 2.45). The petrol station [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&hl=es&geocode=5837971829389385952,48.934623,2.393732%3B3201522175225020794,48.920638,2.410383&saddr=Aire+de+Service+de+La+Courneuve+%4048.934790,+2.393710&daddr=&mra=mr&sll=48.918269,2.403388&sspn=0.013649,0.040169&ie=UTF8&ll=48.933157,2.396951&spn=0.006823,0.020084&t=k&z=16&om=1is ''Aire de Service de La Courneuve''] is about 2 km along the A1, north of Paris. <br />
<br />
First, get closer by public transport. Some options are:<br />
* Bus 150 from ''Porte de la Villette'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (next to the motorway)<br />
* Bus 250 from ''Fort d'Aubervilliers'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (the quickest way?)<br />
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=La+Courneuve+Aubervilliers&daddr=Rue+Paul+Verlaine,+93120+La+Courneuve,+Seine-Saint-Denis,+Ile-de-France,+Frankreich&sll=48.926137,2.394161&sspn=0.01892,0.040169&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=48.928026,2.388539&spn=0.018919,0.040169&z=15&om=1 ''La Courneuve Aubervilliers''] (RER B), and walk 2 km north along ''Boulevard Pasteur''. You can catch this train from ''Gare du Nord''. This option requires a '''1-3 zones ticket''', without this ticket you will have to jump over the turnstyles to get out of the station of your destination (or talk your way out or closely follow someone else with a valid ticket).<br />
<br />
Read this carefully because if you don't, it can be hard to find it and the local people definately won't know where this is or how to get there by foot! Once at the ''Parc des Sports'' bus stop, you can see the main road if you look in the driving direction of the bus. This is the road you want to follow to the east. Basically you just walk to the right from the bus stop in the driving direction, without ever passing under the road. Follow the road and walk east parallel to the motorway. There is a wall preventing access to the motorway, but if you continue walking a few hundred metres east and up a slight hill, the wall ends. You can then follow a steep, thorny path full of nettles down towards the motorway and back west towards the petrol station. There is a fence right along the motorway, but near the petrol station it has been trampled down and you can step over it.<br />
<br />
Other ways to get to that petrol station:<br />
* Take a RER B to ''Stade de France'' and then walk up to the final traffic light where you can ask for a ride to ''Aire La Courneuve''.<br />
* Lastly, one can take a line 13 to ''Carrefour Pleyel'' and then walk along ''Boulevard Anatole France'' (see [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Carrefour+Pleyel+station,+France&daddr=charles+de+gaulle&sll=48.927631,2.383518&sspn=0.027124,0.080338&ie=UTF8&ll=48.923881,2.358456&spn=0.013563,0.040169&t=h&z=15&om=1 Google Maps]) up until the beginning of the motorway. There is a hitchhiking spot there which might be not the greatest one in the world but at least it can lead you to the petrol station (after Exit 4!).<br />
<br />
From the petrol station, most drivers are only going to the airport or local communities. You should ask for a lift at least to the [[toll station]] (''péage'') heading north. This is a 20-minute drive down the motorway and everyone has to stop here. It is a great place to get long-distance rides.<br />
<br />
==== Charles de Gaulle ====<br />
''Charles de Gaulle'' airport can be an option for hitching North-East, although waiting times might vary a lot.<br />
<br />
==== Service station at Survilliers ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 4 euros, which is the cost of a ticket for zones 1-5. The peage is 35 km North of Paris, near the town of Survilliers.<br />
<br />
From Paris, take RER D (Chatelet-les-halles or Gare du Nord), direction Orry la Ville - Coye. Get off the train at Survilliers-Fosses (35 KM North of Paris). Walk down Rue de la Gare towards Survilliers town centre, then turn right at La Grande Rue; you will find the motorway. Once there, you can hitchhike from the motorway exit towards the gas station 2KM from here (Paris direction). When you arrive, you take the local road to cross over to the opposite service station to head North.<br />
<br />
==== Senlis Péage ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 9 euros (25% discount under 26) + a local ticket to Gare du Nord. The peage is 50 km North of Paris, near the town of Senlis. <br />
<br />
Senlis has no train station, but you still buy the ticket from a train station. From Paris Nord, go to Chantilly and switch to a bus to Senlis at the "gare routière" right outside of Chantilly's train station with your ticket. Once there, you need to walk a little and you'll find a "péage" (motorway payment station - people have to stop to take a ticket). The bus driver gave me the directions. This should take around one hour.<br />
<br />
=== A4 East, towards [[Metz]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]], etc ===<br />
<br />
==== Going directly to the ''barrière de péage'' ====<br />
<br />
''This one is the most expensive, longest but takes you the furthest to a great pickup spot. Might be a good choice when you don't speak french. Maybe not so good at night.''<br />
<br />
Take RER A4 to the last stop (''Marne-La-Vallee - Chessy''). The train journey length is around 40 minutes (EUR 6 something). Take the bus number 59 (doesn't operate on Sundays, the ticket costs around 2 Euro) which leaves from the bus stop next to the RER train station at ''Eurodisney'','' Marne-La-Vallee'' ([http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/6759.11.html timetable 2008 here]). It takes ten minutes to arrive at the “Truffaut” gardening centre which is beside the péage (stop Coutevroult - Truffaut). From there, walk back a bit and go through what seems to be a police station's parking area and is called "voie de service" on the map - you will get to the green area right outside the péage - and you won't need to jump any of the fences! From this ''barrière de péage'' it is easy to get rides to [[Metz]] or even straight to [[Germany]]. You might meet people (gendarmes or motorway staff) in that "voie de service" - even if they try to talk you out of it, remember ''it is allowed'' to hitchhike ''in the car park'' by the peage.<br />
<br />
Attention, the bus 59 runs every hour. It is usually timed to start 5 min after the arrival of the RER so hurry yourself up from the train. Follow the signs "gare routière" (bus station). If bus 59 doesn't start before 30 min, consider using bus 34 (see bellow).<br />
<br />
If you decide to hitch from this péage on Sunday you can take the bus no. 34 (EUR 1.60, [http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/5134.20.html timetable]) to bus stop "Bailly-Romainvilliers - Place de l'Europe" , then walk for about 2kilometers. You will soon see the motorway A4 and péage. Here's the [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=bailly+romainvilliers+place+de+l%27europe&daddr=48.853562,2.839065&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&dirflg=w&sll=48.850992,2.833614&sspn=0.012962,0.027637&ie=UTF8&z=15 route].<br />
<br />
The ''barrière de péage'' is located [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&saddr=48.854077,2.83959&daddr=&hl=es&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=48.853788,2.839912&sspn=0.003586,0.009656&ie=UTF8&ll=48.850258,2.830095&spn=0.014346,0.038624&t=h&z=15 here].<br />
<br />
==== Via petrol station ====<br />
<br />
''Quite long trip and a bit expensive. Takes you to a great gas station. better if you speak french and good day-and-night.''<br />
<br />
The first petrol station is close to RER A station ''Bussy St.Georges''.<br />
<br />
''You can also try to catch a bus to Bussy St George nr.4 or nr.44 from the metro station ''Gutenberg''.''<br />
<br />
From this station walk South for about 1 km along a bigger road which will lead you to a roundabout. You can try hitchhiking from there but the needed petrol station will be just a bit more than 2 km from there. You can walk on the grass field next to the motorway. The petrol station is called ''La Ferrière''. Another option to reach this petrol station is to walk through the industrial zone of ''Bussy'' area, to the South of the railway, then reach the bridge over the motorway and follow further by walking on the grass until the actual petrol station (note that as of February 2011, there was a nice-sized fence to hop after crossing the bridge. nothing too difficult, but a big pack makes it harder!). Most of the walk will be on the road which means you will save some time while at the same time such a walk won't be so annoying if you happen to hitchhike in winter (then you apparently don't wanna go through the fields). You can follow [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=gare,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&daddr=chemin+de+la+rue+pavee,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&sll=48.831899,2.723193&sspn=0.01291,0.040169&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=48.831814,2.726369&spn=0.01291,0.040169&t=h&om=0 this route] on Google Maps.<br />
<br />
==== Onramp to the motorway ====<br />
''This one is close to Paris, faster and cheaper to get to, but still in the megapolis. Starting from there, you're likely to end up either on the gas station described above or at the Péage described ab-above. Not good at night.''<br />
<br />
Take the RER Line A (Red) in direction of ''Boissy St Legere'' until the station ''Nogent Sur Marne'' (EUR 2.70 (2010-11). Leave the station in direction of ''Rue Joinville'' and follow the sign to the A4. It is a 30 min walk. There is a red light before the onramp. Lots of traffic, possibility to stop on the ramp for brave drivers.<br />
<br />
Ask if your driver can take you at least to the next petrol station which is within the free motorway network. Toll gate is a bit further.<br />
<br />
=== Getting South or Southwest (A6, A10 or A11) ===<br />
<br />
These spots are close enough to the city to be getting traffic in all southern directions.<br />
<br />
==== Porte d'Orléans ====<br />
<br />
Once the most famous hitchhiking spot in France, this spot isn't bad nowadays, but it isn't great either. The good thing is that drivers aren't surprised to see people there, and that you don't need to get out of Paris in faraway suburbs. <br />
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''Porte d'Orléans'' is the terminal subway station of line 4. There is an entry on the ''périphérique'' ring road where lots of people are later heading South. The best place is besides the "Novotel" building or (better) opposite it at the traffic lights. Be warned, traffic here is heavy and fast moving. If you have much baggage or more than one person I would not fancy your chances here. Waiting at the petrol station or even the adjacent war memorial will not give you the best traffic. <br />
<br />
Make sure to specify with a sign specifying that you go to [[Orléans]] (if you are heading Southwest - A10 or A11), and that the driver will leave you at least at the "péage de Saint Arnoult". If you are heading directly South, have a sign for Lyon and make sure to be left at ''Aire de Lisses'', roughly 35 km further, a little bit after Evry (drivers to Evry are not enough for you).<br />
<br />
When I was here in Sept 2011 many hitcher came and later went to get a train a local train to an outlying town because they had no luck.<br />
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Whenever a diplomat travels between Paris and the Orly airport, he'll go through here. Which means that there will be police presence. The police doesn't care about you, but it is very unlikely anyone will stop while they are around. That happens often enough. They stick around for one hour.<br />
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For more personal opinions and experiences check the [[Talk:Paris|talk page]].<br />
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==== Porte d'Italie ====<br />
<br />
Similarly ''Porte d'Italie'' which is not far from ''Porte d'Orleans'' is a good place to hitch from. Additionally if you walk down the exit there at the traffic lights there is an overhead bypass which can keep you dry in the rain.<br />
'''<br />
<br />
'''!! The A6b road connecting Porte d'italie and A6 is closed until autumn 2011 for tunnel reconstruction. All the traffic is diverted through Porte d'Orleans or other roads.''''''<br />
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=== A6 South to [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], [[Barcelona]], [[Italy]] ===<br />
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==== Aire de Lisses ====<br />
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This option costs 5,85 euros, a zone 1-5 ticket and takes roughly 1h15. '''Aire de Lisses''' is the first service area on the A6, situated about 35 km South of Paris. It can save you time because you avoid all outbound traffic not really heading your direction, being after all the branch-offs.<br />
<br />
Get the RER D towards Melun via Corbeil. Be careful to get on the right train as there are 2 routes for RER D towards Melun. As of 2010-02, the ID of the train you need was "ZIPE" or "ZOPO" (All trains on RER lines have a 4 letter ID depending on stations served). If it's too confusing (it's very confusing), get whatever train that goes to "Corbeil Essonne" and, from there, whatever train that goes to Melun. Get off at the station '''Villabé''', the second after Corbeil-Essonnes. The station is not marked on Google Maps but don't worry, it's there: [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Rue+d%27Ambreville,+91100+Villab%C3%A9,+Franciaorsz%C3%A1g&daddr=48.592221,2.443964&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&dirflg=w&sll=48.592959,2.44184&sspn=0.005947,0.013604&ie=UTF8&ll=48.592959,2.452869&spn=0.023786,0.054417&z=14 ''the way from Villabé RER station to Aire de Lisses'']<br />
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It's a very good spot.<br />
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==== Aire de Nemours ====<br />
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You can take a train to Nemours Saint Pierre (transilien R from Gare de Lyon) and walk 45min to the service area ( http://tinyurl.com/2bs24sf ). Then you're already on a paying section (no local traffic), far out from Paris (80km), and can get a ride to Châlon, Mâcon or Lyon in a few minutes.<br />
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=== A10 South to [[Orléans|Orleans]], [[Bordeaux]], [[Spain]] ===<br />
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This motorway follows the route of the '''A6''' (see above) from Paris, and splits afterwards near [[Antony]]/[[Rungis]]. The first [[péage]] in that direction is St-Arnoult, 40 km Southwest of Paris, before the splitting of A10 and A11. There are no service station directly on the motorway before the péage.<br />
<br />
==== Massy Palaiseau ====<br />
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This option costs 2,95 euros, a 1-4 zones ticket. This option is useful to get out of the rings and get directly on the A10 after all the branch-offs.<br />
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Take the RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau''. From there, follow the motoway signs for the A10. There are two options: take a bus from the massive transport lot beside ''Massy-Palaiseau'' station or walk down a motorway ramp nearby. <br />
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'''Motorway ramp option''': Go down the ''Avenue Carnot'' along the ''Massy-Palaiseau'' railway, towards the ''autoroute''. After a while there you will see a long stretch of a road with lots of space for cars. Keep going and you will reach a roundabout. If you keep following this road, you will reach a motorway exit underneath a bridge. Make sure to get a ride to the first ''barrière de péage'' (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or to the Briis-sous-Forges service station 5 km down the road. <br />
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'''Bus Option''': The first petrol station is situated near the village called ''Briis-sous-Forges''. To get there you need to take either RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau'' From there take the bus 91.03 to ''Briis-sous-Forges''. It runs about 3 times an hour on weekdays, once an hour on Saturdays, and there are no buses on Sundays. The petrol station is situated a couple of kms North from the village. To reach it you will need to find ''Route d'Invilliers'', a small local road. Once you are there, make sure your driver takes the right road as the A11 starts not far away. It's not easy to find the road to the gas station. no one in this village knows what street he is living in let alone that route you're looking for. They don't even know that there's a gas station in the area. write the instructions and study the map!! I was lost in this village for couple of hours.<br />
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=D131&daddr=Aire+de+Service+de+Limours-Janvry&geocode=FT3X5QIdxnEgAA%3BFZke5gIdK7wgAA&hl=en&mra=ltm&dirflg=w&sll=48.64455,2.16575&sspn=0.115917,0.338173&ie=UTF8&ll=48.626839,2.135124&spn=0.028989,0.084543&t=h&z=14 Briis-sous-Forges to the gas station map]<br />
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[http://maps.google.fr/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.739447,2.302011&spn=0.001638,0.003455&t=h&z=18 this one] (good enough one, according to some hitchhikers).<br />
<br />
=== A11 South-West to [[Le Mans]], [[Nantes]], [[Rennes]] and all parts of [[Bretagne|Brittany]] ===<br />
[[File:Zoe.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hitchhiker Zoe in Paris during the [[project 888|888]] event]]<br />
This motorway splits from the A10 near ''Dourdan''. There are several possibilities go get on this motorway: <br />
<br />
# The petrol station at ''Briis-sous-Forges''. Look at the A10 section's options.<br />
# Take the train from ''Paris-Montparnasse'' to ''Chartres'' (EUR 12) and start hitching from there. You might want to go to the service station ''Chartres-Gasville'' on the A11 east of ''Chartres'' (bus plus one hour walk!). From the train station, take one of many [http://www.filibus.fr/pages/55 buses] that stop at the ''Morard'' station. Here starts bus 12, take it and get off at ''N.Conté'' - some minutes before you arrive there, memorize the route: the bus croses the motorway, and comes to a big roundabout where it turns right and continues to a second small roundabout to turn right again to arrive at ''N.Conté''. Now comes 1 hour of walk: go back to the big roundabout and turn right (east) to follow the N10 until you come to a small city. There you encounter the next roundabout, where you turn left. Follow the street, it bends to the right and ends on the ''Rue du Bois Paris'' where you turn left (north). After 500 meters comes the motorway, continue until you have crossed it. The service station is 400 meters east, so try to pass through the trees on your right and follow the street to the service station.<br />
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== Paris public transport ==<br />
Public transport in Paris consists of a metro (lines from number 1 to 14), RER (fast trains serving the suburbs with relatively few inner city stops, lines from letter A to E), buses (lines from number 20 to ...?) and trams (lines from T1 to T4). If you want to make a few voyages, the cheapest option is to buy a carnet of 10 single tickets (12,50 euros instead of 1,70 each - July 2011). You can travel to the end of RER lines for about 15 euros. If you stay in Paris for several days and will use transport often you can also buy a pass "Mobilis" for one or several days (EUR 5.90 for one day inside Paris) - it is valid on metro, RER and ground transportation. If you stay for a week or more - consider geting a "passe Navigo découverte", which is a chargeable card with picture (5 euros to make). You can then buy a weekly ticket for EUR 17.20. Note that this replaces the former "Carte Orange". All prices as of Winter 2010.<br />
<br />
=== Metro system ===<br />
Ticket checks never occur on actual metro trains, and ticket controllers seem to employ 1 of 2 approaches: first one includes ticket controllers forming a line inside a metro tunnel or station exit and checking all the exiting travelers (since they are uniformed it is easy to see them from a distance unless they decide to hide around the corner); second one involves civil-dressed controllers watching the gates and busting those jumping over - they'll either stop them directly themselves, or radio-report to uniformed controllers who then will ask a stopped person to show a valid ticket. <br />
<br />
Checks are said never to occur during rush hours; peak times for these controls are evenings, weekends and the beginning of a new month. Except for the major stations, it is pretty easy to jump over the barriers, or pass through following other people passing to the ticket-zone. Only on major stations one is required to have a validated ticket when exiting. As in some other countries, one can be relax about the ticket booth staff since they have nothing to do with ticket checks.<br />
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=== RER system ===<br />
Uniformed controllers will ask for validated tickets on trains, and since the RER shares the metro infrastructure, you might be a subject to the checks in similar order mentioned above. It is possible to travel for free, even though you stand a higher chance of being busted. It seems that checks can occur at any time, so the best time to travel for free is a rush hour when controls are impossible due to congestion. The highest risk of being checked seems to occur on transfer stations from RER to metro stations.<br />
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You often need your ticket to get out of the stations, as price varies according to the distance. Make sure not to lose it as it can be tricky to get out otherwise.<br />
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=== Buses ===<br />
Like in most cities of France, you can walk onto the bus without showing or validating a ticket. Checks are said to be rare, and occur mainly late at night.<br />
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=== Fines and punishments ===<br />
French transport police won't make any exceptions for foreigners. Although it is said it might be possible to talk them out of fining a "dumb tourist" they are mainly hostile. Most commonly they will ask for a 40 euro fine which can be paid directly in cash or by credit card. Alternatively you can plead poverty, and if you show a valid ID they will post a fine to the address and the name written on ID.<br />
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=== Going to ''Charles de Gaulle''/''Roissy'' airport ===<br />
Bus line 350 goes to ''Gare de l'Est'', and line 351 - to ''Place de la Nation''. You're supposed to validate 3 tickets (which is a lot cheaper than travelling by RER); checks are said rare to occur.<br />
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== Sleeping in Paris ==<br />
[[File:888_signs.jpg|thumb|240px|right|A small collection of the "Paris" signs for the [[Project 888]] where over 150 hitchhikers gathered and camped in front of the Eiffel Tower.]]<br />
[[Hospitality exchange#Hospitality exchange networks|Hospitality exchange]] networks can be a great choice when staying low-budget in Paris. However, one must plan usually such staying well ahead since Paris is a popular destination for many backpackers, and many hospitality exchange networks' members are usually overloaded with requests to have guests.<br />
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It is also possible to sleep in the ''Champs de Mars'' in front of the Eiffel Tower - police generally lets you sleep until 9 or 10 in the morning. There are many trees that offer you a protection in case of a rain. You can also put up a tent (at night) in a discrete spot although keep in mind that police officers will wake you up around the sunrise. You can also sleep under the bridge at the Seine river on the other side of the Eiffel Tower. During the first European Hitchhikers Week ([[project 888|888]]) around 50 people slept in front of the Eiffel Tower.<br />
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There are also good places to sleep in the tunnels of Montsouris, which are part of old railway network. It is a hidden place, and maybe the most well-known unofficial entrance to the famous Paris Catacombs. You must climb over a wall near the intersection of Avenue Jean Moulin and Rue de Coulmiers ([http://is.gd/hC1Px Google maps]). Be advised that you should not enter the Catacombs alone or without a person who has a lot of experience climbing around the Paris underground. It is an extremely complicated system of tunnels, perhaps the second largest in the world. In many rooms of the Catacombs you can find a luxury of places to sleep, but you can just as easily get lost in areas where nobody has been or will go for months.<br />
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== Free Showers ==<br />
[http://www.paris.fr/pratique/Portal.lut?document_id=8972&document_type_id=5&page_id=5458&portlet_id=11757 Here] you can find a map of places where you can have free showers in Paris. It seems that the closing times mon-wed are 17.30 instead of 18.00 as it writes on the website. Also you should get there 30 min before the closing time or you will not be allowed inside. So get there before 17.00. They are great! :)<br />
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== Useful links ==<br />
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* [http://www.ratp.fr/ Public transportation of Paris]<br />
* [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ Trains and regional transports], ticket agency<br />
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[[nl:Parijs]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Paris&diff=57369Paris2011-11-16T11:49:24Z<p>Smaua: </p>
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<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
<map lat='48.83398957668602' lng='2.34283447265625' zoom='10' view='0' float='right'/><br />
'''Paris''' is the capital of [[France]]. It is situated within a ring road called ''le périphérique'', or ''le périph''. The actual city is actually small but is surrounded by endless suburbs, some of them being linked to the urban public transportation system at no extra cost, and some other being labelled as outside zones and thus more expensive to reach.<br />
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Note that there is an "outer ring road" to the Paris suburb area, motorway A86 (or ''super-périphérique'') and another wider ring called "la Francillienne" which isn't completed but still used to connect . If your ride is not going to Paris itself, you might want to clarify which ring they are going to take as it may affect the place where you'd want to be dropped.<br />
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__TOC__<br />
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== Hitching In ==<br />
<br />
During rush hours, it is possible (but illegal) to be quickly dropped on the ring road. This is useful if your ride is not willing to get out of it to drop you (which is often the case). Within the ring area, you are definitely linked to the whole regular fare subway system. <br />
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If you are coming from the Northeast and your ride is heading South (which is a normal truck route), chances are that your driver will not drop you on the ring road where it is complicated to stop. A frequent place to get dropped is the first exit South on the A6 called "Rungis". From there, you can reach the Metropolitan subway system with one ticket, then use one to your final destination. You can also reach other suburbs in the 94 department (Val de Marne) taking the TvM bus, which is also a normal Paris ticket.<br />
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== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
There are plenty of excellent spots for hitchhiking North (''Aire La Courneuve''), East ([[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] and ''[[péage|barrières de péage]]'') and also South (''Aire de Lisses''). It's all about how much you are willing to pay in public transportation, and how daring you are.<br />
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=== Northeast towards [[Lille]] and [[Belgium]] ===<br />
<br />
These are classified by cost in public transportation from Paris' centre.<br />
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==== Porte de la Chapelle ====<br />
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This option costs one local ticket. Porte de la Chapelle is where the [[A1 (France)|A1]] starts. Local drivers say they often see hitchhikers there. To get there take a metro 12 to ''Porte de la Chapelle'', then walk to the roundabout. You can try getting a ride on the roundabout (there are traffic lights, which means that cars have to stop) or you can stand on the opposite side facing the roundabout where the motorway starts. Another good option is to start hitchhiking in the same street where the metro is. There are 2 petrol stations in that very street, just 50m deeper into the city. They aren't overcrowded, and at the same time quite a few cars going up the North stop here for refill; nonetheless, at such places much is depended on your luck, and according to some hitchhikers this place won't make to the TOP10 best hitchhiking places in France. It is therefore rather recommended to hitchhike at the roundabout where a quiet lane right by the traffic lights gives you a good opportunity to get onto the motorway (avoiding at the same time all the traffic that heads for ''Boulevard Periphique'').<br />
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'''THIS MOTORWAY ENTRANCE IS NOT CURRENTLY OPEN DUE TO TUNNEL RECONSTRUCTION'''... Reopening is scheduled in summer 2012. There's an entrance still in operation, for the cars coming from the Peripherique (ring highway), so the traffic coming from inside Paris is diverted through Porte d'Aubervilliers (the next Ring entrance east). You can get there taking the "PC" bus from Porte de la Chapelle east or from Porte de la Vilette west. There's a roundabout with traffic lights and cars going to A1 take the outer ring entrance ("Périphérique extérieur"). Frequent traffic jams (which may also be helpful), and this access might be closed too on evenings, nights and weekends.<br />
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==== Aire La Courneuve ====<br />
<br />
[[File:Masaru.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Masaru at ''Aire La Courneuve'']]<br />
This option costs one local ticket or zones 1-3 ticket (EUR 2.45). The petrol station [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&hl=es&geocode=5837971829389385952,48.934623,2.393732%3B3201522175225020794,48.920638,2.410383&saddr=Aire+de+Service+de+La+Courneuve+%4048.934790,+2.393710&daddr=&mra=mr&sll=48.918269,2.403388&sspn=0.013649,0.040169&ie=UTF8&ll=48.933157,2.396951&spn=0.006823,0.020084&t=k&z=16&om=1is ''Aire de Service de La Courneuve''] is about 2 km along the A1, north of Paris. <br />
<br />
First, get closer by public transport. Some options are:<br />
* Bus 150 from ''Porte de la Villette'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (next to the motorway)<br />
* Bus 250 from ''Fort d'Aubervilliers'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (the quickest way?)<br />
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=La+Courneuve+Aubervilliers&daddr=Rue+Paul+Verlaine,+93120+La+Courneuve,+Seine-Saint-Denis,+Ile-de-France,+Frankreich&sll=48.926137,2.394161&sspn=0.01892,0.040169&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=48.928026,2.388539&spn=0.018919,0.040169&z=15&om=1 ''La Courneuve Aubervilliers''] (RER B), and walk 2 km north along ''Boulevard Pasteur''. You can catch this train from ''Gare du Nord''. This option requires a '''1-3 zones ticket''', without this ticket you will have to jump over the turnstyles to get out of the station of your destination (or talk your way out or closely follow someone else with a valid ticket).<br />
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Read this carefully because if you don't, it can be hard to find it and the local people definately won't know where this is or how to get there by foot! Once at the ''Parc des Sports'' bus stop, you can see the main road if you look in the driving direction of the bus. This is the road you want to follow to the east. Basically you just walk to the right from the bus stop in the driving direction, without ever passing under the road. Follow the road and walk east parallel to the motorway. There is a wall preventing access to the motorway, but if you continue walking a few hundred metres east and up a slight hill, the wall ends. You can then follow a steep, thorny path full of nettles down towards the motorway and back west towards the petrol station. There is a fence right along the motorway, but near the petrol station it has been trampled down and you can step over it.<br />
<br />
Other ways to get to that petrol station:<br />
* Take a RER B to ''Stade de France'' and then walk up to the final traffic light where you can ask for a ride to ''Aire La Courneuve''.<br />
* Lastly, one can take a line 13 to ''Carrefour Pleyel'' and then walk along ''Boulevard Anatole France'' (see [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Carrefour+Pleyel+station,+France&daddr=charles+de+gaulle&sll=48.927631,2.383518&sspn=0.027124,0.080338&ie=UTF8&ll=48.923881,2.358456&spn=0.013563,0.040169&t=h&z=15&om=1 Google Maps]) up until the beginning of the motorway. There is a hitchhiking spot there which might be not the greatest one in the world but at least it can lead you to the petrol station (after Exit 4!).<br />
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From the petrol station, most drivers are only going to the airport or local communities. You should ask for a lift at least to the [[toll station]] (''péage'') heading north. This is a 20-minute drive down the motorway and everyone has to stop here. It is a great place to get long-distance rides.<br />
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==== Charles de Gaulle ====<br />
''Charles de Gaulle'' airport can be an option for hitching North-East, although waiting times might vary a lot.<br />
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==== Service station at Survilliers ====<br />
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This option costs 4 euros, which is the cost of a ticket for zones 1-5. The peage is 35 km North of Paris, near the town of Survilliers.<br />
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From Paris, take RER D (Chatelet-les-halles or Gare du Nord), direction Orry la Ville - Coye. Get off the train at Survilliers-Fosses (35 KM North of Paris). Walk down Rue de la Gare towards Survilliers town centre, then turn right at La Grande Rue; you will find the motorway. Once there, you can hitchhike from the motorway exit towards the gas station 2KM from here (Paris direction). When you arrive, you take the local road to cross over to the opposite service station to head North.<br />
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==== Senlis Péage ====<br />
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This option costs 9 euros (25% discount under 26) + a local ticket to Gare du Nord. The peage is 50 km North of Paris, near the town of Senlis. <br />
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Senlis has no train station, but you still buy the ticket from a train station. From Paris Nord, go to Chantilly and switch to a bus to Senlis at the "gare routière" right outside of Chantilly's train station with your ticket. Once there, you need to walk a little and you'll find a "péage" (motorway payment station - people have to stop to take a ticket). The bus driver gave me the directions. This should take around one hour.<br />
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=== A4 East, towards [[Metz]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]], etc ===<br />
<br />
==== Going directly to the ''barrière de péage'' ====<br />
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''This one is the most expensive, longest but takes you the furthest to a great pickup spot. Might be a good choice when you don't speak french. Maybe not so good at night.''<br />
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Take RER A4 to the last stop (''Marne-La-Vallee - Chessy''). The train journey length is around 40 minutes (EUR 6 something). Take the bus number 59 (doesn't operate on Sundays, the ticket costs around 2 Euro) which leaves from the bus stop next to the RER train station at ''Eurodisney'','' Marne-La-Vallee'' ([http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/6759.11.html timetable 2008 here]). It takes ten minutes to arrive at the “Truffaut” gardening centre which is beside the péage (stop Coutevroult - Truffaut). From there, walk back a bit and go through what seems to be a police station's parking area and is called "voie de service" on the map - you will get to the green area right outside the péage - and you won't need to jump any of the fences! From this ''barrière de péage'' it is easy to get rides to [[Metz]] or even straight to [[Germany]]. You might meet people (gendarmes or motorway staff) in that "voie de service" - even if they try to talk you out of it, remember ''it is allowed'' to hitchhike ''in the car park'' by the peage.<br />
<br />
Attention, the bus 59 runs every hour. It is usually timed to start 5 min after the arrival of the RER so hurry yourself up from the train. Follow the signs "gare routière" (bus station). If bus 59 doesn't start before 30 min, consider using bus 34 (see bellow).<br />
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If you decide to hitch from this péage on Sunday you can take the bus no. 34 (EUR 1.60, [http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/5134.20.html timetable]) to bus stop "Bailly-Romainvilliers - Place de l'Europe" , then walk for about 2kilometers. You will soon see the motorway A4 and péage. Here's the [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=bailly+romainvilliers+place+de+l%27europe&daddr=48.853562,2.839065&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&dirflg=w&sll=48.850992,2.833614&sspn=0.012962,0.027637&ie=UTF8&z=15 route].<br />
<br />
The ''barrière de péage'' is located [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&saddr=48.854077,2.83959&daddr=&hl=es&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=48.853788,2.839912&sspn=0.003586,0.009656&ie=UTF8&ll=48.850258,2.830095&spn=0.014346,0.038624&t=h&z=15 here].<br />
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==== Via petrol station ====<br />
<br />
''Quite long trip and a bit expensive. Takes you to a great gas station. better if you speak french and good day-and-night.''<br />
<br />
The first petrol station is close to RER A station ''Bussy St.Georges''.<br />
<br />
''You can also try to catch a bus to Bussy St George nr.4 or nr.44 from the metro station ''Gutenberg''.''<br />
<br />
From this station walk South for about 1 km along a bigger road which will lead you to a roundabout. You can try hitchhiking from there but the needed petrol station will be just a bit more than 2 km from there. You can walk on the grass field next to the motorway. The petrol station is called ''La Ferrière''. Another option to reach this petrol station is to walk through the industrial zone of ''Bussy'' area, to the South of the railway, then reach the bridge over the motorway and follow further by walking on the grass until the actual petrol station (note that as of February 2011, there was a nice-sized fence to hop after crossing the bridge. nothing too difficult, but a big pack makes it harder!). Most of the walk will be on the road which means you will save some time while at the same time such a walk won't be so annoying if you happen to hitchhike in winter (then you apparently don't wanna go through the fields). You can follow [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=gare,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&daddr=chemin+de+la+rue+pavee,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&sll=48.831899,2.723193&sspn=0.01291,0.040169&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=48.831814,2.726369&spn=0.01291,0.040169&t=h&om=0 this route] on Google Maps.<br />
<br />
==== Onramp to the motorway ====<br />
''This one is close to Paris, faster and cheaper to get to, but still in the megapolis. Starting from there, you're likely to end up either on the gas station described above or at the Péage described ab-above. Not good at night.''<br />
<br />
Take the RER Line A (Red) in direction of ''Boissy St Legere'' until the station ''Nogent Sur Marne'' (EUR 2.70 (2010-11). Leave the station in direction of ''Rue Joinville'' and follow the sign to the A4. It is a 30 min walk. There is a red light before the onramp. Lots of traffic, possibility to stop on the ramp for brave drivers.<br />
<br />
Ask if your driver can take you at least to the next petrol station which is within the free motorway network. Toll gate is a bit further.<br />
<br />
=== Getting South or Southwest (A6, A10 or A11) ===<br />
<br />
These spots are close enough to the city to be getting traffic in all southern directions.<br />
<br />
==== Porte d'Orléans ====<br />
<br />
Once the most famous hitchhiking spot in France, this spot isn't bad nowadays, but it isn't great either. The good thing is that drivers aren't surprised to see people there, and that you don't need to get out of Paris in faraway suburbs. <br />
<br />
''Porte d'Orléans'' is the terminal subway station of line 4. There is an entry on the ''périphérique'' ring road where lots of people are later heading South. The best place is besides the "Novotel" building or (better) opposite it at the traffic lights. Be warned, traffic here is heavy and fast moving. If you have much baggage or more than one person I would not fancy your chances here. Waiting at the petrol station or even the adjacent war memorial will not give you the best traffic. <br />
<br />
Make sure to specify with a sign specifying that you go to [[Orléans]] (if you are heading Southwest - A10 or A11), and that the driver will leave you at least at the "péage de Saint Arnoult". If you are heading directly South, have a sign for Lyon and make sure to be left at ''Aire de Lisses'', roughly 35 km further, a little bit after Evry (drivers to Evry are not enough for you).<br />
<br />
When I was here in Sept 2011 many hitcher came and later went to get a train a local train to an outlying town because they had no luck.<br />
<br />
Whenever a diplomat travels between Paris and the Orly airport, he'll go through here. Which means that there will be police presence. The police doesn't care about you, but it is very unlikely anyone will stop while they are around. That happens often enough. They stick around for one hour.<br />
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For more personal opinions and experiences check the [[Talk:Paris|talk page]].<br />
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==== Porte d'Italie ====<br />
<br />
Similarly ''Porte d'Italie'' which is not far from ''Porte d'Orleans'' is a good place to hitch from. Additionally if you walk down the exit there at the traffic lights there is an overhead bypass which can keep you dry in the rain.<br />
'''<br />
<br />
'''!! The A6b road connecting Porte d'italie and A6 is closed until autumn 2011 for tunnel reconstruction. All the traffic is diverted through Porte d'Orleans or other roads.''''''<br />
<br />
=== A6 South to [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], [[Barcelona]], [[Italy]] ===<br />
<br />
==== Aire de Lisses ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 5,85 euros, a zone 1-5 ticket and takes roughly 1h15. '''Aire de Lisses''' is the first service area on the A6, situated about 35 km South of Paris. It can save you time because you avoid all outbound traffic not really heading your direction, being after all the branch-offs.<br />
<br />
Get the RER D towards Melun via Corbeil. Be careful to get on the right train as there are 2 routes for RER D towards Melun. As of 2010-02, the ID of the train you need was "ZIPE" or "ZOPO" (All trains on RER lines have a 4 letter ID depending on stations served). If it's too confusing (it's very confusing), get whatever train that goes to "Corbeil Essonne" and, from there, whatever train that goes to Melun. Get off at the station '''Villabé''', the second after Corbeil-Essonnes. The station is not marked on Google Maps but don't worry, it's there: [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Rue+d%27Ambreville,+91100+Villab%C3%A9,+Franciaorsz%C3%A1g&daddr=48.592221,2.443964&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&dirflg=w&sll=48.592959,2.44184&sspn=0.005947,0.013604&ie=UTF8&ll=48.592959,2.452869&spn=0.023786,0.054417&z=14 ''the way from Villabé RER station to Aire de Lisses'']<br />
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It's a very good spot.<br />
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==== Aire de Nemours ====<br />
<br />
You can take a train to Nemours Saint Pierre (transilien R from Gare de Lyon) and walk 45min to the service area ( http://tinyurl.com/2bs24sf ). Then you're already on a paying section (no local traffic), far out from Paris (80km), and can get a ride to Châlon, Mâcon or Lyon in a few minutes.<br />
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=== A10 South to [[Orléans|Orleans]], [[Bordeaux]], [[Spain]] ===<br />
<br />
This motorway follows the route of the '''A6''' (see above) from Paris, and splits afterwards near [[Antony]]/[[Rungis]]. The first [[péage]] in that direction is St-Arnoult, 40 km Southwest of Paris, before the splitting of A10 and A11. There are no service station directly on the motorway before the péage.<br />
<br />
==== Massy Palaiseau ====<br />
<br />
This option costs 2,95 euros, a 1-4 zones ticket. This option is useful to get out of the rings and get directly on the A10 after all the branch-offs.<br />
<br />
Take the RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau''. From there, follow the motoway signs for the A10. There are two options: take a bus from the massive transport lot beside ''Massy-Palaiseau'' station or walk down a motorway ramp nearby. <br />
<br />
'''Motorway ramp option''': Go down the ''Avenue Carnot'' along the ''Massy-Palaiseau'' railway, towards the ''autoroute''. After a while there you will see a long stretch of a road with lots of space for cars. Keep going and you will reach a roundabout. If you keep following this road, you will reach a motorway exit underneath a bridge. Make sure to get a ride to the first ''barrière de péage'' (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or to the Briis-sous-Forges service station 5 km down the road. <br />
<br />
'''Bus Option''': The first petrol station is situated near the village called ''Briis-sous-Forges''. To get there you need to take either RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau'' From there take the bus 91.03 to ''Briis-sous-Forges''. It runs about 3 times an hour on weekdays, once an hour on Saturdays, and there are no buses on Sundays. The petrol station is situated a couple of kms North from the village. To reach it you will need to find ''Route d'Invilliers'', a small local road. Once you are there, make sure your driver takes the right road as the A11 starts not far away. It's not easy to find the road to the gas station. no one in this village knows what street he is living in let alone that route you're looking for. They don't even know that there's a gas station in the area. write the instructions and study the map!! I was lost in this village for couple of hours.<br />
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=D131&daddr=Aire+de+Service+de+Limours-Janvry&geocode=FT3X5QIdxnEgAA%3BFZke5gIdK7wgAA&hl=en&mra=ltm&dirflg=w&sll=48.64455,2.16575&sspn=0.115917,0.338173&ie=UTF8&ll=48.626839,2.135124&spn=0.028989,0.084543&t=h&z=14 Briis-sous-Forges to the gas station map]<br />
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[http://maps.google.fr/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.739447,2.302011&spn=0.001638,0.003455&t=h&z=18 this one] (good enough one, according to some hitchhikers).<br />
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=== A11 South-West to [[Le Mans]], [[Nantes]], [[Rennes]] and all parts of [[Bretagne|Brittany]] ===<br />
[[File:Zoe.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hitchhiker Zoe in Paris during the [[project 888|888]] event]]<br />
This motorway splits from the A10 near ''Dourdan''. There are several possibilities go get on this motorway: <br />
<br />
# The petrol station at ''Briis-sous-Forges''. Look at the A10 section's options.<br />
# Take the train from ''Paris-Montparnasse'' to ''Chartres'' (EUR 12) and start hitching from there. You might want to go to the service station ''Chartres-Gasville'' on the A11 east of ''Chartres'' (bus plus one hour walk!). From the train station, take one of many [http://www.filibus.fr/pages/55 buses] that stop at the ''Morard'' station. Here starts bus 12, take it and get off at ''N.Conté'' - some minutes before you arrive there, memorize the route: the bus croses the motorway, and comes to a big roundabout where it turns right and continues to a second small roundabout to turn right again to arrive at ''N.Conté''. Now comes 1 hour of walk: go back to the big roundabout and turn right (east) to follow the N10 until you come to a small city. There you encounter the next roundabout, where you turn left. Follow the street, it bends to the right and ends on the ''Rue du Bois Paris'' where you turn left (north). After 500 meters comes the motorway, continue until you have crossed it. The service station is 400 meters east, so try to pass through the trees on your right and follow the street to the service station.<br />
<br />
== Paris public transport ==<br />
Public transport in Paris consists of a metro (lines from number 1 to 14), RER (fast trains serving the suburbs with relatively few inner city stops, lines from letter A to E), buses (lines from number 20 to ...?) and trams (lines from T1 to T4). If you want to make a few voyages, the cheapest option is to buy a carnet of 10 single tickets (12,50 euros instead of 1,70 each - July 2011). You can travel to the end of RER lines for about 15 euros. If you stay in Paris for several days and will use transport often you can also buy a pass "Mobilis" for one or several days (EUR 5.90 for one day inside Paris) - it is valid on metro, RER and ground transportation. If you stay for a week or more - consider geting a "passe Navigo découverte", which is a chargeable card with picture (5 euros to make). You can then buy a weekly ticket for EUR 17.20. Note that this replaces the former "Carte Orange". All prices as of Winter 2010.<br />
<br />
=== Metro system ===<br />
Ticket checks never occur on actual metro trains, and ticket controllers seem to employ 1 of 2 approaches: first one includes ticket controllers forming a line inside a metro tunnel or station exit and checking all the exiting travelers (since they are uniformed it is easy to see them from a distance unless they decide to hide around the corner); second one involves civil-dressed controllers watching the gates and busting those jumping over - they'll either stop them directly themselves, or radio-report to uniformed controllers who then will ask a stopped person to show a valid ticket. <br />
<br />
Checks are said never to occur during rush hours; peak times for these controls are evenings, weekends and the beginning of a new month. Except for the major stations, it is pretty easy to jump over the barriers, or pass through following other people passing to the ticket-zone. Only on major stations one is required to have a validated ticket when exiting. As in some other countries, one can be relax about the ticket booth staff since they have nothing to do with ticket checks.<br />
<br />
=== RER system ===<br />
Uniformed controllers will ask for validated tickets on trains, and since the RER shares the metro infrastructure, you might be a subject to the checks in similar order mentioned above. It is possible to travel for free, even though you stand a higher chance of being busted. It seems that checks can occur at any time, so the best time to travel for free is a rush hour when controls are impossible due to congestion. The highest risk of being checked seems to occur on transfer stations from RER to metro stations.<br />
<br />
You often need your ticket to get out of the stations, as price varies according to the distance. Make sure not to lose it as it can be tricky to get out otherwise.<br />
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=== Buses ===<br />
Like in most cities of France, you can walk onto the bus without showing or validating a ticket. Checks are said to be rare, and occur mainly late at night.<br />
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=== Fines and punishments ===<br />
French transport police won't make any exceptions for foreigners. Although it is said it might be possible to talk them out of fining a "dumb tourist" they are mainly hostile. Most commonly they will ask for a 40 euro fine which can be paid directly in cash or by credit card. Alternatively you can plead poverty, and if you show a valid ID they will post a fine to the address and the name written on ID.<br />
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=== Going to ''Charles de Gaulle''/''Roissy'' airport ===<br />
Bus line 350 goes to ''Gare de l'Est'', and line 351 - to ''Place de la Nation''. You're supposed to validate 3 tickets (which is a lot cheaper than travelling by RER); checks are said rare to occur.<br />
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== Sleeping in Paris ==<br />
[[File:888_signs.jpg|thumb|240px|right|A small collection of the "Paris" signs for the [[Project 888]] where over 150 hitchhikers gathered and camped in front of the Eiffel Tower.]]<br />
[[Hospitality exchange#Hospitality exchange networks|Hospitality exchange]] networks can be a great choice when staying low-budget in Paris. However, one must plan usually such staying well ahead since Paris is a popular destination for many backpackers, and many hospitality exchange networks' members are usually overloaded with requests to have guests.<br />
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It is also possible to sleep in the ''Champs de Mars'' in front of the Eiffel Tower - police generally lets you sleep until 9 or 10 in the morning. There are many trees that offer you a protection in case of a rain. You can also put up a tent (at night) in a discrete spot although keep in mind that police officers will wake you up around the sunrise. You can also sleep under the bridge at the Seine river on the other side of the Eiffel Tower. During the first European Hitchhikers Week ([[project 888|888]]) around 50 people slept in front of the Eiffel Tower.<br />
<br />
There are also good places to sleep in the tunnels of Montsouris, which are part of old railway network. It is a hidden place, and maybe the most well-known unofficial entrance to the famous Paris Catacombs. You must climb over a wall near the intersection of Avenue Jean Moulin and Rue de Coulmiers ([http://is.gd/hC1Px Google maps]). Be advised that you should not enter the Catacombs alone or without a person who has a lot of experience climbing around the Paris underground. It is an extremely complicated system of tunnels, perhaps the second largest in the world. In many rooms of the Catacombs you can find a luxury of places to sleep, but you can just as easily get lost in areas where nobody has been or will go for months.<br />
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== Free Showers ==<br />
[http://www.paris.fr/pratique/Portal.lut?document_id=8972&document_type_id=5&page_id=5458&portlet_id=11757 Here] you can find a map of places where you can have free showers in Paris. They are great! :)<br />
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== Useful links ==<br />
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* [http://www.ratp.fr/ Public transportation of Paris]<br />
* [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ Trains and regional transports], ticket agency<br />
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[[nl:Parijs]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Prague&diff=56816Prague2011-10-19T13:22:28Z<p>Smaua: </p>
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<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
{{Infobox Czech Location<br />
|map = <map lat='50.08' lng='14.46' zoom='11' view='3' height='350' width='420'/><br />
|country = Czech Republic<br />
|state = <br />
|pop = 1.218.644<br />
|plate = old: A?? ???? new: ?A? ????<br />
|motorways = [[D1 (CZ)|D1]], [[D5 (CZ)|D5]], [[D8 (CZ)|D8]], [[D11 (CZ)|D11]]<br />
}}<br />
'''Prague''' (''Praha'') is the capital of the [[Czech Republic]].<br />
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== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
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A lot of Czech people don't speak English. (You can try German.) The Czech word for petrol station is "Benzinka". This might come in handy. (MF)<br />
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An abbreviation '''PHA''' written on your sign clearly informs a driver that you go to Prague.<br />
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=== East, towards [[Hradec Králové]], [[Pardubice]], [[Náchod]], [[Wrocław|Wroclaw]] ===<br />
From Cerny most, the last station of B-line metro(yellow) take bus to station Na Kovárně(221, 303, 304, 344, 353, 398), it is about 10 minutes ride and probably you are going to pay few crounds, but not much. Hundred metres behind the stop turn right and go along Tlustého street, after last house keep the right(bigger) road, then left before the cemetery. Go across the bridge to the petrol station. It is about 1,5 km, but I think it is the best hitch spot on this direction. There usuall isn´t too many cars, but I´v never been there more than half an hour. If you get lost ask anyone about "Hummer Garden" (the place only for Hummers) which is just behind the station (road E67).<br />
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Maybe better is to use K+R place near Cerny Most metro station, lots of hitchhikers use this place. Use sign HK (Hradec Kralove) or PL (if you want to Nachod and Poland). It's necessary to use the sign, because cars are there going to many directions.<br />
Disadvantage is that there are only cars travelling out of Prague - not those going from Prague ring road. But there is no non-freeway solution how to pick up those cars. My personal experience (dj-bobr) for east way (Hradec Kralove, Poland) is that you can try to hitchhike at the beginning of D11 Highway (50.098664 N, 14.597708 E). It's a motorway, but police don't care, if you stand safe at the shoulder.<br />
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=== North-East, towards [[Mlada Boleslav]], [[Liberec]], [[Goerlitz]], ===<br />
[[File:Stop_hk.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Dj-bobr at the beginning of D11 Highway.]]<br />
You can hitch from a gas station on the E65. Take the metro line B (yellow) to the last station, Cerny Most. From there catch bus number 220 to the stop called Do Certous. When you get off the bus the gas station is behind the big orange building with "H1" on it.<br />
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Another option is to use K+R place near Cerny Most metro station (the same for going to Hradec Kralove), lots of hitchhikers use this place. Use sign MB (Mlada Boleslav), LB (Liberec). It's necessary to use the sign, because cars are there going to many directions.<br />
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=== North, North-West, towards [[Dresden]], [[Berlin]] ===<br />
You can also get to an easily reachable petrol station on the motorway getting north walking.<br />
You must go to Letňanská (e.g. bus 195, 140, 158 from metro Prosek). Then going down from the bus, you can see the entrance of the motorway straight ahead. Put yourself so you have the motorway on your right, then cross the street (going north then), and then the parking, and go behind the buildings, looking for a small bridge (“most” in Czech), going above the motorway. From there you will see the petrol station. There are not so many people stopping there, but they all are (almost) going in the good direction. Just ask if they are going north (“sever”) or if they can just let you on the next petrol station (“příští pumpa”/“prschieschtee pumpa”), where there will be normally more cars.<br />
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==== Second option ====<br />
You need to get to the first big petrol station OMV with McDonalds on D8(E55). From metro station ”Letňany” take bus (195, 140, 158, 110, 269) to the stop “Obchodní centrum Čakovice”. Then on the other side of the road take bus (202) and ride one stop to “Na Lukách”. Bus goes once in an hour, so it's better to walk there for 10 minutes. The bus stop “Na Lukách” is very close to D8(E55) motorway. If you took bus or walked, then go towards the bridge and from there you can see the petrol station at left. From that petrol station you can either hitch-hike to Dresden directly or to the last petrol station OMV before Lovosice or to the Agip petrol station after Usti. The hitch-hiking position there is also good.<br />
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'''Warning''': If you are passing through Dresden, take a look on [[Dresden]] hitchwiki page.<br />
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==== Third option ====<br />
Use the third option, if you don't want to go with so many buses. Just take the red metro line (C) to the terminal station Letňany and then walk from there to the spot marked by Fatidik. It is 300m walking from there. Walk to the street Tupolevova and at the first crossing left into the Beranovych until the end, then right and straight until you see a small walking path leading you to the service station. There are not so many cars and you may wait a little long if you are two male hitchers.<br />
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==== Fourth - BEST Option ====<br />
From the petrol station point described above simply walk 2km in the direction of the highway (Dresden/Berlin) and you will reach another OMV petrol station which has a McDonalds. This is way more populated spot, I only waited less than an hour to be picked up to be driven to Berlin.<br />
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=== West, towards [[Plzeň|Plzen]], [[Nürnberg]] ===<br />
From metro Zlicin (line B, yellow), take bus nr 380 or 308 to Rudna. The village main road goes straight through it. Stop around the center of the village, busstop Rudna Horelice which is the 13th stop. Ticket costs approximately 18 Koruna. You'll see the motorway passing on the bridge on your right. Go under the bridge and walk on the main road until the 3 rd right turn which is called Horelicka. Take the third road , go straight until the end and you will see (Ke Hristi). Take the small path at the end of the street, you'll arrive at the gas station. It's a 5-10 min walk. Avoid going into Plzen or getting dropped off on the bypass. It's better to try to find a direct ride to [[Germany]] from the last petrol station before Plzen. ( ** We 2 guys waited here for 45 minutes before getting a hitch hike upto the border of Germany post which going to Paris was easy. Verified on 6th September 2011) <br />
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Another option is to take a tram (9, 10) to ''Motol'', that's where the motorway link starts. Not a perfect place, but cars are not too fast and there are quite a lot of Germans passing.<br />
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'''Another option''':<br />
From metro "Zlicin" (line B, yellow) go the the crossroad on traffic lights, there's a bridge before (under the bridge are railways), so walk on the traffic light and stand right on the triangle, you can catch cars from both ways, they are going slowly there, and there's also a place to stop. We have been waiting there for 10 minutes. ( This OPTION Does not work - Don't Waste Time. verified on 6th Sep 2011 ) Look at the picture for details: [http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7165/topilsen.jpg nice spot]<br />
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=== South-east, towards [[Brno]], [[Bratislava]], [[Budapest]], [[Vienna]], [[Kraków]] (D1 highway) ===<br />
From metro Opatov (line C, red) follow noise to the motorway. Walk along the road about 5 minutes, keep going over the crossroad and the bridge over the motorway (see second map). Now you might see other hitchhikers on the slip-road. Alternatively, you can take bus number 177 from metro Opatov to next station called U Dalnice. (It's request stop, so press the stop-button after the bus starts moving.) Be careful and stay on the slip road, not on the motorway (sometimes police passes by). Average waiting time is less than one hour. From the bridge you can see the petrol station 'Újezd u Průhonic' – it's about 1.5&nbsp;km by motorway, but it isn't a good place.<br />
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[[File:ujezdupruhonicprague.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Hitchhikers at Újezd u Průhonic petrol station. Regular local hitchers were about, as well as hitchers doing the race.]]<br />
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==== Second option ====<br />
Use the petrol station, it is a good place, easier to reach and you'll get rides quickly. From metro Opatov (line C, red) climb the steps to the motorway. Look on the bus stop timetables for the stop “K Sukovu” on route 324, 363 or 385 (you are going south, the buses should leave every 15 minutes, and you can use the same ticket that you got on the metro). Get to K Sukovu – you'll know you're there when you see the petrol station to your right. From K Sukovu walk in the direction the bus is going for about 500m. After you cross the motorway bridge, the petrol station is on your right. This is a perfect spot! (MF)<br />
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[[User:tmoon|Tom]] shared this spot with about 20 other hitchhikers during a race in April 2007 (most started at the slip-road spot described above, but just got dumped at this petrol station). While his teammates fell asleep on the grass for 3 hours (!), he was able to chat with other hitchhikers and drivers, and get ride offers towards [[Brno]], [[Bratislava]], [[Budapest]], [[Vienna]] and [[Kraków]]. The average waiting time was 20–30 minutes, plus there were several truck drivers promising longer lifts after a few hours' rest.<br />
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==== Third option ====<br />
<br />
If you're lazy walking long ways till you reach the hitch-spot, you should try option three:<br />
<br />
* Take Metro C till '''Chodov'''<br />
* leaving the metro entry turn right into road '''Roztylska''' until you reach the roundabout<br />
* the 2nd exit of the roundabout is yours, then again turn the first right into road '''Kloknetova'''<br />
* walk straight through the path in the bush, cross the street, enter the gas station and hitch a ride =)<br />
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The gas-station is a smaller one right on the motorway, but even if you won't find a long-distance ride in the first 10 minutes you can ask drivers to bring you to the next gas-stations which is 10 minutes away by car.at this bigger gas station lots of people stop to refill and are going direction [[Brno]], [[Vienna]] and Ceske Budejovice [[Budweis]].<br />
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On the Viva con Agua Hitchhike Race in 2009 one team chose that spot and it worked our pretty good!<br />
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== Public transport ==<br />
'''Always have a valid ticket when travelling by metro!''', unless you look like a Czech! Tourists are the biggest source of income for DPP (Prague public trans.), so the controllers are first to check those, who do not look like Czech citizens. The fine is 700 Kč (30 euro), so better buy a ticket or travel by tram/bus. If you plan to stay longer, you can buy a ticket for one, three or five days that costs 100, 330 or 500 CZK.<br />
<br />
I will suggest buy a one day ticket or something like that, look confident and don't validate it. If a controller comes, pretend to not speak Czech or English properly and say, but I bought a ticket. If you look confused at the best, they should or will validate your ticket and nothing else. Before boarding the Metro Compartment observe for Controllers already inside. Once inside at each station carefully observe for who all are getting in the car. If it looks like they maybe controllers, before the door shuts just get out of the metro. <br><br />
But rather then in cars, the controllers are near the stair. So if you see them, I advise to board the metro once again and get out on the next station. Some stations have several exits and sometimes controllers are only at one exit at the top of the stairs maybe. So try different exits. It's annoying and risky but doable.<br />
<br />
<br />
On metro stations you can find maps of Prague with public transport, this can be useful, because the lines are changing (especially bus lines).<br />
<br />
[[:wikitravel:Prague]]<br />
[[trash:Prague]]<br />
<br />
{{Cities Czech Republic}}<br />
<br />
{{hitchbase_city|92}}<br />
<br />
<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
[[Category:E55]]<br />
[[Category:E65]]<br />
[[Category:E59]]<br />
[[Category:E50]]<br />
[[Category:E48]]<br />
[[Category:E67]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Prag]]<br />
[[tr:Prag]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Bucure%C5%9Fti&diff=56815Bucureşti2011-10-19T13:19:45Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{IsIn|Romania}}{{Infobox Romanian Location<br />
|country = Romania<br />
|state = Ilfov<br />
|pop = 1,931,838 (July 2007)<br />
|motorways = [[A1 (Romania)|A1]], [[A2 (Romania)|A2]], [[A3 (Romania)|A3]]<br />
|map = <map lat='44.455534' lng='26.1099' zoom='10' view='0' /><br />
}}<br />
'''Bucharest''' (Romanian: '''Bucureşti''') is the capital of [[Romania]].<br />
<br />
== Hitching in and around ==<br />
<br />
Bucharest has a ring road completely surrounding the city, which means that hitchhikers can accept a lift to Bucharest and then go further without having to enter the city center and then hitch out again. However, hitching from the ring road in some places can be very difficult, Especially in the north near Otopeni and motorway 1 where they are constructing a new road and it is a very bad area full of prostitutes, stray dogs, gypsies and really no good places for cars to stop. In such cases it is better to just hitch into town and avoid the ring road. Then take a metro or a bus to the side of Bucharest you need to exit from.<br />
<br />
Southbound travelers headed for [[Bulgaria]] or [[Istanbul]] might want to stop at a truck rest stop [http://maps.google.com/?q=bucuresti&ie=UTF8&ll=44.435718,25.964658&spn=0.002896,0.006191&t=h&z=17&iwloc=addr close to where the E70 takes a right turn], where one can possibly find a lift straight there. Even if there are few drivers stopped in the parking lot that you can ask directly, you can thumb trucks driving by, preferably with a sign reading BG or TR. Traffic moves very slowly here so drivers have plenty of time to see you.<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
=== West towards [[Transylvania]], [[Serbia]] {{E|81}} ===<br />
<br />
Get the metro to ''Pacii'' (note the metro is a bit crazy - if you're not careful the trains change lines without warning and you can end up at ''Gare Du Nord'' again!). <br />
From ''Pacii'' you have to find the main road going west, and go to the first bus stop. Get the first bus that says ''Carrefour'' and go all the way to ''Carrefour'' shopping centre, this is the start of the motorway. There's a part where the fence is broken and you can access the motorway here - it's actually a very good spot to hitch, since traffic coming from the big shopping centre stops here.<br />
<br />
The Transylvanian road runs through [[Sibiu]] and [[Cluj-Napoca]]. This is the standard route for central and western Transylvania, the other route through Brasov is a "scenic" journey that takes longer.<br />
<br />
=== South towards [[Giurgiu]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Turkey]] {{E|85}} ===<br />
<br />
Take the M2 metro in direction of ''Berceni''. Get off at ''Eroi Revolutiei'' and look for the ''City Mall'', walk towards it and you will see that the road forks. Take the right fork, the road will be called ''Giurgiului''. Just after the city mall, there's a tram ticket office. Get a ticket (1.3 Lei as of October 2009), and walk a bit more on the road to get to the tram stop. It's right in the middle of the road. Take tram #7 or #25 to the last stop. Then walk down the road for 5 minutes and you will reach a service station on the right hand. You can ask people here or stop cars passing on the main road.<br />
<br />
There's a train from ''Gara de Nord'' to [[Giurgiu]] (leaving at 20:00 and 12:00, August 2010), for the equivalent of about 7 euro. <br />
<br />
==== Personal experiences ====<br />
[[User:Guaka|guaka]] thought it was a good option to get out of the city in the evening, but Giurgiu's train station is not even close to the city, or the border, so a bad option for the night. If you consider this option to save some time it's probably much better to take the train directly to [[Ruse]].<br />
<br />
Joachim and Ron asked and waited for 2 hours in the truck stop mentioned above, they decided to walk along the ring road towards the E85. After about 4 kilometers and just before a traffic light, there's a Turkish truck stop. You can't miss it's on the right side. We walked in, showed our sign "Istanbul" and found a ride within 1 minute. 5 minutes later drinking tea, they agreed to take us all the way to Istanbul.<br />
<br />
=== Northeast towards Urziceni, [[Buzau]], [[Braila]], [[Galaţi]] {{E|85}} ===<br />
<br />
Take the metro to Piaţa Obor, then from there take tram #21 north to the last stop. The tram will turn off the main road into its terminus station, but after getting out of the tram continue walking straight on the main road. You will come to a bridge after a large market called ''Europa''. Hitchhiking here is possible, but you will have to compete with other people who are standing alongside the road to flag down minibuses. A better option is to continue walking north for about three kilometers until after the Bucharest ring road, where all cars going northeast are isolated.<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Constanţa]], [[Vama Veche]] (A2) ===<br />
<br />
Take the red metro line to Anghel Saligny, the last stop in direction east. If you leave the station, you are right at the beginning of the motorway A2 in direction Constanţa.<br />
<br />
== Public transport ==<br />
* The bus/tram ticket inspectors are not working after 7 pm so a ticket check after this hour is highly unlikely<br />
* The buses are running between 5 am and 11 pm<br />
* 1 Ticket is 1.5 Lei (0.30 EUR)<br />
* Controllers in Romania are very sneaky. They don't get on at bus stops but instead they go on at traffic lights. So that way no one can get out of the bus and they can catch people easier. They usually go in near the front so if you want a chance of escaping them sit right next to the front door and dash out really quickly when the door is open for them to get on. Otherwise, if you get caught try saying you have no money and that you are traveling by autostop(romanian word for hitchhiking) around the world with no money. Having a hitchhiking sign and backpack would help your story :) This worked once for Luke and Sma. Controllers just gave back our passports and left us alone whereas a few minutes earlier they were threatening to call the police.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{Cities Romania}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Romania]]<br />
[[Category:Route to Istanbul]]<br />
[[Category:E60]]<br />
[[Category:E68]]<br />
[[Category:E70]]<br />
[[Category:E81]]<br />
[[Category:E85]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Athens&diff=56814Athens2011-10-19T13:14:18Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Italian Location<br />
|country = Greece<br />
|state = <br />
|map = <map lat='38' lng='23.74' zoom='10' view='0' /><br />
|pop = 2,805,000<br />
|plate = YA - YH<br />
|motorways = 1, 6<br />
}}<br />
'''Athens''' is the capital of [[Greece]].<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
<br />
=== North to [[Thessaloniki]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] (E75) ===<br />
Take the metro from the center north to Nea Ionia station. ('''Suggestion''': When you get off from the metro, take the bus no. 724 (it starts from here, you can't miss the direction) and get off at stop "Gymnasio" that is 10th stop and just walk 50m. Way better than to walk few kilometers as described in next lines). From the exit of the metro station, turn right, go down a few dozen meters, and go under the tunnel. This is the start of Odos Elevtheriou Venizelou. Walk up this street to Odos Tatoiou and turn right. Walk straight for a few kilometers until the road rises to become a bridge over a large motorway. Note that you will cross ringroad/highway E-94 (A6) first, but continue straight until you get to the bridge going over highway E-75 (A1). Don't go up the bridge, but rather take the road that stays below the bridge and runs to the right side. This is signposted ''Lamia'', one of the first major cities north of Athens. The best time to get a lift is the early morning when local people are driving to work in more distant communities. Eventually someone will stop who can take you far enough north that you can escape the Athens metropolitan area and get long distance rides. For Macedonia, turn left about a kilometer after the enormous toll booth plaza before Thessaloniki.<br />
<br />
Anywhere you hitch from, try to get a lift going at least to the town/village called Oinofyta. 10km before that there is a huge gas station called Autogrill where you can get long lifts if you are lucky. In Greece it is also no problem to hitch on the actual highway as long as you are far enough from the city suburbs.<br />
<br />
For a place to sleep before Thessaloniki, there is a great 24 hour rest area/gas station called Olympus plaza(olympusplaza.gr). It is 10km east of Katerini and has free wifi, showers and comfortable couches you can sleep on. Workers were really nice when Sma asked if she could sleep there, they said "of course!".<br />
<br />
=== Southwest to [[Patra]]s and the [[Peloponnesos]] (E94) ===<br />
==== Option 1 ====<br />
* Bus A16 from Aigaleo Metro Station (end of blue line) <br />
* Bus B16 from Metxourgio Metro Station (Red Line)<br />
* Bus 865 200m from Eleonas Metro Station (blue line)<br />
<br />
Get off at 1st Aerodromiou Stop or Levkes Stop. There you will see the connection with National Road 8(N8)<br />
<br />
==== Option 2 ====<br />
'''Harrys Truck-Stop'''<br />
<br />
In the suburb of Aspropyrgos, in west Athens, there is a truck-stop well known and used by truck-drivers. There are many trucks from western and northern Europe which means that hitchers will have very good chances of getting a lift to the port-city of Patras and possibly even beyond into Europe.<br />
<br />
The truck stop is at the 17th km of National Road Athens-Korinthos (Athinon-Korinthou). Ιt seems this is where Halivas Cement Company is.<br />
It's a huge area and bus drivers and people know it.<br />
<br />
==== Option 3 ====<br />
Take Suburban Train Piraeus-Kiato from Piraeus or Athens aka Larissis Train Station (not to be confused with Larissa TOWN) <br />
<br />
Get off at last stop. Walk straight from the right side of the railway line to the motorway you see. There turn right.<br />
After 20m there is a left turn to Egio, Patras.<br />
There are almost no controllers on that train. I have taken it 5-6 times last two months (April-May 2010) usually on Fridays <br />
and have seen no controllers. My girlfriend neither in different occasions. Ticket is EUR 6.<br />
<br />
==== Option 4 ====<br />
Eleusina Toll Station.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping ==<br />
From the northbound hitchhiking point, go up the stairs, across the bridge to the other side of the motorway, take the stairs down, and then walk a few meters south. You'll find a small wooded area surrounded by a fence. The gate of this is open, you just have to look for it. Surrounded on all sides by motorway and away from any normal pedestrian avenues, this is a pretty safe place to camp for the night, even pitch a tent. The large amount of trees means you won't be seen by the cars, which pass by rather fast.<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
Blackriding is possible and easy because controllers here have a dark blue uniform, easy to spot. Just look out the window of the bus before you get to the bus stop.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Greece}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:E75]]<br />
[[Category:Greece]]<br />
[[Category:Route Athens - Thessaloniki]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Thessaloniki&diff=56813Thessaloniki2011-10-19T13:12:16Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Italian Location<br />
|country = Greece<br />
|state = <br />
|map = <map lat='40.65355504328839' lng='22.928466796875' zoom='10' view='0' float='right' /><br />
|pop = 801,000<br />
|plate = NA - NZ<br />
|motorways = E75, E90<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Thessaloniki''' is a city in [[Greece]].<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
<br />
=== East towards Kavala and [[Istanbul]] ([[Turkey|TR]]) {{E|90}} ===<br />
This route is widely perceived to be difficult. The best and rather easy way of doing this is hitching with a Turkish truck. Take bus #27 from the centre (e.g. Kamara) until the very end of the line. [UPDATE: bus #83 no longer starts where bus #27 finishes. Instead ask your #27 bus driver where to get off for bus #83] Switch to bus #83 and go a few stops until you see the motorway. Get off when you see a JetOil rest area on the other side of the motorway. Just follow the bus and go under the motorway to reach the other side. Once you are there, rally the gas station personnel to help you. Show them your Istanbul (or Kavala or whatever) sign and ask them to tell you if they notice someone going to Turkey. Be prepared to convince the paranoid drivers that you are not wanted by the police and show them your passport. Getting a ride can take anything between one minute and five hours but this IS the way to do it. Do not even consider other small gas stations or thumbing up on the road. When you get to the border you might want to switch to a passenger car because the truck could be stuck in customs for a while.<br />
<br />
Another option: Bus #83 goes all the way to Langada. If you stay on the bus until it reaches this small town, you can easily hitch out in the direction of Kavala, Istanbul, etc.<br />
<br />
''A hitchhiking experience:<br />
I followed the instructions and went to JetOil and got the personnel to help, but it turned out to be quite hard to get a ride going east. Even though a lot of cars and trucks do stop there, the cars appeared to be going local and the trucks were heading towards Athens. After half an hour, I decided to move on and got a short ride to the highway. After 5 minutes a trucker, who was on his way to Iran, stopped for me. So even though I do not recommend thumbing up on the highway, it does work some time.<br />
December 2010, Lana''<br />
<br />
Another hitchhiking experience:<br />
I tried the recommended way of asking around at the JetOil trying to get out of Thessaloniki, with no luck. It seemed all the truckers were either sleeping, local, or going to Athens. Also, they were not that keen on taking hitchhikers anyway. After a few hours, I went to the highway right next to the station (there is an opening in the fence, you just have to look for it), and got a ride halfway to Istanbul within 10 minutes. It surprises me how closedminded the original post is, being that it is entirely possible, and quite easy to get a ride on the highway. Just a lesson that you should never take anyone's recommendation as absolute truth. I would personally recommend getting the gas-pumpers at the station to ask around for you (they were incredibly friendly), and stay within clear sight on the highway in case they get you a ride before you do. <br />
<br />
February 2011 Jon<br />
<br />
One More:<br />
First of all: it's not easy at all to hitchhike in Greece btw Thessaloniki. We spent one day and two hours the next day in that area to get a hike in the direction to turkey. If you take the bus #83 from town be prepared that it DOESNT stop on the highway. we drove to the next station and waited for the bus #86 to drive back. the whole in the fence is an option but a bad one because the cars are driving fast and they have almost no space to stop. we got a hitch at the drive-up, direction kavala. it is wide and the cars are driving slow. if you come with the bus and go under the highway you'll find it on your left hand side. 250m to walk from the JetOil. Good Luck! July 2011, Timo<br />
<br />
=== West to [[Igoumenitsa]] {{E|90}} ===<br />
<br />
Go to the train station, which is also the inner-city bus station. From here, take bus 8 KTEL (the KTEL are the blue and white buses) to Makedonia bus station. From there, you can catch the bus #80 to the end of the line, then follow motorway signs walking (approx. 2km) to the [[toll station]]. Or rather than taking bus #80, just walk across the road (roundabout) till you come to an [[on-ramp]] where, according to [[User:Liva|Liva]], is a a pretty good spot to stop cars.<br />
<br />
In [[Igoumenitsa]] you can get a ride with trucks over the sea to [[Italy]].<br />
<br />
=== Northeast to [[Sofia]] ([[Bulgaria|BG]]) ===<br />
<br />
Take the bus #27 from the centre the the final s top ''Platia Stavroupolis'' (Stavroupolis square). Then take bus #85 and you're already on your way. Almost any stop of this bus leaves you at a good hitchhiking point, but the nineteenth stop ''21o chiliometro'' (21st kilometre) is right on a petrol station on the way to Serres and the Bulgarian border (to Sandansky, Blagoevgrad, Sofia). The road is E79 and it's not a motorway, especially after the border. These city bus tickets cost only 50 cents (that you don't even have to pay) and take you quite some kilometres out of the city towards all destinations.<br />
<br />
=== North West to [[Kilkis]] ([[Greece]]) or [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] ===<br />
Basically you need to take 2 buses. Very similar to the above direction to Sofia. But this time it is bus #27 / #27a and bus #84 / # 84a. You can change buses in two different places.<br />
<br />
* This way is faster as you don't need to stay on bus #27 so long. Take bus #27 or #27a and get off at Minerva stop in Oreokastrou suburb. If you walk some hundreds of meters from the bus stop where you get off, in the direction the bus was going, you will reach a crossroads and on your left you will see another bus stop. From there you can take bus #84.<br />
* This way is easier because you don't need to change bus stops, it is the way mentioned in the Northeast to Sofia section. Take the bus #27 or #27a from the centre the the final s top ''Platia Stavroupolis'' (Stavroupolis square). Then at the same place take bus #84 / #84a and you're already on your way.<br />
<br />
Stay on bus #84 whilst it passes through 2 villages, Liti and Melissochiori. When it is out of Melissochiori, at one point the bus will cross the road going to Kilkis and you will see signs for Kilkis. When you are at the cross roads you can press the stop button on the bus and it will stop just after the cross. There is a bus stop there. Then you are at a great spot for hitching a ride to Kilkis, Gallikos or even Macedonia(but not the most common way to Skopje. it is a different border).<br />
<br />
=== North West to Serbia (Belgrade) ===<br />
<br />
'''A hitchhiking experience:'''<br />
''I took bus 81A from KTEL busstation to Agios Athanasios. Got off when it turns from the highway. From there hitched to Polykastro and another ride got me to the border. At the border asked the car in front of me for a ride, which got me to Skopje. Standing on the highway there, it was very quiet, but I was very lucky as an Austrian car passed and got me straight to Belgrade.<br />
<br />
January 2011, Lana''<br />
<br />
=== South to [[Athens]] ===<br />
<br />
Take Buses #31, #12, #8 or #78 to the bus station called KTEL. From there take bus #80 or #80A to the village called ''Malgara''. You can go down on the station "''25 Martiou''" which is the closest to the tolls (in Greek ''ikostis pemptis martiou'' if you wan ask the driver). There you can ask and find the toll station (in Greek ''diodia'') easily. You'll have to walk about 2 km to find it, but then there is a possibility to get a ride even straight to Athens. Before you enter the motorway where the toll station is, you will have to go through some fields. If it's night be careful, just before the motorway there is a small ridge that is a bit steep and there is water flowing down, you need to find your way around it. If it's day, from the fields you can see a small canteen on the motorway, head to that direction, you can bypass the ridge there very easily and also you don't need to jump the fence (easy to jump though) because there is an entrance/exit for the canteen. From the canteen you will see the tolls, they are less than 50 m away.<br />
<br />
== Sleep ==<br />
There are many hospitality network members in the city, so try your luck there. [[User:Liva|Livas]] had luck once at sleeping in the train station. She asked the people on the train station if she could sleep there even though they where closed at night, and she could!<br />
<br />
Some have had luck asking the good people at Mikropolis/Micropolis Social Space, (see [http://wikimapia.org/#lat=40.6360852&lon=22.939539&z=17&l=0&m=s&v=9&show=/13098671/Mikropolis]). They were very friendly and could advise on where to squat for the night.<br />
<br />
=== Camping ===<br />
The university campus in Thessaloniki is just in the city centre and it's the perfect place to sleep in your van/tent/sleeping bag, because it's the only green place in the city and because the police are not allowed to enter the university! There are few guards but don't have the right to touch you. It's generally safe, though perhaps not suitable for a single female.<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
The tickets for the buses in the city are cheap, only 0.50€. Blackriding is possible. If you speak to the controller in a foreign language (showing that you're a tourist, not an illegal immigrant) they'll just leave you alone. If not, they first ask 30 Euros for the tax, you say you don't have. Then they ask your id card, you say you don't have it with you and then they'll just give you a paper to note your name and address, where you can write any fake name. Or even simpler you can give your real passport and they are supposed to send you the bill to your country. It's 100% SURE that they will not.<br />
<br />
There were big movements in this city about not paying for public transport. Many people don't pay and controls are rare. Spent a whole month in this city taking buses daily and never got checked.<br />
<br />
== Free food ==<br />
Thessaloniki is perhaps the only place in the world where you can eat everyday for free easily. Next to the campus of Aristotles university, Egnatia street, after the crossroad with 3rd September street there is the university canteen. Ask anybody for ''fititiki leschi''/φοιτητική λέσχη. There you can find a free full meal twice a day. 12.00-15.00 and 18.00-20.00. These free meals are provided for the university students, but even if you're not one, you don't have to pay and you don't have to show a student ID or any document. Just follow the queue, take the food and eat it. There's never any checks. There's nothing to be afraid of, just try to look more or less like a student. Only disadvantage is that it is closed on weekends, summer holidays and not-working days for the university in general. Picture of the building [http://www.makthes.gr/filestore/modules/news/68918/lesxi.jpg here].<br />
<br />
This might not be true anymore, have heard that this year they started checking for a student pass.<br />
<br />
* You're right, since September 2010 they started checking. But don't be scared, just ignore them, they don't insist! Myself, although I have a student card, I refuse to show it, many students do so out of solidarity. Tidy looks always help.<br />
<br />
* Actually they don't check anymore. Barely anyone was showing their IDs when they started checking so they gave up. Nobody cares now. Go early if you want choice of foods. Sometimes they run out of the nicest meal or of the dessert and they give you the other one and an orange instead of the baklava or rice pudding. You can easily ask for seconds and thirds.<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Greece}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
[[Category:Greece]]<br />
[[Category:E75]]<br />
[[Category:E79]]<br />
[[Category:E90]]<br />
[[Category:Route Athens - Thessaloniki]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Thessaloniki]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Sofia&diff=56812Sofia2011-10-19T13:09:44Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Location<br />
|country = Bulgaria<br />
|state = Sofia-City<br />
|map = <map lat='42.69858589169842' lng='23.37066650390625' zoom='10' view='3'/> <br />
|pop = 1,400,000<br />
|plate = C, CA, CO<br />
|motorways = [[A1 (Bulgaria)|A1]], [[A2 (Bulgaria)|A2]]<br />
|hitchbase = 205<br />
}}<br />
'''Sofia''' ([[Bulgaria]]n: ''София'') is the capital and largest city of [[Bulgaria]], lying in the west of the country.<br />
<br />
== Hitching in and around ==<br />
<br />
Sofia has a ring road. Drivers transiting between Serbia and points further east in Bulgaria will go around the north of the city. If you are dropped off on the ring road, you can walk a few hundred metres to a bus stop and tale a bus to the city centre.<br />
<br />
== Hitching out ==<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Plovdiv]], [[Edirne]] and [[Istanbul]] ===<br />
<br />
Take metro and get to last stop called Младост 1 (Mladost 1). Walk north along Yerusalim street until you get to the main road Tsarigradsko Shose. You should see Carrefour shopping centre around. Then take bus number 5 direction Lozen and go with it until it leaves main road on a cloverleaf junction. Get off on the next stop and go back to the junction. You will stand on a motorway junction with directions north, east to [[Plovdiv]] and west to [[Sofia]]. Go down the ramp to direction [[Plovdiv]] and you will see some shops and bars where people stop next to the motorway. Try standing on the hard shoulder to get a lift or ask people there. Nearly all traffic there goes to [[Plovdiv]] or even further east.<br />
<br />
=== West towards [[Serbia]] {{E|80}} ===<br />
<br />
Take the metro to the stop ''Slivnitsa'' (Сливница). Take bus 54 towards ''Bozhurishe'' or walk northwest along the avenue ''Slivnitsa'' for 2 km until you meet the Sofia ring road. You can hitch 200 metres after the intersection with the ring road.<br />
<br />
This road enters Serbia at the [[Kalotina-Dimitrovgrad border crossing]]. Try to get a lift straight to the border, as otherwise you may be stuck for a while at inconvenient spots.<br />
<br />
=== Southwest towards [[Skopje]] ===<br />
<br />
Take tram number 19 in the direction ''Knyazhevo'' all the way to the last stop. You will recognize the last stop because it turns off the road to make a tight loop and doubles back on its route. As you hop off the tram, to the left of the water fountains in front of you is a short staircase that leads into a small park. 50 m from the stairs, directly through the park, you will find a bus station where you can catch bus number 59 that will take you all the way out of the city to nice spots to hitch from along the road that goes towards Pernik. <br />
<br />
For the first nice spot along this direction heed the following: after about 8 minutes on the bus be on the look out for a gas station on the left side of the road. Get off as soon as you see this gas station as there is a nice place about 400 meters up the road where cars and lorries can safely pull off for you.<br />
<br />
It is possible to ride on a bit farther if you miss this stop. The bus pulls off the main road about 3km later and goes into rural neighborhood where you must get off less you wish to be lost in the countryside. If you find yourself here walk in the same direction as you are destined on a small road that runs parallel with the highway until you cross under it. On the left just after the bridge is a small foot path that will lead you up onto the bridge, over the railway, and onto the highway where right here you can find another space for cars to pull off the road safely for you.<br />
<br />
=== North towards [[Veliko Tarnovo]], [[Bucureşti|Bucharest]], [[Varna]] ===<br />
<br />
Take tram 22 in direction east, get off at the last stop. The road parallel to the tramline runs directly out of the city, its possible to hitch anywhere from here but I would suggest a better place after the ring road which isolates only the traffic running to the A2 motorway. 7 km up the road is a Shell petrol station, the last stop for gas before the motorway, you can either walk the 7 km straight up the road or if you look to the left you will see a carpark in front of a car dealership. This is the bus station, take either the 117, 90 or 12, all will run directly up the road and stop more or less in front of the Shell petrol station. You can choose either the petrol station or just up the road is also ideal for hitching. An even better option is to take the 90 and persist with it until you reach the end of a road village called Gorni Bogrov (Bulgarian: Горни Богров), where you can hitch-hike from the bus station directly with great success since it has a lot of room for stopping and cars drive slow.<br />
<br />
=== South towards [[Blagoevgrad]], [[Thessaloniki]] ===<br />
<br />
Take tram 5 to the last stop - the tram originates behind the court building (Съдебна палата) in the center of Sofia. Walk another 5-10 minutes in the same direction of the tram until it is clear you are out of that neighborhood where all the traffic is heading out of the city. A good place to stop is at or just after the last stop light so the drivers are already stopped and have time to see you. Or don't mess with the walking, take the bus #58 and go till it leaves the road for the village of Vladaya/Владая. If you are lucky a trucker will pick you up going all the way to [[Thessaloniki]] and on to [[Italy]], otherwise the first 20 km are tricky (lot or cars going short distances) but after you pass [[Pernik]] you'll get a ride all the way to [[Blagoevgrad]] in no time.<br />
<br />
== Hitching In ==<br />
=== West from [[Plovdiv]], [[Edirne]] and [[Istanbul]] ===<br />
<br />
If you're in a car continuing in the direction of Belgrade you can get off where they turn right, where it says something like "transit Belgrado". If you walk a bit further you will find a bus stop for bus #5.<br />
<br />
== Transport between north and south ==<br />
If you just want to get through the city as hitching from the direction of the Serbian [[Niš|Nis]] to [[Greece]] to the south or opposite there's a quite useful bus to take. The number is 111 and goes around the ring on the west outskirts of the city. On the north, the end stop is just around some DIY shopping center, need to cross these to get to the ring. On the south the end is not the road to [[Greece]], so be aware to get off in time.<br />
<br />
== Public transport ==<br />
* Inspectors on the busses may ask for a ticket for bigger baggages.<br />
* Ticket costs 1 lev (0.50 EUR)<br />
* You can easily find tickets to use on the buses and trams if you look in the bins next to the bus stop. The tickets get validated by hole punching and it's really easy to find tickets with the same holes that the bus you will take. Just stamp a normal piece of paper and compare the holes on it with the ones on tickets which you find. Blackriding is also doable as controllers are not SO frequent. They do happen though.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{hitchbase_city|205}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
[[Category:Bulgaria]]<br />
[[Category:Route to Istanbul]]<br />
[[Category:E80]]<br />
[[Category:E83]]<br />
[[Category:E79]]<br />
<br />
[[bg:София]]<br />
[[de:Sofia]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Posadas&diff=55228Posadas2011-10-03T10:25:19Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>Posadas is a city in Argentina.<br />
<br />
==Sleep==<br />
from www.hitchtheworld.com:<br />
Posadas has a very, very nice bus station, for anyone who happens to be wondering. Here’s where you need to go if you’re looking to spend the night there: there’s a closed off waiting room that’s open 24 hours near the place where the buses leave. You can smoke, watch cable TV, sleep on the benches – hell you can even set up your tent if you want. And the whole place has WiFi. It’s easily the best bus station I’ve ever seen – and I’ve slept in a lot of bus stations in a lot of countries.</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Argentina&diff=55227Argentina2011-10-03T10:24:32Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>__NOTOC__<br />
{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Argentina<br />
|in = South America<br />
|map = <map lat='-41' lng='-64' zoom='4' view='0' height='550' country='Argentina'/><br />
|language = Spanish<br />
|capital = [[Buenos Aires]]<br />
|pop = 40,482,000<br />
|currency = Peso (ARS)<br />
|BW = AR<br />
|hitch = <rating country='ar' /><br />
|hitchbase = 9<br />
}}<br />
'''[[Argentina]]''' is a country in [[South America]]. The capital is [[Buenos Aires]]. It has borders to [[Chile]], [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]], [[Uruguay]] and [[Paraguay]].<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking culture ==<br />
<br />
For hitchhikers '''Argentina''' can be divided into two parts. The North, which is pretty okay to hitchhike, and the South on which opinions vary a lot: it may be difficult to hitchhike if you get into the lonely dirt roads of the Patagonia, because population is scarce. But if you travel southward to the end of Argentina, rides may be a little bit hard, but they take you a long way along.<br />
<br />
Argentina has a reputation for variable to long waiting times. Several hours isn't unusual overall.<br />
<br />
It seems to be much safer, faster, and informative to ask drivers at roadside stops such as gas stations and truckstops. Standing on the road with a thumb out can last for hours, and is really a last resort. If you want to go far, go with the truckers. They will carry you sometimes over 1000 km, and leave you at a good place to continue. Just keep asking. When you're looking for a ride at truck stops, keep an eye out for Brazilian and Chilean plates. Truckers from these neighboring countries are usually much more willing to give you a ride than the Argies, who will bullshit you about the transport company having sensors in the seats and harsh fines for taking riders.<br />
<br />
[[File:C_rivadavia.jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[User:narfette|narfette]] hitchhiking on ruta 3, Trelew, Argentina]]<br />
<br />
It's considered normal to ask the people working filling tanks at gas stations to ask people for you. If you're a foreigner, ''do'' mention it! A [[Netherlands|Dutch]] guy mentioned that it seems to be a lot easier to get rides.<br />
<br />
=== Toll Roads ===<br />
<br />
There are quite some ''peajes'' (toll passages). In the South however, these are not so good and you will just be sent away after a while.<br />
<br />
=== License Plates ===<br />
<br />
License plates are black, composed by three white letters and three white numbers. If you're in another country and hitching to Argentina, look for these plates!<br />
<br />
=== Maps ===<br />
<br />
A normal map is pretty expensive, but there is a road map containing many countries of [[South America]] for something like 10 pesos. [http://www.br.map24.com/ Map24] (in Portuguese) has information about the whole of [[South America]].<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
Buses are expensive but unbelievable nice. Fully reclining seat and food provided. If you take a bus, treat it as a hotel and save a night's hotel fees.<br />
<br />
Trains are super cheap but only serve limited routes. They are an excellent way to see the countryside and come in contact with a different segment of the population than you'd encounter on a 1st class bus. Highly recommendable. <br />
<br />
In the cities you generally need exact change (coins, no paper money) to pay your fare, so hold on to those 1 peso coins.<br />
<br />
== Regions & Cities ==<br />
<br />
Patagonia has a single very crowded road, which is the ''national ruta nº 3'' that goes along the coast. It is your better bet when heading South.Although there are often many kilometers in between villages, it is a well travelled road.<br />
<br />
There are also some East-West roads, some of them being dirt, some being pavement. It is easy to get a ride on the paved road but dirt roads, however, are much harder because of the lack of vehicles.<br />
<br />
The ''national ruta nº 40'' goes from San Carlos de Bariloche (South) is a road that gets frequently closed off because of the bad weather and is reputed to be hellish to hitch on - fewer cars, unpaved sections and some people have said they have gone days without seeing anyone. Winding, remote mountain roads and bad weather conditions in any season but summer make it less travelled by truckers and therefore is not recommended. [[Gas station]]s are generally your best bet, although roadside hitching is possible. <br />
:In my experience, Ruta 40 is a moderate/difficult but possible hitch during tourist season. You'd be insane to try any other time. Your best bet on Route 40 (at least the southern bit) would be Chilean truckers. From Perito Moreno to Punto Gallegos, the Chileans use the Argentine roads for lack of similar infrastructure in their own country. Also Chilean truckers are way nicer than their Argentine counterparts.<br />
<br />
[[File:img0080ow5.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[User:SAn|SAn]] hitchhiking in Argentina]]<br />
* [[Buenos Aires]]<br />
* [[Cordoba (Argentina)|Cordoba]]<br />
* [[Gualeguay]], [[Gualeguaychu]]<br />
* [[Larroque]]<br />
* [[Mendoza]]<br />
* [[Neuquen]]<br />
* [[Posadas]]<br />
* [[Quines]]<br />
* [[Rosario]]<br />
* [[San Luis]], [[San Marcos Sierras]]<br />
* [[Villa Maria]]<br />
* [[Zapala]]<br />
<br />
== Safety ==<br />
<br />
One word of advice is that although traffic is much heavier in the north, the routes do cross major cities, and hitchhiking is much more dangerous near urban centers. It would be advisable, if possible, to get off at the nearest pueblo and take a bus into cities such as Cordoba, Santa Fe, Rosario, etc. The same can be said for leaving. In the south there are really no big cities, and the highways all have gas stations, and the people are much more helpful. No danger there.<br />
<br />
== Border Crossing ==<br />
<br />
Argentinian border crossings are pretty laid back. [[User:Guaka|guaka]] crossed 4 times in 2006 and doesn't have clear memories about it (meaning it's not that a big deal).<br />
You better avoid changing money at the border crossings though. <br />
<br />
If you're coming from or entering Chile in Patagonia, you can possibly expect a needlessly complicated and long process once you arrive to Argentine customs if their X-Ray machine is broken (which it often is).They must do a manual search of your bags and tend to find silly, irrelevant things like tin foil that are apparently a matter of National Security. [[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] was once delayed leaving Argentina at the Paso Austral to Chile for several hours because of a 'suspicion' that turned out to be baseless. Fortunately, the ''Gendarmeria'' have poorly trained attack dogs who care more about playing with towels than sniffing for contraband.<br />
<br />
== Eating & Drinking ==<br />
<br />
As a vegan you're down to fruits and veggies from the markets. No restaurant will serve anything vegan. As a vegetarian you're down to pizzas.<br />
<br />
== Accommodation & Sleeping ==<br />
<br />
[[User:Guaka|guaka]] slept next to a gas station once, without a tent, without being bothered by anything but mosquitos.<br />
<br />
<br />
In 2010 [[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] squatted in an empty shipping container behind a gas station in [[Ushuaia]] for 45 days. He also has squatted up service stations from Bariloche all the way to Salta, with just a ratty sleeping bag and body odor. He would sometimes get free sandwiches from staff/passerby, and the occasional shower when he started to be mistaken for garbage.<br />
<br />
Note that hitchhiking is usually much faster when [[Appearance|keeping clean]] and when you mind your personal hygiene. YPF service stations in Argentina oftentimes have very cheap, or even free, shower facilities. A few of them even have low-price laundry services that are an excellent resource for any type of traveller.<br />
<br />
== Other Useful Info ==<br />
<br />
===Vaccinations===<br />
In many hospitals around the country anyone can get FREE vaccinations such as ones for yellow fever, etc.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.autostopargentina.com.ar/ Autostop Argentina] (in Spanish)<br />
{{Hitchbase_country|9}}<br />
{{Template:South_America/countries}}<br />
<br />
[[wikipedia:Argentina]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Argentina]]<br />
[[Category:South America]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Argentinien]]<br />
[[es:Argentina]]<br />
[[fi:Argentiina]]<br />
[[fr:Argentine]]<br />
[[pt:Argentina]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Argentina&diff=55226Argentina2011-10-03T10:23:19Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>__NOTOC__<br />
{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Argentina<br />
|in = South America<br />
|map = <map lat='-41' lng='-64' zoom='4' view='0' height='550' country='Argentina'/><br />
|language = Spanish<br />
|capital = [[Buenos Aires]]<br />
|pop = 40,482,000<br />
|currency = Peso (ARS)<br />
|BW = AR<br />
|hitch = <rating country='ar' /><br />
|hitchbase = 9<br />
}}<br />
'''[[Argentina]]''' is a country in [[South America]]. The capital is [[Buenos Aires]]. It has borders to [[Chile]], [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]], [[Uruguay]] and [[Paraguay]].<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking culture ==<br />
<br />
For hitchhikers '''Argentina''' can be divided into two parts. The North, which is pretty okay to hitchhike, and the South on which opinions vary a lot: it may be difficult to hitchhike if you get into the lonely dirt roads of the Patagonia, because population is scarce. But if you travel southward to the end of Argentina, rides may be a little bit hard, but they take you a long way along.<br />
<br />
Argentina has a reputation for variable to long waiting times. Several hours isn't unusual overall.<br />
<br />
It seems to be much safer, faster, and informative to ask drivers at roadside stops such as gas stations and truckstops. Standing on the road with a thumb out can last for hours, and is really a last resort. If you want to go far, go with the truckers. They will carry you sometimes over 1000 km, and leave you at a good place to continue. Just keep asking. When you're looking for a ride at truck stops, keep an eye out for Brazilian and Chilean plates. Truckers from these neighboring countries are usually much more willing to give you a ride than the Argies, who will bullshit you about the transport company having sensors in the seats and harsh fines for taking riders.<br />
<br />
[[File:C_rivadavia.jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[User:narfette|narfette]] hitchhiking on ruta 3, Trelew, Argentina]]<br />
<br />
It's considered normal to ask the people working filling tanks at gas stations to ask people for you. If you're a foreigner, ''do'' mention it! A [[Netherlands|Dutch]] guy mentioned that it seems to be a lot easier to get rides.<br />
<br />
=== Toll Roads ===<br />
<br />
There are quite some ''peajes'' (toll passages). In the South however, these are not so good and you will just be sent away after a while.<br />
<br />
=== License Plates ===<br />
<br />
License plates are black, composed by three white letters and three white numbers. If you're in another country and hitching to Argentina, look for these plates!<br />
<br />
=== Maps ===<br />
<br />
A normal map is pretty expensive, but there is a road map containing many countries of [[South America]] for something like 10 pesos. [http://www.br.map24.com/ Map24] (in Portuguese) has information about the whole of [[South America]].<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
Buses are expensive but unbelievable nice. Fully reclining seat and food provided. If you take a bus, treat it as a hotel and save a night's hotel fees.<br />
<br />
Trains are super cheap but only serve limited routes. They are an excellent way to see the countryside and come in contact with a different segment of the population than you'd encounter on a 1st class bus. Highly recommendable. <br />
<br />
In the cities you generally need exact change (coins, no paper money) to pay your fare, so hold on to those 1 peso coins.<br />
<br />
== Regions & Cities ==<br />
<br />
Patagonia has a single very crowded road, which is the ''national ruta nº 3'' that goes along the coast. It is your better bet when heading South.Although there are often many kilometers in between villages, it is a well travelled road.<br />
<br />
There are also some East-West roads, some of them being dirt, some being pavement. It is easy to get a ride on the paved road but dirt roads, however, are much harder because of the lack of vehicles.<br />
<br />
The ''national ruta nº 40'' goes from San Carlos de Bariloche (South) is a road that gets frequently closed off because of the bad weather and is reputed to be hellish to hitch on - fewer cars, unpaved sections and some people have said they have gone days without seeing anyone. Winding, remote mountain roads and bad weather conditions in any season but summer make it less travelled by truckers and therefore is not recommended. [[Gas station]]s are generally your best bet, although roadside hitching is possible. <br />
:In my experience, Ruta 40 is a moderate/difficult but possible hitch during tourist season. You'd be insane to try any other time. Your best bet on Route 40 (at least the southern bit) would be Chilean truckers. From Perito Moreno to Punto Gallegos, the Chileans use the Argentine roads for lack of similar infrastructure in their own country. Also Chilean truckers are way nicer than their Argentine counterparts.<br />
<br />
[[File:img0080ow5.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[User:SAn|SAn]] hitchhiking in Argentina]]<br />
* [[Buenos Aires]]<br />
* [[Cordoba (Argentina)|Cordoba]]<br />
* [[Gualeguay]], [[Gualeguaychu]]<br />
* [[Larroque]]<br />
* [[Mendoza]]<br />
* [[Neuquen]]<br />
* [[Quines]]<br />
* [[Rosario]]<br />
* [[San Luis]], [[San Marcos Sierras]]<br />
* [[Villa Maria]]<br />
* [[Zapala]]<br />
<br />
== Safety ==<br />
<br />
One word of advice is that although traffic is much heavier in the north, the routes do cross major cities, and hitchhiking is much more dangerous near urban centers. It would be advisable, if possible, to get off at the nearest pueblo and take a bus into cities such as Cordoba, Santa Fe, Rosario, etc. The same can be said for leaving. In the south there are really no big cities, and the highways all have gas stations, and the people are much more helpful. No danger there.<br />
<br />
== Border Crossing ==<br />
<br />
Argentinian border crossings are pretty laid back. [[User:Guaka|guaka]] crossed 4 times in 2006 and doesn't have clear memories about it (meaning it's not that a big deal).<br />
You better avoid changing money at the border crossings though. <br />
<br />
If you're coming from or entering Chile in Patagonia, you can possibly expect a needlessly complicated and long process once you arrive to Argentine customs if their X-Ray machine is broken (which it often is).They must do a manual search of your bags and tend to find silly, irrelevant things like tin foil that are apparently a matter of National Security. [[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] was once delayed leaving Argentina at the Paso Austral to Chile for several hours because of a 'suspicion' that turned out to be baseless. Fortunately, the ''Gendarmeria'' have poorly trained attack dogs who care more about playing with towels than sniffing for contraband.<br />
<br />
== Eating & Drinking ==<br />
<br />
As a vegan you're down to fruits and veggies from the markets. No restaurant will serve anything vegan. As a vegetarian you're down to pizzas.<br />
<br />
== Accommodation & Sleeping ==<br />
<br />
[[User:Guaka|guaka]] slept next to a gas station once, without a tent, without being bothered by anything but mosquitos.<br />
<br />
<br />
In 2010 [[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] squatted in an empty shipping container behind a gas station in [[Ushuaia]] for 45 days. He also has squatted up service stations from Bariloche all the way to Salta, with just a ratty sleeping bag and body odor. He would sometimes get free sandwiches from staff/passerby, and the occasional shower when he started to be mistaken for garbage.<br />
<br />
Note that hitchhiking is usually much faster when [[Appearance|keeping clean]] and when you mind your personal hygiene. YPF service stations in Argentina oftentimes have very cheap, or even free, shower facilities. A few of them even have low-price laundry services that are an excellent resource for any type of traveller.<br />
<br />
== Other Useful Info ==<br />
<br />
===Vaccinations===<br />
In many hospitals around the country anyone can get FREE vaccinations such as ones for yellow fever, etc.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.autostopargentina.com.ar/ Autostop Argentina] (in Spanish)<br />
{{Hitchbase_country|9}}<br />
{{Template:South_America/countries}}<br />
<br />
[[wikipedia:Argentina]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Argentina]]<br />
[[Category:South America]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Argentinien]]<br />
[[es:Argentina]]<br />
[[fi:Argentiina]]<br />
[[fr:Argentine]]<br />
[[pt:Argentina]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Argentina&diff=55225Argentina2011-10-03T10:18:37Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>__NOTOC__<br />
{{infobox Country<br />
|country = of Argentina<br />
|in = South America<br />
|map = <map lat='-41' lng='-64' zoom='4' view='0' height='550' country='Argentina'/><br />
|language = Spanish<br />
|capital = [[Buenos Aires]]<br />
|pop = 40,482,000<br />
|currency = Peso (ARS)<br />
|BW = AR<br />
|hitch = <rating country='ar' /><br />
|hitchbase = 9<br />
}}<br />
'''[[Argentina]]''' is a country in [[South America]]. The capital is [[Buenos Aires]]. It has borders to [[Chile]], [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]], [[Uruguay]] and [[Paraguay]].<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking culture ==<br />
<br />
For hitchhikers '''Argentina''' can be divided into two parts. The North, which is pretty okay to hitchhike, and the South on which opinions vary a lot: it may be difficult to hitchhike if you get into the lonely dirt roads of the Patagonia, because population is scarce. But if you travel southward to the end of Argentina, rides may be a little bit hard, but they take you a long way along.<br />
<br />
Argentina has a reputation for variable to long waiting times. Several hours isn't unusual overall.<br />
<br />
It seems to be much safer, faster, and informative to ask drivers at roadside stops such as gas stations and truckstops. Standing on the road with a thumb out can last for hours, and is really a last resort. If you want to go far, go with the truckers. They will carry you sometimes over 1000 km, and leave you at a good place to continue. Just keep asking. When you're looking for a ride at truck stops, keep an eye out for Brazilian and Chilean plates. Truckers from these neighboring countries are usually much more willing to give you a ride than the Argies, who will bullshit you about the transport company having sensors in the seats and harsh fines for taking riders.<br />
<br />
[[File:C_rivadavia.jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[User:narfette|narfette]] hitchhiking on ruta 3, Trelew, Argentina]]<br />
<br />
It's considered normal to ask the people working filling tanks at gas stations to ask people for you. If you're a foreigner, ''do'' mention it! A [[Netherlands|Dutch]] guy mentioned that it seems to be a lot easier to get rides.<br />
<br />
=== Toll Roads ===<br />
<br />
There are quite some ''peajes'' (toll passages). In the South however, these are not so good and you will just be sent away after a while.<br />
<br />
=== License Plates ===<br />
<br />
License plates are black, composed by three white letters and three white numbers. If you're in another country and hitching to Argentina, look for these plates!<br />
<br />
=== Maps ===<br />
<br />
A normal map is pretty expensive, but there is a road map containing many countries of [[South America]] for something like 10 pesos. [http://www.br.map24.com/ Map24] (in Portuguese) has information about the whole of [[South America]].<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
Buses are expensive but unbelievable nice. Fully reclining seat and food provided. If you take a bus, treat it as a hotel and save a night's hotel fees.<br />
<br />
Trains are super cheap but only serve limited routes. They are an excellent way to see the countryside and come in contact with a different segment of the population than you'd encounter on a 1st class bus. Highly recommendable. <br />
<br />
In the cities you generally need exact change (coins, no paper money) to pay your fare, so hold on to those 1 peso coins.<br />
<br />
== Regions & Cities ==<br />
<br />
Patagonia has a single very crowded road, which is the ''national ruta nº 3'' that goes along the coast. It is your better bet when heading South.Although there are often many kilometers in between villages, it is a well travelled road.<br />
<br />
There are also some East-West roads, some of them being dirt, some being pavement. It is easy to get a ride on the paved road but dirt roads, however, are much harder because of the lack of vehicles.<br />
<br />
The ''national ruta nº 40'' goes from San Carlos de Bariloche (South) is a road that gets frequently closed off because of the bad weather and is reputed to be hellish to hitch on - fewer cars, unpaved sections and some people have said they have gone days without seeing anyone. Winding, remote mountain roads and bad weather conditions in any season but summer make it less travelled by truckers and therefore is not recommended. [[Gas station]]s are generally your best bet, although roadside hitching is possible. <br />
:In my experience, Ruta 40 is a moderate/difficult but possible hitch during tourist season. You'd be insane to try any other time. Your best bet on Route 40 (at least the southern bit) would be Chilean truckers. From Perito Moreno to Punto Gallegos, the Chileans use the Argentine roads for lack of similar infrastructure in their own country. Also Chilean truckers are way nicer than their Argentine counterparts.<br />
<br />
[[File:img0080ow5.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[User:SAn|SAn]] hitchhiking in Argentina]]<br />
* [[Buenos Aires]]<br />
* [[Cordoba (Argentina)|Cordoba]]<br />
* [[Gualeguay]], [[Gualeguaychu]]<br />
* [[Larroque]]<br />
* [[Mendoza]]<br />
* [[Neuquen]]<br />
* [[Quines]]<br />
* [[Rosario]]<br />
* [[San Luis]], [[San Marcos Sierras]]<br />
* [[Villa Maria]]<br />
* [[Zapala]]<br />
<br />
== Safety ==<br />
<br />
One word of advice is that although traffic is much heavier in the north, the routes do cross major cities, and hitchhiking is much more dangerous near urban centers. It would be advisable, if possible, to get off at the nearest pueblo and take a bus into cities such as Cordoba, Santa Fe, Rosario, etc. The same can be said for leaving. In the south there are really no big cities, and the highways all have gas stations, and the people are much more helpful. No danger there.<br />
<br />
== Border Crossing ==<br />
<br />
Argentinian border crossings are pretty laid back. [[User:Guaka|guaka]] crossed 4 times in 2006 and doesn't have clear memories about it (meaning it's not that a big deal).<br />
You better avoid changing money at the border crossings though. <br />
<br />
If you're coming from or entering Chile in Patagonia, you can possibly expect a needlessly complicated and long process once you arrive to Argentine customs if their X-Ray machine is broken (which it often is).They must do a manual search of your bags and tend to find silly, irrelevant things like tin foil that are apparently a matter of National Security.[[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] was once delayed leaving Argentina at the Paso Austral to Chile for several hours because of a 'suspicion' that turned out to be baseless. Fortunately, the ''Gendarmeria'' have poorly trained attack dogs who care more about playing with towels than sniffing for contraband.<br />
<br />
== Eating & Drinking ==<br />
<br />
As a vegan you're down to fruits and veggies from the markets. No restaurant will serve anything vegan. As a vegetarian you're down to pizzas.<br />
<br />
== Accommodation & Sleeping ==<br />
<br />
[[User:Guaka|guaka]] slept next to a gas station once, without a tent, without being bothered by anything but mosquitos.<br />
<br />
<br />
In 2010 [[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] squatted in an empty shipping container behind a gas station in [[Ushuaia]] for 45 days. He also has squatted up service stations from Bariloche all the way to Salta, with just a ratty sleeping bag and body odor. He would sometimes get free sandwiches from staff/passerby, and the occasional shower when he started to be mistaken for garbage.<br />
<br />
Note that hitchhiking is usually much faster when [[Appearance|keeping clean]] and when you mind your personal hygiene. YPF service stations in Argentina oftentimes have very cheap, or even free, shower facilities. A few of them even have low-price laundry services that are an excellent resource for any type of traveller.<br />
<br />
== Other Useful Info ==<br />
<br />
===Vaccinations===<br />
In many hospitals around the country anyone can get FREE vaccinations such as ones for yellow fever, etc.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.autostopargentina.com.ar/ Autostop Argentina] (in Spanish)<br />
{{Hitchbase_country|9}}<br />
{{Template:South_America/countries}}<br />
<br />
[[wikipedia:Argentina]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Argentina]]<br />
[[Category:South America]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Argentinien]]<br />
[[es:Argentina]]<br />
[[fi:Argentiina]]<br />
[[fr:Argentine]]<br />
[[pt:Argentina]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Cassis&diff=55141Cassis2011-09-26T16:48:09Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>This is a small town on the Cote D'azur. It's near the famous Calanques de Cassis which are an amazing place to go and see, hike, swim around. <br />
<br />
== Camping ==<br />
<br />
To the west side of the beach, there are some rocks and around there you can find spots to camp without being seen.<br />
<br />
On 7-11 Avenue Jules Ferry, west side of the road there is a leisure center normally closed in the weekends and open in weekdays at 8am. Usually kids go to it during the week. You can sleep inside and it is easy to get in when it is closed, just jump the fence where it is lowest. Make sure to get up and leave before 8am on weekdays so you don't have problems. It has running water, trees, swings, table, chairs and even a shower! Quiet, hidden and safe!</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Chile&diff=54650Chile2011-09-06T09:02:27Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{infobox Country<br />
|country = Chile<br />
|in = South America<br />
|map = <map lat='-39' lng='-71' zoom='4' view='0' country='Chile' height='600' width='200'/><br />
|language = Spanish<br />
|capital = [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]]<br />
|pop = 16.7 mio<br />
|currency = Chilean Peso (CLP, $)<br />
|hitch = <rating country='cl' /><br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[File:intheback.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Hitchhiking the Ruta 5]]<br />
<br />
'''Chile''' is a great country to hitchhike. Especially compared to the South of [[Argentina]], it's really good. Chile borders in the north to [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]] to the north-east and [[Argentina]] in the east. The country is divided into 15 regions, which can be pooled in four main zones.<br />
<br />
If you tell people you're a foreigner when you ask for a ride, they might ask to see your passport. Just swallow your pride and take the ride. <br />
<br />
If you travel longer distances, you probably want to hitch the ''panamericana'', called ''Ruta 5'' here, which goes from north all the way to the south. Around larger cities, it's developed as a motorway. It's very common to walk or cycle on the emergency lane, so you can also stand there and put your thumb out. Cops won't bother either (I was standing right next to them holding my thumb out (to try out the hard way if it is legal) and they didn't care). Maximum Speed is 120 km/h, so if you are in a visible place, everyone can stop fast enough. Using a sign can prevent taxis, micros and buses to stop for you. They won't take you for free.<br />
<br />
The traffic is not very dense in general. In rural areas, there might be one car in 5 or 10 minutes, so prepare for longer waiting times if you can't stay on the main roads. To get to towns and out of there take a Micro or a collectivo, it is not worth it hitchhiking within a city (although sometimes possible).<br />
<br />
If you are a tourist be sure to show it with your backpack, flags attached to your backpack, etc. The locals love chatting with foreign travellers. However, many people don't like U.S. Americans.<br />
<br />
The best places in Chile for hitchhiking are easily in the extreme south, in the Region of Magallanes. From [[Punta Arenas]], one can easily find a semi truck all the way to Santiago; while in Punta Arenas,[[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] was offered a ride all the way to Arica (on the border of Peru), but, sadly, had to turn it down due to the fact that he was trying to lose himself in Isla Riesco.<br />
<br />
==Sleeping==<br />
<br />
Chile is a very safe and easy country to camp or squat. Hostals are rather expensive, so camping is a better method. The local gas stations (usually COPEC) are almost always hitchhiker friendly, and will be happy to let you crash behind the place for the night. The cities to exert special caution in when crashing out are Valparaíso (known for a somewhat dodgy center) and the capital Santiago -- those two make for the lion's share of crime in Chile.<br />
<br />
==Healthcare==<br />
Posta rurales :<br />
"In Chile, the posta rurales operate on a no-pay basis, which is very different form the way proper hospitals do things in this country. In the postas, anyone, from anywhere, in entitled to free medical treatment and any medicines that are available, similar to the way they do things in Bolivia. The sacrifice is that the postas are not equipped with proper doctors (only paramedics), or operating facilities. " - from http://hitchtheworld.com<br />
<br />
==Toll Booths==<br />
<br />
These are only on the Ruta 5 (or Panamericana Sur), but, as usual, are a very good place to hitch rides.<br />
<br />
==Rural Routes==<br />
[[File:12326_10150150686580517_883880516_11613816_3268024_n.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] on Reten Y-368, northern Chile, after being rescued by a rogue Dutch cyclist with water. ]]<br />
<br />
Be aware that many roads in Chile are very remote and made of dirt; any road that starts with a 'Y' classifies as a rural route, (known locally as a ''reten''). Some of these roads do not recieve ''any'' traffic for days, sometimes weeks at a time. Use caution when hitchhiking on one of these. You may think you can hike it for fifteen or twenty kilometres and then hitch a ride, but sometimes the cars won't pass until it's too late. [[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] once nearly died of thirst in the Altiplano near the northern border of Argentina and Bolivia because he started walking towards [[Salta]] from a Chilean iron mine and went almost three days without seeing a car.<br />
<br />
== Cities ==<br />
* [[Concepcion]]<br />
* [[Castro]]<br />
* [[Chillan]]<br />
* [[La Serena]]<br />
* [[Puerto Montt]]<br />
* [[Puerto Varas]]<br />
* [[Punta Arenas]]<br />
* [[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]]<br />
* [[Temuco]]<br />
* [[Valdivia]]<br />
* [[Valparaíso]]<br />
* [[Viña del Mar]]<br />
<br />
== Towns ==<br />
* [[Los Andes]]<br />
* [[Victoria (Chile)|Victoria]]<br />
* [[Puerto Saavedra]]<br />
<br />
== Zones ==<br />
* [[:Category:North (Chile)|North]]<br />
* [[:Category:Central (Chile)|Central]]<br />
* [[:Category:South (Chile)|South]]<br />
* [[:Category:Extreme South (Chile)|Extreme South]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Chile| ]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Chile]]<br />
[[es:Chile]]<br />
[[fr:Chili]]<br />
[[pt:Chile]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2011&diff=53345Hitchgathering/20112011-07-12T16:33:15Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{hitchgathering2011}}<br />
'''5-8-11''' is the fourth edition of the annual '''European Hitchhiking Gathering'''. It is going to take place in [[Kara Dere]] at the Black Sea coast of [[Bulgaria]]. ''(View it on [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.892231,27.899687&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.726391,90.263672&ie=UTF8&ll=42.885021,27.89712&spn=0.033206,0.088148&t=h&z=14 Google Maps].)''<br />
<br />
==General==<br />
=== Organisation & Discussion ===<br />
* communication is done via the [http://lists.freeactive.net/listinfo.cgi/hitch-freeactive.net Hitch mailing list]<br />
* you can help organising, e.g. by signing up for tasks on the TODO list below. Feel free to register for stuff you can't do right now, but you want to do some time later. We'll contact you back. ('''just put your name/timestamp and, if you don't have an account here, a way to contact you next to the task''')<br />
<br />
=== Latest News ===<br />
* workshops and events are under discussion, for now place your suggestions here: [[Hitchgathering/2011/Workshops]]<br />
* minutes from the [[Hitchgathering/2011/Magdeburg_Meeting|Magdeburg meeting]] are available<br />
<br />
=== Timeline ===<br />
#Different pre-meetings in [[Berlin]], [[Budapest]], [[Sofia]] and so on ... initiative welcome!<br />
#The gathering: 5/8/11<br />
#After-meeting in [[Turkey]]?<br />
<br />
==Pre-meetings==<br />
As time is passing by, it is time to start thinking about pre-meetings (and maybe after-meetings)...<br />
<br />
Post about these in hitchgathering.org [http://hitchgathering.org/node/837 can be read here].<br />
<br />
* '''Budapest''', date: ???, organizing: [[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]]<br />
* '''Sofia''', date: ???, organizer: Boyan?<br />
<br />
:Willing to organize a pre-meeting in [[Budapest]].. Question: should it be just before the gathering (5th August)?.. so all the hitchhikers who choose to go through Hungary could have like a 'pit stop', and if so what would be the appropriate date for it (5-10-15 days before)?--[[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]] 20:30, 4 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
:We thought that we shouldn't make the pre-meetings as close to each other as last year, because some people found it too tiring to travel that fast. Also, we had the idea that a pre-meeting could also last more than a day. Maybe we can decide together also based on when and where other pre-meetings will be held. Sofia is likely (Boyan) which could be 1st or 2nd of August so maybe the 29th or 30th of July? [[User:N0id|n0id]]<br />
:We should coordinate with other close-by events, such as [http://www.roadjunkyfestival.com/ Road Junky Festival] in Romania 15-17 July. --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]]<br />
:Not to be annoying but u should decide it soon cause otherwise people will plan to spend those days doing other things. i also agree with more time in between the pre-gatherings, it's nicer..the point is to spend time with eachother not to say hi and leave again--[[User:Smaua|smaua]]<br />
<br />
==After-meetings==<br />
<br />
Post about these in hitchgathering.org [http://hitchgathering.org/node/837 can be read here]. A visualisation of the possibilities on a google map can be found on a google map [http://goo.gl/70e5c here]. <br />
<br />
* '''Savrane, [[Krusevac]], Serbia''' (August 8th-10th)<br />
([[User: mileagainst|mileagainst]]) live in this lovely little village in central Serbia. It's on the way to Guca festival, so its a perfect sleep-over on the way to Guca. Mileagainst has some couch space and huge yard for tents. This post-gathering is confirmed. You can sign-up for it [http://hitchgathering.org/šavrane-krusevac-serbia-post-meeting here].<br />
<br />
* '''Irakli, Bulgaria'''<br />
There is another lovely beach near Kara Dere, some 25 km south. It is a bit more populated and has a couple of bars and a shop. There is running water as well.<br />
<br />
* '''Vama Veche, Romania'''<br />
A definite party spot with a nice beach and quite a few bars and restaurants, just outside Bulgaria on the Romanian side (North of Kara Dere).<br />
<br />
* '''Kandira, Bulgaria'''<br />
There is a superb mountain hide-out near Krumovgrad. Details from Tomi (--[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] 17:29, 29 June 2011 (CEST)).<br />
<br />
* '''Yeşiltaş, Turkey'''<br />
In South East Turkey there is a well-hidden village of 800 Kurdish people called Yeşiltaş. Its original Armenian name is Iştazin. There are about 80 houses that are not visible to the road. People are hospitable and they wish that more people would come there to see how they live and tell about their life abroad.<br />
<br />
There is plenty to eat in the nature. Moreover, everyone there has a farm there and it's not considered stealing if you eat something from the ground. August is the time when there are a lot of left over fruits in the trees. The mountain water runs in several streams and joins into a bigger river that flows through the village. Water everywhere is not only drinkable, but ice-cold and pure.<br />
<br />
When you go there you instantly fall in love with the place. Probably some of you might start thinking ways to help. If someone knows how to create DIY solar panels or hydro-power utilizing the river, the villagers might be more than interested to learn. All the houses are in the grid. Otherwise they are nearly 100% self-sustained. Be prepared to stay longer if largely organic way of living in the mountains is your cup of tea.<br />
<br />
Please note: There is no solid waste management and villagers tend to think that the river takes away whatever little trash they might throw in there. Please show a better example. Sometimes the Turkish military bombs the mountain lakes if there are rebels, so it's not recommended to go up there if the villagers say so. Otherwise they are in friendly terms with the rebels. Make sure you have someone with you who speaks Turkish and/or Kurdish. In Yüksekova there is a really cool couchsurfer called [http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/turkey84/ Raşit Tümer] who might be able to meet up with fellow hitchhikers.<br />
<br />
'''Directions:''' Yeşiltaş is 44 km from Yüksekova that is the nearest bigger city of around 100.000 inhabitants. From there go to direction of Dağlıca. After you pass the village of Karlı there is a military checkpoint. From there you just follow the road until you come to a bridge over the river. There is a small shop on the left and two roads to Dağlıca. That is the entrance to the village. There are houses on both sides of the road. There are not too many cars on this road after the checkpoint so get as many people in one vehicle as possible (remember it's Turkey, anything is possible!). See [http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bilinmeyen+yol&daddr=Y%C3%BCksekova%2FHakkari,+T%C3%BCrkiye&hl=tr&ie=UTF8&ll=37.484666,44.272499&spn=0.090039,0.132351&sll=37.413323,44.124269&sspn=0.045062,0.066175&geocode=Fb36OgIdfRGhAg%3BFcs4PQIdxbWjAik7FJfCC74PQDFioadfma-nuQ&mra=mift&mrsp=0&sz=14&t=h&z=13 Google Map].<br />
--[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] 17:29, 29 June 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
* '''Georgia'''<br />
Suggested by Mathieu Lecarpentier (mlecarp@gmail.com)<br />
<br />
* '''Belgika fest in Bulgaria'''<br />
http://fest.beglika.org/en<br />
Seems so great but it costs. There is an option to volunteer but you probably would need to sort things out in advance.<br />
<br />
==TO DO==<br />
===Misc===<br />
<br />
===Website work===<br />
====Translation====<br />
*French --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
<br />
If you're a translator, browse the website in your language as much as possible.<br />
<br />
Check out [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation|this page]] that explains how to translate what.<br />
<br />
This is the order in which to translate. No point putting names there.<br />
<br />
#Translate the menu structure (super-fast but counter-intuitive. Easier for geeks. Do read the [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation#Menus|Menu section of the page linked above]])<br />
#Translate the FAQ in your language (Quick and easy, you can even come up with your own FAQ)<br />
#Translate the interface (Not too straightforward, to do while browsing the website and you run into an English word or phrase in the middle of an otherwise translated page). [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation#Interface|Instructions from the same page]].<br />
#Translate the content (Anyone can do it, but long and painful)<br />
<br />
====Other====<br />
* invent [[Hitchgathering/2011/Slogan | new slogans]]!<br />
* add a timeline capability to reports and merge them into the 2010 timeline, remove reports<br />
* make it possible to offer or request workshops ([[Workshop suggestion for hitchgathering.org|Brainstorm page for Drupal geeks]])<br />
** encourage people to suggest activities<br />
** have a workshop list on the website<br />
** suggestions from Evaluation<br />
** link in a discussion forum<br />
** ask for interests/offers on registration<br />
* Similar gimmick for sports, kitchen and music stuff (who brings what?)<br />
- I will take volleyball ball! - Ania_Szuti<br />
<br />
===General communication===<br />
Most of that is going to be on the internet. But offline comm is welcome if anybody can handle that.<br />
<br />
*Write press material (now that we have the destination).<br />
**Bulgarian<br />
**Russian<br />
**English --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] '''done'''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsDE|German]] --[[User:Zenit|Zenit]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsFR|French]] --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**Polish<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/newsHU|Hungarian]] --[[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]] '''done''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/newsFI|Finnish]] --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**Spanish --[[User:Ivers0n|Ivers0n]] '''done'''<br />
**''add language''<br />
<br />
The press releases are ON THE WEBSITE (menu link "press"). If a press release has been written for your language and it is not on the website, put it there. The drafts are [[Hitchgathering/2011/news#News_Story_.28long.29_-_April_2011|here]]<br />
<br />
* get in touch with hitchhikers in different countries to have local contacts:<br />
** Tadas for Lithuania<br />
** Martin for Latvia <br />
** add more... or add yourself<br />
<br />
====Social media====<br />
Most festivals spread through word of mouth. We can put that on steroids with all that social media thing.<br />
<br />
List of micro-bloggers (twitter, identi.ca...) that actually use their account:<br />
*twitter: sitarane<br />
The idea is to follow each other, to make communication faster.<br />
<br />
List of travel bloggers that actually have readers:<br />
The idea is to get them to write articles on hitchgathering.<br />
<br />
List of people to contact:<br />
*http://www.ludovichubler.com/<br />
*The two Swedish kids that hitched across Eurasia --Elsy<br />
*Anick-Marie<br />
*Juan Pablo Villarino ? www.acrobatoftheroad.blogspot.com<br />
*http://followtheroad.com/en/<br />
<br />
Other travel celebrities.<br />
The idea is to get them to communicate the gathering to a wider audience.<br />
* hospex camp organizers<br />
** Miicoo <br />
<br />
* Nonesee<br />
* Andrej<br />
* La Sophiste<br />
* Tom (Roadjunky)<br />
<br />
====News spread where & when====<br />
* [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=12&post=8545425 CS Hitchhiking Group] ''14th April''<br />
* [[Hitchgathering/2011/Finnish media contacts|Finnish media contacts]]<br />
* I've messaged The polish club of adventure [http://http://www.klubprzygody.pl/] which is located in Tricity and messaged the guy called 'Pawel' [http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000078961443] who's organized several massive events all over Europe, mostly attended by Polish people. I'm waiting for the response, we'll see how it goes.<br />
* Martins from Latvia and Tadas from Vilnius hitchhiking club<br />
<br />
===Art===<br />
''Waiting for some designs to emmerge''<br />
** Distribute the files and print it in several places/countries (try to get it for free)<br />
*track distribution and make it more open; make better use of them --[[User:N0id|N0id]]<br />
<br />
===Workshops===<br />
* organize some nice events and workshops: [[Hitchgathering/2011/Workshops]]<br />
<br />
===Practicalities on the ground===<br />
<br />
*There are two roads coming to Kara Dere. If you are coming from North (Varna) the first road is from the village Goritsa. The second is just before town Byala. We will try to get signs ready a few days before the meeting, at the latest.<br />
*If you take the second road, near Byala, there is a natural water source on the way. We should propably mark it so that anyone who comes can fill their bottles on the way. BE PREPARED TO SHARE WATER. It's the most precious resource at the gathering. If you can, please bring some extra water bottles and canisters. There are some fishermen at the North end of the beach who have extra canisters if we need more of them.<br />
*Dumpster-diving opportunities are next to non-existent. You can buy/beg food in nearby villages and towns. We should try to get a food sponsor to make this smooth. Setting up a fire on the sand should not be a problem as long as we don't cut down live trees.<br />
*Let's leave the place cleaner than it was when we came. Although the place is quite remote (some 5 km off the main road between Varna and Burgas) the Bulgarians know it's there and will be there for their holidays. Probably in August there will be tourists who don't give a shit. So, let's clean after them also. We'll make a common trash bin in one place and collect it with a car... if everything turns out fine, we should have at least one car in our disposal.<br />
*Kara Dere beach is loooong and we will probably pick the actual gathering spot just few days before when we get a few organizers (hitchhikers, participants) on the ground. I suggest we pick a spot near the natural water source that is on the south end of the beach.<br />
*If you have a camping shovel, bring it. However, we'll try to get a few Bulgarians nearby to contribute to the organizations and probably shovel is one of the first tools to fit in the equipment. We will make 2-3 shit pits so that we don't lay too many land mines here and there.<br />
*You can bathe in the sea, using sand as your soap. Only use organic products if you insist on real soap or shampoo.<br />
<br />
==Being done==<br />
===Practicalities===<br />
*Boyan (Sofia): boqnbb (at) abv.bg<br />
*Martin (Varna): martin.christov (at) gmail.com<br />
*Tomi (on the road): tomi.astikainen (at) mindyourelephant.org<br />
*ADD YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IF YOU WISH TO HELP IN PREPARING THE SITE<br />
<br />
===Art===<br />
[[Hitchgathering/2011/Graphic|Brainstorm page about graphic design]]<br />
* new logos and stuff ([[User:Sandra|Sandra]])<br />
* create a flyer to print and distribute (stickers?) ([[User:Sandra|Sandra]])<br />
** two drafts by Mollom can be found [https://picasaweb.google.com/hr.raychev/EuropeanHitchhikingGathering# here]<br />
** 3 drafts by [[User:Maxijazz|Zsolt]] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/corwax/5616351495/in/set-72157626366346045/ here]<br />
** Contact Robin about last year (you're reading this?): price, can we get the same offer? --[[User:N0id|N0id]]<br />
<br />
==Contact==<br />
* hospex camp organizers<br />
** Flohfish --n0id (message sent, no response so far)<br />
* [http://www.facebook.com/people/Pat-Pong/636153870 Pat Pong] (www.hitchhikingcontest.org) --Astikain<br />
** Contacted: Thinks the best way to "gather" people into a hitchhikers' gathering is on the road. Is willing to spread some flyers if we make them available soon.<br />
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thomas-Loves-adventures/123615887665522 Tomislav Perko] --Astikain<br />
** Contacted: might bring 50-100 hitchhikers if we can synchronize with his race<br />
<br />
==Visa info==<br />
Unfortunately, Bulgaria/Romania are '''NOT''' within Schengen yet, which means additional visa oppression for people holding Russian, Belorussian, Ukrainian or Moldovan passports.<br />
* Regulations for Russians (might apply for UA & BY as well)<br />
**Romania: Must apply for a visa in advance, 5 days visa-free transit for Bulgarian, Cypriot or Schengen visa holders. Usual Romanian tourist visa undergoes similar procedure than for Schengen, thus invitation letter, insurance, work book & sufficient amount of cash on bank account needed to submit in the embassy (usual 50 Euro/day). '''Advise''': Get Bulgarian visa, and afterwards apply for (free) transit visa for Romania, if traveling from Ukraine/Moldova.<br />
** Bulgaria:Must apply for a visa in advance, 36 hours visa-free transit for Romanian, Cypriot or Schengen visa holders. Usual Bulgarian tourist visa undergoes similar procedure than for Schengen, thus invitation letter, insurance, work book & sufficient amount of cash on bank account needed to submit in the embassy (usual 50 Euro/day). '''Advise''': See above. <br />
** Turkey: New visa regulations for Turkey from April 16, 2011! Check embassy in advance!<br />
* CHECK IF UKRAINE AND BELARUS HAVE THE SAME REGULATIONS<br />
* Regulations for Moldovans <br />
**Romania: Visa free (?) -need to get this confirmed --[[User:Platschi|Platschi]] 13:08, 14 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
STILL TO DO:<br />
* Figure out how Schengen people can assist in helping to acquire visa for people who need it<br />
* ... put this on the website in Russian<br />
* here is the info from the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs homepage, about the [http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/85 visa regime](with the list of states witch need/don't need visa),[http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/96 types of visas] and [http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/94 charges]<br />
<br />
==Web-presence==<br />
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitchgathering Wikipedia article] created --[[Astikain]] 17:10, 14 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
** Now, everyone, improve it please!<br />
*** But make sure to keep a copy on Hitchwiki since it might be removed in a short time (happens a lot on Wikipedia...). [[User:Guaka|guaka]] 02:15, 2 July 2011 (CEST)<br />
*** A bit unrelated, but why are car-sharing websites listed as external links on wikipedia articles like hitchgathering or hitchhiking? --[[User:N0id|N0id]] 17:23, 4 July 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
Know any publication that wrote about the festival? List external links:<br />
French: http://www.cafebabel.fr/article/33387/troisieme-festival-europeen-d-autostop-au-portugal.html<br />
<br />
==Promotion: DIY!==<br />
<br />
Some flyer designs have been made and an easy possibility to make flyers is to print<br />
* the [http://hitchgathering.org/sites/hitchgathering.org/files/hitch1.pdf flyer by artymori] in color or black/white<br />
* or the [http://hitchgathering.org/sites/hitchgathering.org/files/hitch2.pdf flyer by Zsolt] in color<br />
* you need: (color) printer with duplex mode if possible and a paper trimmer (most copy shops should have both, universities often do as well)<br />
* make sure that your settings do not resize the page automatically: Something like "adapt file to size of paper: no adaption" in Microsoft word, other software has such an option for sure<br />
* select duplex mode if you have and both sides are printed. If not just print the front page...<br />
* cut cut cut<br />
* distribute! <br />
<br />
<br />
There are other endless possibilities to spread the word about the hitchgathering. For example:<br />
<br />
* Tell your friends<br />
* Tell hitchhikers you meet on the road<br />
* Write cardboards with hitchgathering.org, the place and date (and maybe more) and place them at popular hitchhiking spots ... be creative and use your colorful markers!<br />
* Draw your own flyers :)<br />
* Spread the word around hitchhiking clubs and websites in your country/your language<br />
* Post on your hitchhiking / travel / nomad blog or website about the gathering<br />
* Tell your favorite hitchhiking / travel / nomad blog author to write about it<br />
* Organize a pre-meeting (can be early like May/June/July to raise attention and connect people) <br />
* Invent a new slogan for this year! http://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2011/Slogan&action=edit<br />
<br />
==Done==<br />
* make organisation more visible on hitchgathering.org: [[User:atopia|atopia]] (done by [[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]], thank you!)<br />
===Press===<br />
Press release written for:<br />
*English<br />
*German<br />
*French<br />
*Finnish<br />
*Spanish<br />
Always needs proofreading.<br />
===Website===<br />
* [[Reworking hitchgathering.org menu structure]]<br />
** make hitchgathering.org/6810 point to 2010 and remove the menu<br />
:I've looked into that and I'm confused. It's not a view, is it? It's a taxonomy trick. Can some drupal wizard shed some light? --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
Sort of done, if not for the detail above. I simply removed the 2010 bit. It is now not accessible through menu, and as far as I know, through any other way than knowing the url. --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
*The right column is too long --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
** I removed the slogans from last year that were cycling under the title and replaced them with the countdown<br />
** Removed both the "work in progress" block (since we do the orga chitchat on the mailing list AND the "who's new" block that I didn't see the point to. Comment if that makes you unhappy.<br />
* It's hard for admins to track how each user type sees the website. --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
** There's a new block visible only to admins that allows them to 'masquerade' any other user in one click.<br />
*Clean up the permission/role system --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
* Editing posts in plain text is annoying. In particular when one must include an image or a link. The html syntax is a big deterrent --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
**I might get into WYSIWYG later, but I hate it and it's a lot of work. Instead, I set up the 'Markdown' syntax as default. It's a bit like the wiki syntax, but simpler and more intuitive.<br />
*Remove the coordination forum (that we decided not to use anymore in favor of the mailing list) and the old forums from view (no delete!) --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
*Thoroughly adapt the website to 2011. Views, menu... --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
<br />
==The Location ==<br />
<br />
The gathering will take place in Kara Dere, Bulgaria. Below is the description for the proposal.<br />
<br />
Quite big national hitchhiking society.<br />
Local support is a snap.<br />
Hitching is a blast.<br />
Exact location: The Black Sea, Kara Dere (near the city of Biala)<br />
<br />
Coords.: 42.892231,27.899687<br />
<br />
Have a look at [[hitchgathering/2011/Pictures_of_Bulgaria|Pictures of Bulgaria]]<br />
<br />
====Pros====<br />
<br />
*huge remote beach<br />
*water supply from a spring on the beach (''The issue of drinking water: There is a natural spring right on the beach. The only insignificant con is that the nice camping areas in the forest are a bit further on the beach on a 15 mins walk from the spring. But 10 liter tubes do a great job and daily "trips" are just a walk on the beach'')<br />
*perfect shade, as the beach borders with a marvelous forest, where it's cool all day long and in the night it's not windy and sandy <br />
*people there are generally nice <br />
*cheap!<br />
*equally near to (between) the two biggest cities (Varna, Burgas) on the coast line.<br />
*close to turkey<br />
*small "bar"(caravan) for beer, fish&chips, etc. on one end of the beach<br />
*few to none about the mosquito issue<br />
*the trumpet festival at Guča happens the week after 5/8/11, just 850km to the west<br />
<br />
====Cons====<br />
<br />
*40 mins walk on a dirt road to the nearest village for food supply (quite easy and pleasant though)<br />
** There are cars passing by as well on this dirty road, so they can at least bring the bags with food.<br />
*project for closing the area and building an "Eco Village" (decision and deadline unknown yet)<br />
*language barrier?<br />
** I guess there are as many hitchhikers who don't speak Bulgarian as hitchhikers who didn't speak Portuguese. And I guess there are a lot more Russian speakers in Bulgaria than English speakers in Spain.<br />
**language barrier is absolutely no problem, everybody knows what the thumb means, also city's names on road signs are nearly always in Cyrillic and Latin.<br />
*'''Many''' campers in summer<br />
*'''Forget''' about dumpster-diving here<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hitchgathering]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2011&diff=53344Hitchgathering/20112011-07-12T16:32:27Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{hitchgathering2011}}<br />
'''5-8-11''' is the fourth edition of the annual '''European Hitchhiking Gathering'''. It is going to take place in [[Kara Dere]] at the Black Sea coast of [[Bulgaria]]. ''(View it on [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.892231,27.899687&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.726391,90.263672&ie=UTF8&ll=42.885021,27.89712&spn=0.033206,0.088148&t=h&z=14 Google Maps].)''<br />
<br />
==General==<br />
=== Organisation & Discussion ===<br />
* communication is done via the [http://lists.freeactive.net/listinfo.cgi/hitch-freeactive.net Hitch mailing list]<br />
* you can help organising, e.g. by signing up for tasks on the TODO list below. Feel free to register for stuff you can't do right now, but you want to do some time later. We'll contact you back. ('''just put your name/timestamp and, if you don't have an account here, a way to contact you next to the task''')<br />
<br />
=== Latest News ===<br />
* workshops and events are under discussion, for now place your suggestions here: [[Hitchgathering/2011/Workshops]]<br />
* minutes from the [[Hitchgathering/2011/Magdeburg_Meeting|Magdeburg meeting]] are available<br />
<br />
=== Timeline ===<br />
#Different pre-meetings in [[Berlin]], [[Budapest]], [[Sofia]] and so on ... initiative welcome!<br />
#The gathering: 5/8/11<br />
#After-meeting in [[Turkey]]?<br />
<br />
==Pre-meetings==<br />
As time is passing by, it is time to start thinking about pre-meetings (and maybe after-meetings)...<br />
<br />
Post about these in hitchgathering.org [http://hitchgathering.org/node/837 can be read here].<br />
<br />
* '''Budapest''', date: ???, organizing: [[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]]<br />
* '''Sofia''', date: ???, organizer: Boyan?<br />
<br />
:Willing to organize a pre-meeting in [[Budapest]].. Question: should it be just before the gathering (5th August)?.. so all the hitchhikers who choose to go through Hungary could have like a 'pit stop', and if so what would be the appropriate date for it (5-10-15 days before)?--[[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]] 20:30, 4 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
:We thought that we shouldn't make the pre-meetings as close to each other as last year, because some people found it too tiring to travel that fast. Also, we had the idea that a pre-meeting could also last more than a day. Maybe we can decide together also based on when and where other pre-meetings will be held. Sofia is likely (Boyan) which could be 1st or 2nd of August so maybe the 29th or 30th of July? [[User:N0id|n0id]]<br />
:We should coordinate with other close-by events, such as [http://www.roadjunkyfestival.com/ Road Junky Festival] in Romania 15-17 July. --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]]<br />
:Not to be annoying but u should decide it soon cause otherwise people will plan to spend those days doing other things. i also agree with more time in between the pre-gatherings, it's nicer..the point is to spend time with eachother not to say hi and leave again[[User:Smaua|smaua]]<br />
<br />
==After-meetings==<br />
<br />
Post about these in hitchgathering.org [http://hitchgathering.org/node/837 can be read here]. A visualisation of the possibilities on a google map can be found on a google map [http://goo.gl/70e5c here]. <br />
<br />
* '''Savrane, [[Krusevac]], Serbia''' (August 8th-10th)<br />
([[User: mileagainst|mileagainst]]) live in this lovely little village in central Serbia. It's on the way to Guca festival, so its a perfect sleep-over on the way to Guca. Mileagainst has some couch space and huge yard for tents. This post-gathering is confirmed. You can sign-up for it [http://hitchgathering.org/šavrane-krusevac-serbia-post-meeting here].<br />
<br />
* '''Irakli, Bulgaria'''<br />
There is another lovely beach near Kara Dere, some 25 km south. It is a bit more populated and has a couple of bars and a shop. There is running water as well.<br />
<br />
* '''Vama Veche, Romania'''<br />
A definite party spot with a nice beach and quite a few bars and restaurants, just outside Bulgaria on the Romanian side (North of Kara Dere).<br />
<br />
* '''Kandira, Bulgaria'''<br />
There is a superb mountain hide-out near Krumovgrad. Details from Tomi (--[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] 17:29, 29 June 2011 (CEST)).<br />
<br />
* '''Yeşiltaş, Turkey'''<br />
In South East Turkey there is a well-hidden village of 800 Kurdish people called Yeşiltaş. Its original Armenian name is Iştazin. There are about 80 houses that are not visible to the road. People are hospitable and they wish that more people would come there to see how they live and tell about their life abroad.<br />
<br />
There is plenty to eat in the nature. Moreover, everyone there has a farm there and it's not considered stealing if you eat something from the ground. August is the time when there are a lot of left over fruits in the trees. The mountain water runs in several streams and joins into a bigger river that flows through the village. Water everywhere is not only drinkable, but ice-cold and pure.<br />
<br />
When you go there you instantly fall in love with the place. Probably some of you might start thinking ways to help. If someone knows how to create DIY solar panels or hydro-power utilizing the river, the villagers might be more than interested to learn. All the houses are in the grid. Otherwise they are nearly 100% self-sustained. Be prepared to stay longer if largely organic way of living in the mountains is your cup of tea.<br />
<br />
Please note: There is no solid waste management and villagers tend to think that the river takes away whatever little trash they might throw in there. Please show a better example. Sometimes the Turkish military bombs the mountain lakes if there are rebels, so it's not recommended to go up there if the villagers say so. Otherwise they are in friendly terms with the rebels. Make sure you have someone with you who speaks Turkish and/or Kurdish. In Yüksekova there is a really cool couchsurfer called [http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/turkey84/ Raşit Tümer] who might be able to meet up with fellow hitchhikers.<br />
<br />
'''Directions:''' Yeşiltaş is 44 km from Yüksekova that is the nearest bigger city of around 100.000 inhabitants. From there go to direction of Dağlıca. After you pass the village of Karlı there is a military checkpoint. From there you just follow the road until you come to a bridge over the river. There is a small shop on the left and two roads to Dağlıca. That is the entrance to the village. There are houses on both sides of the road. There are not too many cars on this road after the checkpoint so get as many people in one vehicle as possible (remember it's Turkey, anything is possible!). See [http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bilinmeyen+yol&daddr=Y%C3%BCksekova%2FHakkari,+T%C3%BCrkiye&hl=tr&ie=UTF8&ll=37.484666,44.272499&spn=0.090039,0.132351&sll=37.413323,44.124269&sspn=0.045062,0.066175&geocode=Fb36OgIdfRGhAg%3BFcs4PQIdxbWjAik7FJfCC74PQDFioadfma-nuQ&mra=mift&mrsp=0&sz=14&t=h&z=13 Google Map].<br />
--[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] 17:29, 29 June 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
* '''Georgia'''<br />
Suggested by Mathieu Lecarpentier (mlecarp@gmail.com)<br />
<br />
* '''Belgika fest in Bulgaria'''<br />
http://fest.beglika.org/en<br />
Seems so great but it costs. There is an option to volunteer but you probably would need to sort things out in advance.<br />
<br />
==TO DO==<br />
===Misc===<br />
<br />
===Website work===<br />
====Translation====<br />
*French --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
<br />
If you're a translator, browse the website in your language as much as possible.<br />
<br />
Check out [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation|this page]] that explains how to translate what.<br />
<br />
This is the order in which to translate. No point putting names there.<br />
<br />
#Translate the menu structure (super-fast but counter-intuitive. Easier for geeks. Do read the [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation#Menus|Menu section of the page linked above]])<br />
#Translate the FAQ in your language (Quick and easy, you can even come up with your own FAQ)<br />
#Translate the interface (Not too straightforward, to do while browsing the website and you run into an English word or phrase in the middle of an otherwise translated page). [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation#Interface|Instructions from the same page]].<br />
#Translate the content (Anyone can do it, but long and painful)<br />
<br />
====Other====<br />
* invent [[Hitchgathering/2011/Slogan | new slogans]]!<br />
* add a timeline capability to reports and merge them into the 2010 timeline, remove reports<br />
* make it possible to offer or request workshops ([[Workshop suggestion for hitchgathering.org|Brainstorm page for Drupal geeks]])<br />
** encourage people to suggest activities<br />
** have a workshop list on the website<br />
** suggestions from Evaluation<br />
** link in a discussion forum<br />
** ask for interests/offers on registration<br />
* Similar gimmick for sports, kitchen and music stuff (who brings what?)<br />
- I will take volleyball ball! - Ania_Szuti<br />
<br />
===General communication===<br />
Most of that is going to be on the internet. But offline comm is welcome if anybody can handle that.<br />
<br />
*Write press material (now that we have the destination).<br />
**Bulgarian<br />
**Russian<br />
**English --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] '''done'''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsDE|German]] --[[User:Zenit|Zenit]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsFR|French]] --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**Polish<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/newsHU|Hungarian]] --[[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]] '''done''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/newsFI|Finnish]] --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**Spanish --[[User:Ivers0n|Ivers0n]] '''done'''<br />
**''add language''<br />
<br />
The press releases are ON THE WEBSITE (menu link "press"). If a press release has been written for your language and it is not on the website, put it there. The drafts are [[Hitchgathering/2011/news#News_Story_.28long.29_-_April_2011|here]]<br />
<br />
* get in touch with hitchhikers in different countries to have local contacts:<br />
** Tadas for Lithuania<br />
** Martin for Latvia <br />
** add more... or add yourself<br />
<br />
====Social media====<br />
Most festivals spread through word of mouth. We can put that on steroids with all that social media thing.<br />
<br />
List of micro-bloggers (twitter, identi.ca...) that actually use their account:<br />
*twitter: sitarane<br />
The idea is to follow each other, to make communication faster.<br />
<br />
List of travel bloggers that actually have readers:<br />
The idea is to get them to write articles on hitchgathering.<br />
<br />
List of people to contact:<br />
*http://www.ludovichubler.com/<br />
*The two Swedish kids that hitched across Eurasia --Elsy<br />
*Anick-Marie<br />
*Juan Pablo Villarino ? www.acrobatoftheroad.blogspot.com<br />
*http://followtheroad.com/en/<br />
<br />
Other travel celebrities.<br />
The idea is to get them to communicate the gathering to a wider audience.<br />
* hospex camp organizers<br />
** Miicoo <br />
<br />
* Nonesee<br />
* Andrej<br />
* La Sophiste<br />
* Tom (Roadjunky)<br />
<br />
====News spread where & when====<br />
* [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=12&post=8545425 CS Hitchhiking Group] ''14th April''<br />
* [[Hitchgathering/2011/Finnish media contacts|Finnish media contacts]]<br />
* I've messaged The polish club of adventure [http://http://www.klubprzygody.pl/] which is located in Tricity and messaged the guy called 'Pawel' [http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000078961443] who's organized several massive events all over Europe, mostly attended by Polish people. I'm waiting for the response, we'll see how it goes.<br />
* Martins from Latvia and Tadas from Vilnius hitchhiking club<br />
<br />
===Art===<br />
''Waiting for some designs to emmerge''<br />
** Distribute the files and print it in several places/countries (try to get it for free)<br />
*track distribution and make it more open; make better use of them --[[User:N0id|N0id]]<br />
<br />
===Workshops===<br />
* organize some nice events and workshops: [[Hitchgathering/2011/Workshops]]<br />
<br />
===Practicalities on the ground===<br />
<br />
*There are two roads coming to Kara Dere. If you are coming from North (Varna) the first road is from the village Goritsa. The second is just before town Byala. We will try to get signs ready a few days before the meeting, at the latest.<br />
*If you take the second road, near Byala, there is a natural water source on the way. We should propably mark it so that anyone who comes can fill their bottles on the way. BE PREPARED TO SHARE WATER. It's the most precious resource at the gathering. If you can, please bring some extra water bottles and canisters. There are some fishermen at the North end of the beach who have extra canisters if we need more of them.<br />
*Dumpster-diving opportunities are next to non-existent. You can buy/beg food in nearby villages and towns. We should try to get a food sponsor to make this smooth. Setting up a fire on the sand should not be a problem as long as we don't cut down live trees.<br />
*Let's leave the place cleaner than it was when we came. Although the place is quite remote (some 5 km off the main road between Varna and Burgas) the Bulgarians know it's there and will be there for their holidays. Probably in August there will be tourists who don't give a shit. So, let's clean after them also. We'll make a common trash bin in one place and collect it with a car... if everything turns out fine, we should have at least one car in our disposal.<br />
*Kara Dere beach is loooong and we will probably pick the actual gathering spot just few days before when we get a few organizers (hitchhikers, participants) on the ground. I suggest we pick a spot near the natural water source that is on the south end of the beach.<br />
*If you have a camping shovel, bring it. However, we'll try to get a few Bulgarians nearby to contribute to the organizations and probably shovel is one of the first tools to fit in the equipment. We will make 2-3 shit pits so that we don't lay too many land mines here and there.<br />
*You can bathe in the sea, using sand as your soap. Only use organic products if you insist on real soap or shampoo.<br />
<br />
==Being done==<br />
===Practicalities===<br />
*Boyan (Sofia): boqnbb (at) abv.bg<br />
*Martin (Varna): martin.christov (at) gmail.com<br />
*Tomi (on the road): tomi.astikainen (at) mindyourelephant.org<br />
*ADD YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IF YOU WISH TO HELP IN PREPARING THE SITE<br />
<br />
===Art===<br />
[[Hitchgathering/2011/Graphic|Brainstorm page about graphic design]]<br />
* new logos and stuff ([[User:Sandra|Sandra]])<br />
* create a flyer to print and distribute (stickers?) ([[User:Sandra|Sandra]])<br />
** two drafts by Mollom can be found [https://picasaweb.google.com/hr.raychev/EuropeanHitchhikingGathering# here]<br />
** 3 drafts by [[User:Maxijazz|Zsolt]] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/corwax/5616351495/in/set-72157626366346045/ here]<br />
** Contact Robin about last year (you're reading this?): price, can we get the same offer? --[[User:N0id|N0id]]<br />
<br />
==Contact==<br />
* hospex camp organizers<br />
** Flohfish --n0id (message sent, no response so far)<br />
* [http://www.facebook.com/people/Pat-Pong/636153870 Pat Pong] (www.hitchhikingcontest.org) --Astikain<br />
** Contacted: Thinks the best way to "gather" people into a hitchhikers' gathering is on the road. Is willing to spread some flyers if we make them available soon.<br />
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thomas-Loves-adventures/123615887665522 Tomislav Perko] --Astikain<br />
** Contacted: might bring 50-100 hitchhikers if we can synchronize with his race<br />
<br />
==Visa info==<br />
Unfortunately, Bulgaria/Romania are '''NOT''' within Schengen yet, which means additional visa oppression for people holding Russian, Belorussian, Ukrainian or Moldovan passports.<br />
* Regulations for Russians (might apply for UA & BY as well)<br />
**Romania: Must apply for a visa in advance, 5 days visa-free transit for Bulgarian, Cypriot or Schengen visa holders. Usual Romanian tourist visa undergoes similar procedure than for Schengen, thus invitation letter, insurance, work book & sufficient amount of cash on bank account needed to submit in the embassy (usual 50 Euro/day). '''Advise''': Get Bulgarian visa, and afterwards apply for (free) transit visa for Romania, if traveling from Ukraine/Moldova.<br />
** Bulgaria:Must apply for a visa in advance, 36 hours visa-free transit for Romanian, Cypriot or Schengen visa holders. Usual Bulgarian tourist visa undergoes similar procedure than for Schengen, thus invitation letter, insurance, work book & sufficient amount of cash on bank account needed to submit in the embassy (usual 50 Euro/day). '''Advise''': See above. <br />
** Turkey: New visa regulations for Turkey from April 16, 2011! Check embassy in advance!<br />
* CHECK IF UKRAINE AND BELARUS HAVE THE SAME REGULATIONS<br />
* Regulations for Moldovans <br />
**Romania: Visa free (?) -need to get this confirmed --[[User:Platschi|Platschi]] 13:08, 14 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
STILL TO DO:<br />
* Figure out how Schengen people can assist in helping to acquire visa for people who need it<br />
* ... put this on the website in Russian<br />
* here is the info from the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs homepage, about the [http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/85 visa regime](with the list of states witch need/don't need visa),[http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/96 types of visas] and [http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/94 charges]<br />
<br />
==Web-presence==<br />
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitchgathering Wikipedia article] created --[[Astikain]] 17:10, 14 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
** Now, everyone, improve it please!<br />
*** But make sure to keep a copy on Hitchwiki since it might be removed in a short time (happens a lot on Wikipedia...). [[User:Guaka|guaka]] 02:15, 2 July 2011 (CEST)<br />
*** A bit unrelated, but why are car-sharing websites listed as external links on wikipedia articles like hitchgathering or hitchhiking? --[[User:N0id|N0id]] 17:23, 4 July 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
Know any publication that wrote about the festival? List external links:<br />
French: http://www.cafebabel.fr/article/33387/troisieme-festival-europeen-d-autostop-au-portugal.html<br />
<br />
==Promotion: DIY!==<br />
<br />
Some flyer designs have been made and an easy possibility to make flyers is to print<br />
* the [http://hitchgathering.org/sites/hitchgathering.org/files/hitch1.pdf flyer by artymori] in color or black/white<br />
* or the [http://hitchgathering.org/sites/hitchgathering.org/files/hitch2.pdf flyer by Zsolt] in color<br />
* you need: (color) printer with duplex mode if possible and a paper trimmer (most copy shops should have both, universities often do as well)<br />
* make sure that your settings do not resize the page automatically: Something like "adapt file to size of paper: no adaption" in Microsoft word, other software has such an option for sure<br />
* select duplex mode if you have and both sides are printed. If not just print the front page...<br />
* cut cut cut<br />
* distribute! <br />
<br />
<br />
There are other endless possibilities to spread the word about the hitchgathering. For example:<br />
<br />
* Tell your friends<br />
* Tell hitchhikers you meet on the road<br />
* Write cardboards with hitchgathering.org, the place and date (and maybe more) and place them at popular hitchhiking spots ... be creative and use your colorful markers!<br />
* Draw your own flyers :)<br />
* Spread the word around hitchhiking clubs and websites in your country/your language<br />
* Post on your hitchhiking / travel / nomad blog or website about the gathering<br />
* Tell your favorite hitchhiking / travel / nomad blog author to write about it<br />
* Organize a pre-meeting (can be early like May/June/July to raise attention and connect people) <br />
* Invent a new slogan for this year! http://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2011/Slogan&action=edit<br />
<br />
==Done==<br />
* make organisation more visible on hitchgathering.org: [[User:atopia|atopia]] (done by [[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]], thank you!)<br />
===Press===<br />
Press release written for:<br />
*English<br />
*German<br />
*French<br />
*Finnish<br />
*Spanish<br />
Always needs proofreading.<br />
===Website===<br />
* [[Reworking hitchgathering.org menu structure]]<br />
** make hitchgathering.org/6810 point to 2010 and remove the menu<br />
:I've looked into that and I'm confused. It's not a view, is it? It's a taxonomy trick. Can some drupal wizard shed some light? --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
Sort of done, if not for the detail above. I simply removed the 2010 bit. It is now not accessible through menu, and as far as I know, through any other way than knowing the url. --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
*The right column is too long --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
** I removed the slogans from last year that were cycling under the title and replaced them with the countdown<br />
** Removed both the "work in progress" block (since we do the orga chitchat on the mailing list AND the "who's new" block that I didn't see the point to. Comment if that makes you unhappy.<br />
* It's hard for admins to track how each user type sees the website. --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
** There's a new block visible only to admins that allows them to 'masquerade' any other user in one click.<br />
*Clean up the permission/role system --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
* Editing posts in plain text is annoying. In particular when one must include an image or a link. The html syntax is a big deterrent --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
**I might get into WYSIWYG later, but I hate it and it's a lot of work. Instead, I set up the 'Markdown' syntax as default. It's a bit like the wiki syntax, but simpler and more intuitive.<br />
*Remove the coordination forum (that we decided not to use anymore in favor of the mailing list) and the old forums from view (no delete!) --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
*Thoroughly adapt the website to 2011. Views, menu... --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
<br />
==The Location ==<br />
<br />
The gathering will take place in Kara Dere, Bulgaria. Below is the description for the proposal.<br />
<br />
Quite big national hitchhiking society.<br />
Local support is a snap.<br />
Hitching is a blast.<br />
Exact location: The Black Sea, Kara Dere (near the city of Biala)<br />
<br />
Coords.: 42.892231,27.899687<br />
<br />
Have a look at [[hitchgathering/2011/Pictures_of_Bulgaria|Pictures of Bulgaria]]<br />
<br />
====Pros====<br />
<br />
*huge remote beach<br />
*water supply from a spring on the beach (''The issue of drinking water: There is a natural spring right on the beach. The only insignificant con is that the nice camping areas in the forest are a bit further on the beach on a 15 mins walk from the spring. But 10 liter tubes do a great job and daily "trips" are just a walk on the beach'')<br />
*perfect shade, as the beach borders with a marvelous forest, where it's cool all day long and in the night it's not windy and sandy <br />
*people there are generally nice <br />
*cheap!<br />
*equally near to (between) the two biggest cities (Varna, Burgas) on the coast line.<br />
*close to turkey<br />
*small "bar"(caravan) for beer, fish&chips, etc. on one end of the beach<br />
*few to none about the mosquito issue<br />
*the trumpet festival at Guča happens the week after 5/8/11, just 850km to the west<br />
<br />
====Cons====<br />
<br />
*40 mins walk on a dirt road to the nearest village for food supply (quite easy and pleasant though)<br />
** There are cars passing by as well on this dirty road, so they can at least bring the bags with food.<br />
*project for closing the area and building an "Eco Village" (decision and deadline unknown yet)<br />
*language barrier?<br />
** I guess there are as many hitchhikers who don't speak Bulgarian as hitchhikers who didn't speak Portuguese. And I guess there are a lot more Russian speakers in Bulgaria than English speakers in Spain.<br />
**language barrier is absolutely no problem, everybody knows what the thumb means, also city's names on road signs are nearly always in Cyrillic and Latin.<br />
*'''Many''' campers in summer<br />
*'''Forget''' about dumpster-diving here<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hitchgathering]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2011&diff=53343Hitchgathering/20112011-07-12T16:30:46Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{hitchgathering2011}}<br />
'''5-8-11''' is the fourth edition of the annual '''European Hitchhiking Gathering'''. It is going to take place in [[Kara Dere]] at the Black Sea coast of [[Bulgaria]]. ''(View it on [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.892231,27.899687&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.726391,90.263672&ie=UTF8&ll=42.885021,27.89712&spn=0.033206,0.088148&t=h&z=14 Google Maps].)''<br />
<br />
==General==<br />
=== Organisation & Discussion ===<br />
* communication is done via the [http://lists.freeactive.net/listinfo.cgi/hitch-freeactive.net Hitch mailing list]<br />
* you can help organising, e.g. by signing up for tasks on the TODO list below. Feel free to register for stuff you can't do right now, but you want to do some time later. We'll contact you back. ('''just put your name/timestamp and, if you don't have an account here, a way to contact you next to the task''')<br />
<br />
=== Latest News ===<br />
* workshops and events are under discussion, for now place your suggestions here: [[Hitchgathering/2011/Workshops]]<br />
* minutes from the [[Hitchgathering/2011/Magdeburg_Meeting|Magdeburg meeting]] are available<br />
<br />
=== Timeline ===<br />
#Different pre-meetings in [[Berlin]], [[Budapest]], [[Sofia]] and so on ... initiative welcome!<br />
#The gathering: 5/8/11<br />
#After-meeting in [[Turkey]]?<br />
<br />
==Pre-meetings==<br />
As time is passing by, it is time to start thinking about pre-meetings (and maybe after-meetings)...<br />
<br />
Post about these in hitchgathering.org [http://hitchgathering.org/node/837 can be read here].<br />
<br />
* '''Budapest''', date: ???, organizing: [[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]]<br />
* '''Sofia''', date: ???, organizer: Boyan?<br />
<br />
:Willing to organize a pre-meeting in [[Budapest]].. Question: should it be just before the gathering (5th August)?.. so all the hitchhikers who choose to go through Hungary could have like a 'pit stop', and if so what would be the appropriate date for it (5-10-15 days before)?--[[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]] 20:30, 4 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
:We thought that we shouldn't make the pre-meetings as close to each other as last year, because some people found it too tiring to travel that fast. Also, we had the idea that a pre-meeting could also last more than a day. Maybe we can decide together also based on when and where other pre-meetings will be held. Sofia is likely (Boyan) which could be 1st or 2nd of August so maybe the 29th or 30th of July? [[User:N0id|n0id]]<br />
:We should coordinate with other close-by events, such as [http://www.roadjunkyfestival.com/ Road Junky Festival] in Romania 15-17 July. --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]]<br />
:not to be annoying but u should decide it soon cause otherwise people will plan to spend those days doing other things. i also agree with more time in between the pre-gatherings, it's nicer..the point is to spend time with eachother not to say hi and leave again[[User:smaua]]<br />
<br />
==After-meetings==<br />
<br />
Post about these in hitchgathering.org [http://hitchgathering.org/node/837 can be read here]. A visualisation of the possibilities on a google map can be found on a google map [http://goo.gl/70e5c here]. <br />
<br />
* '''Savrane, [[Krusevac]], Serbia''' (August 8th-10th)<br />
([[User: mileagainst|mileagainst]]) live in this lovely little village in central Serbia. It's on the way to Guca festival, so its a perfect sleep-over on the way to Guca. Mileagainst has some couch space and huge yard for tents. This post-gathering is confirmed. You can sign-up for it [http://hitchgathering.org/šavrane-krusevac-serbia-post-meeting here].<br />
<br />
* '''Irakli, Bulgaria'''<br />
There is another lovely beach near Kara Dere, some 25 km south. It is a bit more populated and has a couple of bars and a shop. There is running water as well.<br />
<br />
* '''Vama Veche, Romania'''<br />
A definite party spot with a nice beach and quite a few bars and restaurants, just outside Bulgaria on the Romanian side (North of Kara Dere).<br />
<br />
* '''Kandira, Bulgaria'''<br />
There is a superb mountain hide-out near Krumovgrad. Details from Tomi (--[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] 17:29, 29 June 2011 (CEST)).<br />
<br />
* '''Yeşiltaş, Turkey'''<br />
In South East Turkey there is a well-hidden village of 800 Kurdish people called Yeşiltaş. Its original Armenian name is Iştazin. There are about 80 houses that are not visible to the road. People are hospitable and they wish that more people would come there to see how they live and tell about their life abroad.<br />
<br />
There is plenty to eat in the nature. Moreover, everyone there has a farm there and it's not considered stealing if you eat something from the ground. August is the time when there are a lot of left over fruits in the trees. The mountain water runs in several streams and joins into a bigger river that flows through the village. Water everywhere is not only drinkable, but ice-cold and pure.<br />
<br />
When you go there you instantly fall in love with the place. Probably some of you might start thinking ways to help. If someone knows how to create DIY solar panels or hydro-power utilizing the river, the villagers might be more than interested to learn. All the houses are in the grid. Otherwise they are nearly 100% self-sustained. Be prepared to stay longer if largely organic way of living in the mountains is your cup of tea.<br />
<br />
Please note: There is no solid waste management and villagers tend to think that the river takes away whatever little trash they might throw in there. Please show a better example. Sometimes the Turkish military bombs the mountain lakes if there are rebels, so it's not recommended to go up there if the villagers say so. Otherwise they are in friendly terms with the rebels. Make sure you have someone with you who speaks Turkish and/or Kurdish. In Yüksekova there is a really cool couchsurfer called [http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/turkey84/ Raşit Tümer] who might be able to meet up with fellow hitchhikers.<br />
<br />
'''Directions:''' Yeşiltaş is 44 km from Yüksekova that is the nearest bigger city of around 100.000 inhabitants. From there go to direction of Dağlıca. After you pass the village of Karlı there is a military checkpoint. From there you just follow the road until you come to a bridge over the river. There is a small shop on the left and two roads to Dağlıca. That is the entrance to the village. There are houses on both sides of the road. There are not too many cars on this road after the checkpoint so get as many people in one vehicle as possible (remember it's Turkey, anything is possible!). See [http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bilinmeyen+yol&daddr=Y%C3%BCksekova%2FHakkari,+T%C3%BCrkiye&hl=tr&ie=UTF8&ll=37.484666,44.272499&spn=0.090039,0.132351&sll=37.413323,44.124269&sspn=0.045062,0.066175&geocode=Fb36OgIdfRGhAg%3BFcs4PQIdxbWjAik7FJfCC74PQDFioadfma-nuQ&mra=mift&mrsp=0&sz=14&t=h&z=13 Google Map].<br />
--[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] 17:29, 29 June 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
* '''Georgia'''<br />
Suggested by Mathieu Lecarpentier (mlecarp@gmail.com)<br />
<br />
* '''Belgika fest in Bulgaria'''<br />
http://fest.beglika.org/en<br />
Seems so great but it costs. There is an option to volunteer but you probably would need to sort things out in advance.<br />
<br />
==TO DO==<br />
===Misc===<br />
<br />
===Website work===<br />
====Translation====<br />
*French --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
<br />
If you're a translator, browse the website in your language as much as possible.<br />
<br />
Check out [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation|this page]] that explains how to translate what.<br />
<br />
This is the order in which to translate. No point putting names there.<br />
<br />
#Translate the menu structure (super-fast but counter-intuitive. Easier for geeks. Do read the [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation#Menus|Menu section of the page linked above]])<br />
#Translate the FAQ in your language (Quick and easy, you can even come up with your own FAQ)<br />
#Translate the interface (Not too straightforward, to do while browsing the website and you run into an English word or phrase in the middle of an otherwise translated page). [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation#Interface|Instructions from the same page]].<br />
#Translate the content (Anyone can do it, but long and painful)<br />
<br />
====Other====<br />
* invent [[Hitchgathering/2011/Slogan | new slogans]]!<br />
* add a timeline capability to reports and merge them into the 2010 timeline, remove reports<br />
* make it possible to offer or request workshops ([[Workshop suggestion for hitchgathering.org|Brainstorm page for Drupal geeks]])<br />
** encourage people to suggest activities<br />
** have a workshop list on the website<br />
** suggestions from Evaluation<br />
** link in a discussion forum<br />
** ask for interests/offers on registration<br />
* Similar gimmick for sports, kitchen and music stuff (who brings what?)<br />
- I will take volleyball ball! - Ania_Szuti<br />
<br />
===General communication===<br />
Most of that is going to be on the internet. But offline comm is welcome if anybody can handle that.<br />
<br />
*Write press material (now that we have the destination).<br />
**Bulgarian<br />
**Russian<br />
**English --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] '''done'''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsDE|German]] --[[User:Zenit|Zenit]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsFR|French]] --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**Polish<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/newsHU|Hungarian]] --[[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]] '''done''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/newsFI|Finnish]] --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**Spanish --[[User:Ivers0n|Ivers0n]] '''done'''<br />
**''add language''<br />
<br />
The press releases are ON THE WEBSITE (menu link "press"). If a press release has been written for your language and it is not on the website, put it there. The drafts are [[Hitchgathering/2011/news#News_Story_.28long.29_-_April_2011|here]]<br />
<br />
* get in touch with hitchhikers in different countries to have local contacts:<br />
** Tadas for Lithuania<br />
** Martin for Latvia <br />
** add more... or add yourself<br />
<br />
====Social media====<br />
Most festivals spread through word of mouth. We can put that on steroids with all that social media thing.<br />
<br />
List of micro-bloggers (twitter, identi.ca...) that actually use their account:<br />
*twitter: sitarane<br />
The idea is to follow each other, to make communication faster.<br />
<br />
List of travel bloggers that actually have readers:<br />
The idea is to get them to write articles on hitchgathering.<br />
<br />
List of people to contact:<br />
*http://www.ludovichubler.com/<br />
*The two Swedish kids that hitched across Eurasia --Elsy<br />
*Anick-Marie<br />
*Juan Pablo Villarino ? www.acrobatoftheroad.blogspot.com<br />
*http://followtheroad.com/en/<br />
<br />
Other travel celebrities.<br />
The idea is to get them to communicate the gathering to a wider audience.<br />
* hospex camp organizers<br />
** Miicoo <br />
<br />
* Nonesee<br />
* Andrej<br />
* La Sophiste<br />
* Tom (Roadjunky)<br />
<br />
====News spread where & when====<br />
* [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=12&post=8545425 CS Hitchhiking Group] ''14th April''<br />
* [[Hitchgathering/2011/Finnish media contacts|Finnish media contacts]]<br />
* I've messaged The polish club of adventure [http://http://www.klubprzygody.pl/] which is located in Tricity and messaged the guy called 'Pawel' [http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000078961443] who's organized several massive events all over Europe, mostly attended by Polish people. I'm waiting for the response, we'll see how it goes.<br />
* Martins from Latvia and Tadas from Vilnius hitchhiking club<br />
<br />
===Art===<br />
''Waiting for some designs to emmerge''<br />
** Distribute the files and print it in several places/countries (try to get it for free)<br />
*track distribution and make it more open; make better use of them --[[User:N0id|N0id]]<br />
<br />
===Workshops===<br />
* organize some nice events and workshops: [[Hitchgathering/2011/Workshops]]<br />
<br />
===Practicalities on the ground===<br />
<br />
*There are two roads coming to Kara Dere. If you are coming from North (Varna) the first road is from the village Goritsa. The second is just before town Byala. We will try to get signs ready a few days before the meeting, at the latest.<br />
*If you take the second road, near Byala, there is a natural water source on the way. We should propably mark it so that anyone who comes can fill their bottles on the way. BE PREPARED TO SHARE WATER. It's the most precious resource at the gathering. If you can, please bring some extra water bottles and canisters. There are some fishermen at the North end of the beach who have extra canisters if we need more of them.<br />
*Dumpster-diving opportunities are next to non-existent. You can buy/beg food in nearby villages and towns. We should try to get a food sponsor to make this smooth. Setting up a fire on the sand should not be a problem as long as we don't cut down live trees.<br />
*Let's leave the place cleaner than it was when we came. Although the place is quite remote (some 5 km off the main road between Varna and Burgas) the Bulgarians know it's there and will be there for their holidays. Probably in August there will be tourists who don't give a shit. So, let's clean after them also. We'll make a common trash bin in one place and collect it with a car... if everything turns out fine, we should have at least one car in our disposal.<br />
*Kara Dere beach is loooong and we will probably pick the actual gathering spot just few days before when we get a few organizers (hitchhikers, participants) on the ground. I suggest we pick a spot near the natural water source that is on the south end of the beach.<br />
*If you have a camping shovel, bring it. However, we'll try to get a few Bulgarians nearby to contribute to the organizations and probably shovel is one of the first tools to fit in the equipment. We will make 2-3 shit pits so that we don't lay too many land mines here and there.<br />
*You can bathe in the sea, using sand as your soap. Only use organic products if you insist on real soap or shampoo.<br />
<br />
==Being done==<br />
===Practicalities===<br />
*Boyan (Sofia): boqnbb (at) abv.bg<br />
*Martin (Varna): martin.christov (at) gmail.com<br />
*Tomi (on the road): tomi.astikainen (at) mindyourelephant.org<br />
*ADD YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IF YOU WISH TO HELP IN PREPARING THE SITE<br />
<br />
===Art===<br />
[[Hitchgathering/2011/Graphic|Brainstorm page about graphic design]]<br />
* new logos and stuff ([[User:Sandra|Sandra]])<br />
* create a flyer to print and distribute (stickers?) ([[User:Sandra|Sandra]])<br />
** two drafts by Mollom can be found [https://picasaweb.google.com/hr.raychev/EuropeanHitchhikingGathering# here]<br />
** 3 drafts by [[User:Maxijazz|Zsolt]] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/corwax/5616351495/in/set-72157626366346045/ here]<br />
** Contact Robin about last year (you're reading this?): price, can we get the same offer? --[[User:N0id|N0id]]<br />
<br />
==Contact==<br />
* hospex camp organizers<br />
** Flohfish --n0id (message sent, no response so far)<br />
* [http://www.facebook.com/people/Pat-Pong/636153870 Pat Pong] (www.hitchhikingcontest.org) --Astikain<br />
** Contacted: Thinks the best way to "gather" people into a hitchhikers' gathering is on the road. Is willing to spread some flyers if we make them available soon.<br />
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thomas-Loves-adventures/123615887665522 Tomislav Perko] --Astikain<br />
** Contacted: might bring 50-100 hitchhikers if we can synchronize with his race<br />
<br />
==Visa info==<br />
Unfortunately, Bulgaria/Romania are '''NOT''' within Schengen yet, which means additional visa oppression for people holding Russian, Belorussian, Ukrainian or Moldovan passports.<br />
* Regulations for Russians (might apply for UA & BY as well)<br />
**Romania: Must apply for a visa in advance, 5 days visa-free transit for Bulgarian, Cypriot or Schengen visa holders. Usual Romanian tourist visa undergoes similar procedure than for Schengen, thus invitation letter, insurance, work book & sufficient amount of cash on bank account needed to submit in the embassy (usual 50 Euro/day). '''Advise''': Get Bulgarian visa, and afterwards apply for (free) transit visa for Romania, if traveling from Ukraine/Moldova.<br />
** Bulgaria:Must apply for a visa in advance, 36 hours visa-free transit for Romanian, Cypriot or Schengen visa holders. Usual Bulgarian tourist visa undergoes similar procedure than for Schengen, thus invitation letter, insurance, work book & sufficient amount of cash on bank account needed to submit in the embassy (usual 50 Euro/day). '''Advise''': See above. <br />
** Turkey: New visa regulations for Turkey from April 16, 2011! Check embassy in advance!<br />
* CHECK IF UKRAINE AND BELARUS HAVE THE SAME REGULATIONS<br />
* Regulations for Moldovans <br />
**Romania: Visa free (?) -need to get this confirmed --[[User:Platschi|Platschi]] 13:08, 14 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
STILL TO DO:<br />
* Figure out how Schengen people can assist in helping to acquire visa for people who need it<br />
* ... put this on the website in Russian<br />
* here is the info from the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs homepage, about the [http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/85 visa regime](with the list of states witch need/don't need visa),[http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/96 types of visas] and [http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/94 charges]<br />
<br />
==Web-presence==<br />
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitchgathering Wikipedia article] created --[[Astikain]] 17:10, 14 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
** Now, everyone, improve it please!<br />
*** But make sure to keep a copy on Hitchwiki since it might be removed in a short time (happens a lot on Wikipedia...). [[User:Guaka|guaka]] 02:15, 2 July 2011 (CEST)<br />
*** A bit unrelated, but why are car-sharing websites listed as external links on wikipedia articles like hitchgathering or hitchhiking? --[[User:N0id|N0id]] 17:23, 4 July 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
Know any publication that wrote about the festival? List external links:<br />
French: http://www.cafebabel.fr/article/33387/troisieme-festival-europeen-d-autostop-au-portugal.html<br />
<br />
==Promotion: DIY!==<br />
<br />
Some flyer designs have been made and an easy possibility to make flyers is to print<br />
* the [http://hitchgathering.org/sites/hitchgathering.org/files/hitch1.pdf flyer by artymori] in color or black/white<br />
* or the [http://hitchgathering.org/sites/hitchgathering.org/files/hitch2.pdf flyer by Zsolt] in color<br />
* you need: (color) printer with duplex mode if possible and a paper trimmer (most copy shops should have both, universities often do as well)<br />
* make sure that your settings do not resize the page automatically: Something like "adapt file to size of paper: no adaption" in Microsoft word, other software has such an option for sure<br />
* select duplex mode if you have and both sides are printed. If not just print the front page...<br />
* cut cut cut<br />
* distribute! <br />
<br />
<br />
There are other endless possibilities to spread the word about the hitchgathering. For example:<br />
<br />
* Tell your friends<br />
* Tell hitchhikers you meet on the road<br />
* Write cardboards with hitchgathering.org, the place and date (and maybe more) and place them at popular hitchhiking spots ... be creative and use your colorful markers!<br />
* Draw your own flyers :)<br />
* Spread the word around hitchhiking clubs and websites in your country/your language<br />
* Post on your hitchhiking / travel / nomad blog or website about the gathering<br />
* Tell your favorite hitchhiking / travel / nomad blog author to write about it<br />
* Organize a pre-meeting (can be early like May/June/July to raise attention and connect people) <br />
* Invent a new slogan for this year! http://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2011/Slogan&action=edit<br />
<br />
==Done==<br />
* make organisation more visible on hitchgathering.org: [[User:atopia|atopia]] (done by [[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]], thank you!)<br />
===Press===<br />
Press release written for:<br />
*English<br />
*German<br />
*French<br />
*Finnish<br />
*Spanish<br />
Always needs proofreading.<br />
===Website===<br />
* [[Reworking hitchgathering.org menu structure]]<br />
** make hitchgathering.org/6810 point to 2010 and remove the menu<br />
:I've looked into that and I'm confused. It's not a view, is it? It's a taxonomy trick. Can some drupal wizard shed some light? --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
Sort of done, if not for the detail above. I simply removed the 2010 bit. It is now not accessible through menu, and as far as I know, through any other way than knowing the url. --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
*The right column is too long --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
** I removed the slogans from last year that were cycling under the title and replaced them with the countdown<br />
** Removed both the "work in progress" block (since we do the orga chitchat on the mailing list AND the "who's new" block that I didn't see the point to. Comment if that makes you unhappy.<br />
* It's hard for admins to track how each user type sees the website. --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
** There's a new block visible only to admins that allows them to 'masquerade' any other user in one click.<br />
*Clean up the permission/role system --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
* Editing posts in plain text is annoying. In particular when one must include an image or a link. The html syntax is a big deterrent --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
**I might get into WYSIWYG later, but I hate it and it's a lot of work. Instead, I set up the 'Markdown' syntax as default. It's a bit like the wiki syntax, but simpler and more intuitive.<br />
*Remove the coordination forum (that we decided not to use anymore in favor of the mailing list) and the old forums from view (no delete!) --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
*Thoroughly adapt the website to 2011. Views, menu... --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
<br />
==The Location ==<br />
<br />
The gathering will take place in Kara Dere, Bulgaria. Below is the description for the proposal.<br />
<br />
Quite big national hitchhiking society.<br />
Local support is a snap.<br />
Hitching is a blast.<br />
Exact location: The Black Sea, Kara Dere (near the city of Biala)<br />
<br />
Coords.: 42.892231,27.899687<br />
<br />
Have a look at [[hitchgathering/2011/Pictures_of_Bulgaria|Pictures of Bulgaria]]<br />
<br />
====Pros====<br />
<br />
*huge remote beach<br />
*water supply from a spring on the beach (''The issue of drinking water: There is a natural spring right on the beach. The only insignificant con is that the nice camping areas in the forest are a bit further on the beach on a 15 mins walk from the spring. But 10 liter tubes do a great job and daily "trips" are just a walk on the beach'')<br />
*perfect shade, as the beach borders with a marvelous forest, where it's cool all day long and in the night it's not windy and sandy <br />
*people there are generally nice <br />
*cheap!<br />
*equally near to (between) the two biggest cities (Varna, Burgas) on the coast line.<br />
*close to turkey<br />
*small "bar"(caravan) for beer, fish&chips, etc. on one end of the beach<br />
*few to none about the mosquito issue<br />
*the trumpet festival at Guča happens the week after 5/8/11, just 850km to the west<br />
<br />
====Cons====<br />
<br />
*40 mins walk on a dirt road to the nearest village for food supply (quite easy and pleasant though)<br />
** There are cars passing by as well on this dirty road, so they can at least bring the bags with food.<br />
*project for closing the area and building an "Eco Village" (decision and deadline unknown yet)<br />
*language barrier?<br />
** I guess there are as many hitchhikers who don't speak Bulgarian as hitchhikers who didn't speak Portuguese. And I guess there are a lot more Russian speakers in Bulgaria than English speakers in Spain.<br />
**language barrier is absolutely no problem, everybody knows what the thumb means, also city's names on road signs are nearly always in Cyrillic and Latin.<br />
*'''Many''' campers in summer<br />
*'''Forget''' about dumpster-diving here<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hitchgathering]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2011&diff=53342Hitchgathering/20112011-07-12T16:29:30Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{hitchgathering2011}}<br />
'''5-8-11''' is the fourth edition of the annual '''European Hitchhiking Gathering'''. It is going to take place in [[Kara Dere]] at the Black Sea coast of [[Bulgaria]]. ''(View it on [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.892231,27.899687&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.726391,90.263672&ie=UTF8&ll=42.885021,27.89712&spn=0.033206,0.088148&t=h&z=14 Google Maps].)''<br />
<br />
==General==<br />
=== Organisation & Discussion ===<br />
* communication is done via the [http://lists.freeactive.net/listinfo.cgi/hitch-freeactive.net Hitch mailing list]<br />
* you can help organising, e.g. by signing up for tasks on the TODO list below. Feel free to register for stuff you can't do right now, but you want to do some time later. We'll contact you back. ('''just put your name/timestamp and, if you don't have an account here, a way to contact you next to the task''')<br />
<br />
=== Latest News ===<br />
* workshops and events are under discussion, for now place your suggestions here: [[Hitchgathering/2011/Workshops]]<br />
* minutes from the [[Hitchgathering/2011/Magdeburg_Meeting|Magdeburg meeting]] are available<br />
<br />
=== Timeline ===<br />
#Different pre-meetings in [[Berlin]], [[Budapest]], [[Sofia]] and so on ... initiative welcome!<br />
#The gathering: 5/8/11<br />
#After-meeting in [[Turkey]]?<br />
<br />
==Pre-meetings==<br />
As time is passing by, it is time to start thinking about pre-meetings (and maybe after-meetings)...<br />
<br />
Post about these in hitchgathering.org [http://hitchgathering.org/node/837 can be read here].<br />
<br />
* '''Budapest''', date: ???, organizing: [[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]]<br />
* '''Sofia''', date: ???, organizer: Boyan?<br />
<br />
:Willing to organize a pre-meeting in [[Budapest]].. Question: should it be just before the gathering (5th August)?.. so all the hitchhikers who choose to go through Hungary could have like a 'pit stop', and if so what would be the appropriate date for it (5-10-15 days before)?--[[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]] 20:30, 4 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
:We thought that we shouldn't make the pre-meetings as close to each other as last year, because some people found it too tiring to travel that fast. Also, we had the idea that a pre-meeting could also last more than a day. Maybe we can decide together also based on when and where other pre-meetings will be held. Sofia is likely (Boyan) which could be 1st or 2nd of August so maybe the 29th or 30th of July? [[User:N0id|n0id]]<br />
:We should coordinate with other close-by events, such as [http://www.roadjunkyfestival.com/ Road Junky Festival] in Romania 15-17 July. --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]]<br />
:not to be annoying but u should decide it soon cause otherwise people will plan to spend those days doing other things. i also agree with more time in between the pre-gatherings, it's nicer..the point is to spend time with eachother not to say hi and leave again[[User:smaua]]<br />
<br />
==After-meetings==<br />
<br />
Post about these in hitchgathering.org [http://hitchgathering.org/node/837 can be read here]. A visualisation of the possibilities on a google map can be found on a google map [http://goo.gl/70e5c here]. <br />
<br />
* '''Savrane, [[Krusevac]], Serbia''' (August 8th-10th)<br />
([[User: mileagainst|mileagainst]]) live in this lovely little village in central Serbia. It's on the way to Guca festival, so its a perfect sleep-over on the way to Guca. Mileagainst has some couch space and huge yard for tents. This post-gathering is confirmed. You can sign-up for it [http://hitchgathering.org/šavrane-krusevac-serbia-post-meeting here].<br />
<br />
* '''Irakli, Bulgaria'''<br />
There is another lovely beach near Kara Dere, some 25 km south. It is a bit more populated and has a couple of bars and a shop. There is running water as well.<br />
<br />
* '''Vama Veche, Romania'''<br />
A definite party spot with a nice beach and quite a few bars and restaurants, just outside Bulgaria on the Romanian side (North of Kara Dere).<br />
<br />
* '''Kandira, Bulgaria'''<br />
There is a superb mountain hide-out near Krumovgrad. Details from Tomi (--[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] 17:29, 29 June 2011 (CEST)).<br />
<br />
* '''Yeşiltaş, Turkey'''<br />
In South East Turkey there is a well-hidden village of 800 Kurdish people called Yeşiltaş. Its original Armenian name is Iştazin. There are about 80 houses that are not visible to the road. People are hospitable and they wish that more people would come there to see how they live and tell about their life abroad.<br />
<br />
There is plenty to eat in the nature. Moreover, everyone there has a farm there and it's not considered stealing if you eat something from the ground. August is the time when there are a lot of left over fruits in the trees. The mountain water runs in several streams and joins into a bigger river that flows through the village. Water everywhere is not only drinkable, but ice-cold and pure.<br />
<br />
When you go there you instantly fall in love with the place. Probably some of you might start thinking ways to help. If someone knows how to create DIY solar panels or hydro-power utilizing the river, the villagers might be more than interested to learn. All the houses are in the grid. Otherwise they are nearly 100% self-sustained. Be prepared to stay longer if largely organic way of living in the mountains is your cup of tea.<br />
<br />
Please note: There is no solid waste management and villagers tend to think that the river takes away whatever little trash they might throw in there. Please show a better example. Sometimes the Turkish military bombs the mountain lakes if there are rebels, so it's not recommended to go up there if the villagers say so. Otherwise they are in friendly terms with the rebels. Make sure you have someone with you who speaks Turkish and/or Kurdish. In Yüksekova there is a really cool couchsurfer called [http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/turkey84/ Raşit Tümer] who might be able to meet up with fellow hitchhikers.<br />
<br />
'''Directions:''' Yeşiltaş is 44 km from Yüksekova that is the nearest bigger city of around 100.000 inhabitants. From there go to direction of Dağlıca. After you pass the village of Karlı there is a military checkpoint. From there you just follow the road until you come to a bridge over the river. There is a small shop on the left and two roads to Dağlıca. That is the entrance to the village. There are houses on both sides of the road. There are not too many cars on this road after the checkpoint so get as many people in one vehicle as possible (remember it's Turkey, anything is possible!). See [http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bilinmeyen+yol&daddr=Y%C3%BCksekova%2FHakkari,+T%C3%BCrkiye&hl=tr&ie=UTF8&ll=37.484666,44.272499&spn=0.090039,0.132351&sll=37.413323,44.124269&sspn=0.045062,0.066175&geocode=Fb36OgIdfRGhAg%3BFcs4PQIdxbWjAik7FJfCC74PQDFioadfma-nuQ&mra=mift&mrsp=0&sz=14&t=h&z=13 Google Map].<br />
--[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] 17:29, 29 June 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
* '''Georgia'''<br />
Suggested by Mathieu Lecarpentier (mlecarp@gmail.com)<br />
<br />
* '''Belgika fest in [[[Bulgaria]]]'''<br />
http://fest.beglika.org/en<br />
Seems so great but it costs. There is an option to volunteer but you probably would need to sort things out in advance.<br />
<br />
==TO DO==<br />
===Misc===<br />
<br />
===Website work===<br />
====Translation====<br />
*French --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
<br />
If you're a translator, browse the website in your language as much as possible.<br />
<br />
Check out [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation|this page]] that explains how to translate what.<br />
<br />
This is the order in which to translate. No point putting names there.<br />
<br />
#Translate the menu structure (super-fast but counter-intuitive. Easier for geeks. Do read the [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation#Menus|Menu section of the page linked above]])<br />
#Translate the FAQ in your language (Quick and easy, you can even come up with your own FAQ)<br />
#Translate the interface (Not too straightforward, to do while browsing the website and you run into an English word or phrase in the middle of an otherwise translated page). [[Hitchgathering/Website_translation#Interface|Instructions from the same page]].<br />
#Translate the content (Anyone can do it, but long and painful)<br />
<br />
====Other====<br />
* invent [[Hitchgathering/2011/Slogan | new slogans]]!<br />
* add a timeline capability to reports and merge them into the 2010 timeline, remove reports<br />
* make it possible to offer or request workshops ([[Workshop suggestion for hitchgathering.org|Brainstorm page for Drupal geeks]])<br />
** encourage people to suggest activities<br />
** have a workshop list on the website<br />
** suggestions from Evaluation<br />
** link in a discussion forum<br />
** ask for interests/offers on registration<br />
* Similar gimmick for sports, kitchen and music stuff (who brings what?)<br />
- I will take volleyball ball! - Ania_Szuti<br />
<br />
===General communication===<br />
Most of that is going to be on the internet. But offline comm is welcome if anybody can handle that.<br />
<br />
*Write press material (now that we have the destination).<br />
**Bulgarian<br />
**Russian<br />
**English --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] '''done'''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsDE|German]] --[[User:Zenit|Zenit]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsFR|French]] --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**Polish<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/newsHU|Hungarian]] --[[User:Maxijazz|Maxijazz]] '''done''<br />
**[[Hitchgathering/2011/newsFI|Finnish]] --[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] '''done, might need proof reading?''<br />
**Spanish --[[User:Ivers0n|Ivers0n]] '''done'''<br />
**''add language''<br />
<br />
The press releases are ON THE WEBSITE (menu link "press"). If a press release has been written for your language and it is not on the website, put it there. The drafts are [[Hitchgathering/2011/news#News_Story_.28long.29_-_April_2011|here]]<br />
<br />
* get in touch with hitchhikers in different countries to have local contacts:<br />
** Tadas for Lithuania<br />
** Martin for Latvia <br />
** add more... or add yourself<br />
<br />
====Social media====<br />
Most festivals spread through word of mouth. We can put that on steroids with all that social media thing.<br />
<br />
List of micro-bloggers (twitter, identi.ca...) that actually use their account:<br />
*twitter: sitarane<br />
The idea is to follow each other, to make communication faster.<br />
<br />
List of travel bloggers that actually have readers:<br />
The idea is to get them to write articles on hitchgathering.<br />
<br />
List of people to contact:<br />
*http://www.ludovichubler.com/<br />
*The two Swedish kids that hitched across Eurasia --Elsy<br />
*Anick-Marie<br />
*Juan Pablo Villarino ? www.acrobatoftheroad.blogspot.com<br />
*http://followtheroad.com/en/<br />
<br />
Other travel celebrities.<br />
The idea is to get them to communicate the gathering to a wider audience.<br />
* hospex camp organizers<br />
** Miicoo <br />
<br />
* Nonesee<br />
* Andrej<br />
* La Sophiste<br />
* Tom (Roadjunky)<br />
<br />
====News spread where & when====<br />
* [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=12&post=8545425 CS Hitchhiking Group] ''14th April''<br />
* [[Hitchgathering/2011/Finnish media contacts|Finnish media contacts]]<br />
* I've messaged The polish club of adventure [http://http://www.klubprzygody.pl/] which is located in Tricity and messaged the guy called 'Pawel' [http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000078961443] who's organized several massive events all over Europe, mostly attended by Polish people. I'm waiting for the response, we'll see how it goes.<br />
* Martins from Latvia and Tadas from Vilnius hitchhiking club<br />
<br />
===Art===<br />
''Waiting for some designs to emmerge''<br />
** Distribute the files and print it in several places/countries (try to get it for free)<br />
*track distribution and make it more open; make better use of them --[[User:N0id|N0id]]<br />
<br />
===Workshops===<br />
* organize some nice events and workshops: [[Hitchgathering/2011/Workshops]]<br />
<br />
===Practicalities on the ground===<br />
<br />
*There are two roads coming to Kara Dere. If you are coming from North (Varna) the first road is from the village Goritsa. The second is just before town Byala. We will try to get signs ready a few days before the meeting, at the latest.<br />
*If you take the second road, near Byala, there is a natural water source on the way. We should propably mark it so that anyone who comes can fill their bottles on the way. BE PREPARED TO SHARE WATER. It's the most precious resource at the gathering. If you can, please bring some extra water bottles and canisters. There are some fishermen at the North end of the beach who have extra canisters if we need more of them.<br />
*Dumpster-diving opportunities are next to non-existent. You can buy/beg food in nearby villages and towns. We should try to get a food sponsor to make this smooth. Setting up a fire on the sand should not be a problem as long as we don't cut down live trees.<br />
*Let's leave the place cleaner than it was when we came. Although the place is quite remote (some 5 km off the main road between Varna and Burgas) the Bulgarians know it's there and will be there for their holidays. Probably in August there will be tourists who don't give a shit. So, let's clean after them also. We'll make a common trash bin in one place and collect it with a car... if everything turns out fine, we should have at least one car in our disposal.<br />
*Kara Dere beach is loooong and we will probably pick the actual gathering spot just few days before when we get a few organizers (hitchhikers, participants) on the ground. I suggest we pick a spot near the natural water source that is on the south end of the beach.<br />
*If you have a camping shovel, bring it. However, we'll try to get a few Bulgarians nearby to contribute to the organizations and probably shovel is one of the first tools to fit in the equipment. We will make 2-3 shit pits so that we don't lay too many land mines here and there.<br />
*You can bathe in the sea, using sand as your soap. Only use organic products if you insist on real soap or shampoo.<br />
<br />
==Being done==<br />
===Practicalities===<br />
*Boyan (Sofia): boqnbb (at) abv.bg<br />
*Martin (Varna): martin.christov (at) gmail.com<br />
*Tomi (on the road): tomi.astikainen (at) mindyourelephant.org<br />
*ADD YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IF YOU WISH TO HELP IN PREPARING THE SITE<br />
<br />
===Art===<br />
[[Hitchgathering/2011/Graphic|Brainstorm page about graphic design]]<br />
* new logos and stuff ([[User:Sandra|Sandra]])<br />
* create a flyer to print and distribute (stickers?) ([[User:Sandra|Sandra]])<br />
** two drafts by Mollom can be found [https://picasaweb.google.com/hr.raychev/EuropeanHitchhikingGathering# here]<br />
** 3 drafts by [[User:Maxijazz|Zsolt]] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/corwax/5616351495/in/set-72157626366346045/ here]<br />
** Contact Robin about last year (you're reading this?): price, can we get the same offer? --[[User:N0id|N0id]]<br />
<br />
==Contact==<br />
* hospex camp organizers<br />
** Flohfish --n0id (message sent, no response so far)<br />
* [http://www.facebook.com/people/Pat-Pong/636153870 Pat Pong] (www.hitchhikingcontest.org) --Astikain<br />
** Contacted: Thinks the best way to "gather" people into a hitchhikers' gathering is on the road. Is willing to spread some flyers if we make them available soon.<br />
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thomas-Loves-adventures/123615887665522 Tomislav Perko] --Astikain<br />
** Contacted: might bring 50-100 hitchhikers if we can synchronize with his race<br />
<br />
==Visa info==<br />
Unfortunately, Bulgaria/Romania are '''NOT''' within Schengen yet, which means additional visa oppression for people holding Russian, Belorussian, Ukrainian or Moldovan passports.<br />
* Regulations for Russians (might apply for UA & BY as well)<br />
**Romania: Must apply for a visa in advance, 5 days visa-free transit for Bulgarian, Cypriot or Schengen visa holders. Usual Romanian tourist visa undergoes similar procedure than for Schengen, thus invitation letter, insurance, work book & sufficient amount of cash on bank account needed to submit in the embassy (usual 50 Euro/day). '''Advise''': Get Bulgarian visa, and afterwards apply for (free) transit visa for Romania, if traveling from Ukraine/Moldova.<br />
** Bulgaria:Must apply for a visa in advance, 36 hours visa-free transit for Romanian, Cypriot or Schengen visa holders. Usual Bulgarian tourist visa undergoes similar procedure than for Schengen, thus invitation letter, insurance, work book & sufficient amount of cash on bank account needed to submit in the embassy (usual 50 Euro/day). '''Advise''': See above. <br />
** Turkey: New visa regulations for Turkey from April 16, 2011! Check embassy in advance!<br />
* CHECK IF UKRAINE AND BELARUS HAVE THE SAME REGULATIONS<br />
* Regulations for Moldovans <br />
**Romania: Visa free (?) -need to get this confirmed --[[User:Platschi|Platschi]] 13:08, 14 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
STILL TO DO:<br />
* Figure out how Schengen people can assist in helping to acquire visa for people who need it<br />
* ... put this on the website in Russian<br />
* here is the info from the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs homepage, about the [http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/85 visa regime](with the list of states witch need/don't need visa),[http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/96 types of visas] and [http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/view/94 charges]<br />
<br />
==Web-presence==<br />
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitchgathering Wikipedia article] created --[[Astikain]] 17:10, 14 April 2011 (CEST)<br />
** Now, everyone, improve it please!<br />
*** But make sure to keep a copy on Hitchwiki since it might be removed in a short time (happens a lot on Wikipedia...). [[User:Guaka|guaka]] 02:15, 2 July 2011 (CEST)<br />
*** A bit unrelated, but why are car-sharing websites listed as external links on wikipedia articles like hitchgathering or hitchhiking? --[[User:N0id|N0id]] 17:23, 4 July 2011 (CEST)<br />
<br />
Know any publication that wrote about the festival? List external links:<br />
French: http://www.cafebabel.fr/article/33387/troisieme-festival-europeen-d-autostop-au-portugal.html<br />
<br />
==Promotion: DIY!==<br />
<br />
Some flyer designs have been made and an easy possibility to make flyers is to print<br />
* the [http://hitchgathering.org/sites/hitchgathering.org/files/hitch1.pdf flyer by artymori] in color or black/white<br />
* or the [http://hitchgathering.org/sites/hitchgathering.org/files/hitch2.pdf flyer by Zsolt] in color<br />
* you need: (color) printer with duplex mode if possible and a paper trimmer (most copy shops should have both, universities often do as well)<br />
* make sure that your settings do not resize the page automatically: Something like "adapt file to size of paper: no adaption" in Microsoft word, other software has such an option for sure<br />
* select duplex mode if you have and both sides are printed. If not just print the front page...<br />
* cut cut cut<br />
* distribute! <br />
<br />
<br />
There are other endless possibilities to spread the word about the hitchgathering. For example:<br />
<br />
* Tell your friends<br />
* Tell hitchhikers you meet on the road<br />
* Write cardboards with hitchgathering.org, the place and date (and maybe more) and place them at popular hitchhiking spots ... be creative and use your colorful markers!<br />
* Draw your own flyers :)<br />
* Spread the word around hitchhiking clubs and websites in your country/your language<br />
* Post on your hitchhiking / travel / nomad blog or website about the gathering<br />
* Tell your favorite hitchhiking / travel / nomad blog author to write about it<br />
* Organize a pre-meeting (can be early like May/June/July to raise attention and connect people) <br />
* Invent a new slogan for this year! http://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Hitchgathering/2011/Slogan&action=edit<br />
<br />
==Done==<br />
* make organisation more visible on hitchgathering.org: [[User:atopia|atopia]] (done by [[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]], thank you!)<br />
===Press===<br />
Press release written for:<br />
*English<br />
*German<br />
*French<br />
*Finnish<br />
*Spanish<br />
Always needs proofreading.<br />
===Website===<br />
* [[Reworking hitchgathering.org menu structure]]<br />
** make hitchgathering.org/6810 point to 2010 and remove the menu<br />
:I've looked into that and I'm confused. It's not a view, is it? It's a taxonomy trick. Can some drupal wizard shed some light? --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
Sort of done, if not for the detail above. I simply removed the 2010 bit. It is now not accessible through menu, and as far as I know, through any other way than knowing the url. --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
*The right column is too long --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
** I removed the slogans from last year that were cycling under the title and replaced them with the countdown<br />
** Removed both the "work in progress" block (since we do the orga chitchat on the mailing list AND the "who's new" block that I didn't see the point to. Comment if that makes you unhappy.<br />
* It's hard for admins to track how each user type sees the website. --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
** There's a new block visible only to admins that allows them to 'masquerade' any other user in one click.<br />
*Clean up the permission/role system --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
* Editing posts in plain text is annoying. In particular when one must include an image or a link. The html syntax is a big deterrent --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
**I might get into WYSIWYG later, but I hate it and it's a lot of work. Instead, I set up the 'Markdown' syntax as default. It's a bit like the wiki syntax, but simpler and more intuitive.<br />
*Remove the coordination forum (that we decided not to use anymore in favor of the mailing list) and the old forums from view (no delete!) --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
*Thoroughly adapt the website to 2011. Views, menu... --[[User:Sitarane.mp|Sitarane.mp]]<br />
<br />
==The Location ==<br />
<br />
The gathering will take place in Kara Dere, Bulgaria. Below is the description for the proposal.<br />
<br />
Quite big national hitchhiking society.<br />
Local support is a snap.<br />
Hitching is a blast.<br />
Exact location: The Black Sea, Kara Dere (near the city of Biala)<br />
<br />
Coords.: 42.892231,27.899687<br />
<br />
Have a look at [[hitchgathering/2011/Pictures_of_Bulgaria|Pictures of Bulgaria]]<br />
<br />
====Pros====<br />
<br />
*huge remote beach<br />
*water supply from a spring on the beach (''The issue of drinking water: There is a natural spring right on the beach. The only insignificant con is that the nice camping areas in the forest are a bit further on the beach on a 15 mins walk from the spring. But 10 liter tubes do a great job and daily "trips" are just a walk on the beach'')<br />
*perfect shade, as the beach borders with a marvelous forest, where it's cool all day long and in the night it's not windy and sandy <br />
*people there are generally nice <br />
*cheap!<br />
*equally near to (between) the two biggest cities (Varna, Burgas) on the coast line.<br />
*close to turkey<br />
*small "bar"(caravan) for beer, fish&chips, etc. on one end of the beach<br />
*few to none about the mosquito issue<br />
*the trumpet festival at Guča happens the week after 5/8/11, just 850km to the west<br />
<br />
====Cons====<br />
<br />
*40 mins walk on a dirt road to the nearest village for food supply (quite easy and pleasant though)<br />
** There are cars passing by as well on this dirty road, so they can at least bring the bags with food.<br />
*project for closing the area and building an "Eco Village" (decision and deadline unknown yet)<br />
*language barrier?<br />
** I guess there are as many hitchhikers who don't speak Bulgarian as hitchhikers who didn't speak Portuguese. And I guess there are a lot more Russian speakers in Bulgaria than English speakers in Spain.<br />
**language barrier is absolutely no problem, everybody knows what the thumb means, also city's names on road signs are nearly always in Cyrillic and Latin.<br />
*'''Many''' campers in summer<br />
*'''Forget''' about dumpster-diving here<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hitchgathering]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Thessaloniki&diff=52843Thessaloniki2011-06-14T08:41:03Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Italian Location<br />
|country = Greece<br />
|state = <br />
|map = <map lat='40.65355504328839' lng='22.928466796875' zoom='10' view='0' float='right' /><br />
|pop = 801,000<br />
|plate = NA - NZ<br />
|motorways = E75, E90<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Thessaloniki''' is a city in [[Greece]].<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
<br />
=== East towards Kavala and [[Istanbul]] ([[Turkey|TR]]) {{E|90}} ===<br />
This route is widely perceived to be difficult. The best and rather easy way of doing this is hitching with a Turkish truck. Take bus #27 from the centre (e.g. Kamara) until the very end of the line. [UPDATE: bus #83 no longer starts where bus #27 finishes. Instead ask your #27 bus driver where to get off for bus #83] Switch to bus #83 and go a few stops until you see the motorway. Get off when you see a JetOil rest area on the other side of the motorway. Just follow the bus and go under the motorway to reach the other side. Once you are there, rally the gas station personnel to help you. Show them your Istanbul (or Kavala or whatever) sign and ask them to tell you if they notice someone going to Turkey. Be prepared to convince the paranoid drivers that you are not wanted by the police and show them your passport. Getting a ride can take anything between one minute and five hours but this IS the way to do it. Do not even consider other small gas stations or thumbing up on the road. When you get to the border you might want to switch to a passenger car because the truck could be stuck in customs for a while.<br />
<br />
Another option: Bus #83 goes all the way to Langada. If you stay on the bus until it reaches this small town, you can easily hitch out in the direction of Kavala, Istanbul, etc.<br />
<br />
''A hitchhiking experience:<br />
I followed the instructions and went to JetOil and got the personnel to help, but it turned out to be quite hard to get a ride going east. Even though a lot of cars and trucks do stop there, the cars appeared to be going local and the trucks were heading towards Athens. After half an hour, I decided to move on and got a short ride to the highway. After 5 minutes a trucker, who was on his way to Iran, stopped for me. So even though I do not recommend thumbing up on the highway, it does work some time.<br />
December 2010, Lana''<br />
<br />
Another hitchhiking experience:<br />
I tried the recommended way of asking around at the JetOil trying to get out of Thessaloniki, with no luck. It seemed all the truckers were either sleeping, local, or going to Athens. Also, they were not that keen on taking hitchhikers anyway. After a few hours, I went to the highway right next to the station (there is an opening in the fence, you just have to look for it), and got a ride halfway to Istanbul within 10 minutes. It surprises me how closedminded the original post is, being that it is entirely possible, and quite easy to get a ride on the highway. Just a lesson that you should never take anyone's recommendation as absolute truth. I would personally recommend getting the gas-pumpers at the station to ask around for you (they were incredibly friendly), and stay within clear sight on the highway in case they get you a ride before you do. <br />
<br />
February 2011 Jon<br />
<br />
=== West to [[Igoumenitsa]] {{E|90}} ===<br />
<br />
Go to the train station, which is also the inner-city bus station. From here, take bus 8 KTEL (the KTEL are the blue and white buses) to Makedonia bus station. From there, you can catch the bus #80 to the end of the line, then follow motorway signs walking (approx. 2km) to the [[toll station]]. Or rather than taking bus #80, just walk across the road (roundabout) till you come to an [[on-ramp]] where, according to [[User:Liva|Liva]], is a a pretty good spot to stop cars.<br />
<br />
In [[Igoumenitsa]] you can get a ride with trucks over the sea to [[Italy]].<br />
<br />
=== Northeast to [[Sofia]] ([[Bulgaria|BG]]) ===<br />
<br />
Take the bus #27 from the centre the the final s top ''Platia Stavroupolis'' (Stavroupolis square). Then take bus #85 and you're already on your way. Almost any stop of this bus leaves you at a good hitchhiking point, but the nineteenth stop ''21o chiliometro'' (21st kilometre) is right on a petrol station on the way to Serres and the Bulgarian border (to Sandansky, Blagoevgrad, Sofia). The road is E79 and it's not a motorway, especially after the border. These city bus tickets cost only 50 cents (that you don't even have to pay) and take you quite some kilometres out of the city towards all destinations.<br />
<br />
=== North West to [[Kilkis]] ([[Greece]]) or [[Macedonia]] ===<br />
Basically you need to take 2 buses. Very similar to the above direction to Sofia. But this time it is bus #27 / #27a and bus #84 / # 84a. You can change buses in two different places.<br />
<br />
* This way is faster as you don't need to stay on bus #27 so long. Take bus #27 or #27a and get off at Minerva stop in Oreokastrou suburb. If you walk some hundreds of meters from the bus stop where you get off, in the direction the bus was going, you will reach a crossroads and on your left you will see another bus stop. From there you can take bus #84.<br />
* This way is easier because you don't need to change bus stops, it is the way mentioned in the Northeast to Sofia section. Take the bus #27 or #27a from the centre the the final s top ''Platia Stavroupolis'' (Stavroupolis square). Then at the same place take bus #84 / #84a and you're already on your way.<br />
<br />
Stay on bus #84 whilst it passes through 2 villages, Liti and Melissochiori. When it is out of Melissochiori, at one point the bus will cross the road going to Kilkis and you will see signs for Kilkis. When you are at the cross roads you can press the stop button on the bus and it will stop just after the cross. There is a bus stop there. Then you are at a great spot for hitching a ride to Kilkis, Gallikos or even Macedonia(but not the most common way to Skopje. it is a different border).<br />
<br />
=== North West to Serbia (Belgrade) ===<br />
<br />
'''A hitchhiking experience:'''<br />
''I took bus 81A from KTEL busstation to Agios Athanasios. Got off when it turns from the highway. From there hitched to Polykastro and another ride got me to the border. At the border asked the car in front of me for a ride, which got me to Skopje. Standing on the highway there, it was very quiet, but I was very lucky as an Austrian car passed and got me straight to Belgrade.<br />
<br />
January 2011, Lana''<br />
<br />
=== South to [[Athens]] ===<br />
<br />
Take Buses #31, #12, #8 or #78 to the bus station called KTEL. From there take bus #80 or #80A to the village called ''Malgara''. You can go down on the station "''25 Martiou''" which is the closest to the tolls (in Greek ''ikostis pemptis martiou'' if you wan ask the driver). There you can ask and find the toll station (in Greek ''diodia'') easily. You'll have to walk about 2 km to find it, but then there is a possibility to get a ride even straight to Athens. Before you enter the motorway where the toll station is, you will have to go through some fields. If it's night be careful, just before the motorway there is a small ridge that is a bit steep and there is water flowing down, you need to find your way around it. If it's day, from the fields you can see a small canteen on the motorway, head to that direction, you can bypass the ridge there very easily and also you don't need to jump the fence (easy to jump though) because there is an entrance/exit for the canteen. From the canteen you will see the tolls, they are less than 50 m away.<br />
<br />
== Sleep ==<br />
There are many hospitality network members in the city, so try your luck there. [[User:Liva|Livas]] had luck once at sleeping in the train station. She asked the people on the train station if she could sleep there even though they where closed at night, and she could!<br />
<br />
Some have had luck asking the good people at Mikropolis/Micropolis Social Space, (see [http://wikimapia.org/#lat=40.6360852&lon=22.939539&z=17&l=0&m=s&v=9&show=/13098671/Mikropolis]). They were very friendly and could advise on where to squat for the night.<br />
<br />
=== Camping ===<br />
The university campus in Thessaloniki is just in the city centre and it's the perfect place to sleep in your van/tent/sleeping bag, because it's the only green place in the city and because the police are not allowed to enter the university! There are few guards but don't have the right to touch you. It's generally safe, though perhaps not suitable for a single female.<br />
<br />
== Public Transport ==<br />
The tickets for the buses in the city are cheap, only 0.50€. Blackriding is possible. If you speak to the controller in a foreign language (showing that you're a tourist, not an illegal immigrant) they'll just leave you alone. If not, they first ask 30 Euros for the tax, you say you don't have. Then they ask your id card, you say you don't have it with you and then they'll just give you a paper to note your name and address, where you can write any fake name. Or even simpler you can give your real passport and they are supposed to send you the bill to your country. It's 100% SURE that they will not.<br />
<br />
== Free food ==<br />
Thessaloniki is perhaps the only place in the world where you can eat everyday for free easily. Next to the campus of Aristotles university, Egnatia street, after the crossroad with 3rd September street there is the university canteen. Ask anybody for ''fititiki leschi''/φοιτητική λέσχη. There you can find a free full meal twice a day. 12.00-15.00 and 18.00-20.00. These free meals are provided for the university students, but even if you're not one, you don't have to pay and you don't have to show a student ID or any document. Just follow the queue, take the food and eat it. There's never any checks. There's nothing to be afraid of, just try to look more or less like a student. Only disadvantage is that it is closed on weekends, summer holidays and not-working days for the university in general. Picture of the building [http://www.makthes.gr/filestore/modules/news/68918/lesxi.jpg here].<br />
<br />
This might not be true anymore, have heard that this year they started checking for a student pass.<br />
<br />
* You're right, since September 2010 they started checking. But don't be scared, just ignore them, they don't insist! Myself, although I have a student card, I refuse to show it, many students do so out of solidarity. Tidy looks always help.<br />
<br />
* Actually they don't check anymore. Barely anyone was showing their IDs when they started checking so they gave up. Nobody cares now. Go early if you want choice of foods. Sometimes they run out of the nicest meal or of the dessert and they give you the other one and an orange instead of the baklava or rice pudding. You can easily ask for seconds and thirds.<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Greece}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
[[Category:Greece]]<br />
[[Category:E75]]<br />
[[Category:E79]]<br />
[[Category:E90]]<br />
[[Category:Route Athens - Thessaloniki]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Thessaloniki]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Athens&diff=52842Athens2011-06-14T08:23:45Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Italian Location<br />
|country = Greece<br />
|state = <br />
|map = <map lat='38' lng='23.74' zoom='10' view='0' /><br />
|pop = 2,805,000<br />
|plate = YA - YH<br />
|motorways = 1, 6<br />
}}<br />
'''Athens''' is the capital of [[Greece]].<br />
<br />
== Hitchhiking out ==<br />
<br />
=== North to [[Thessaloniki]], [[Macedonia]] (E75) ===<br />
Take the metro from the center north to Nea Ionia station. From the exit of the metro station, turn right, go down a few dozen meters, and go under the tunnel. This is the start of Odos Elevtheriou Venizelou. Walk up this street to Odos Tatoiou and turn right. Walk straight for a few kilometers until the road rises to become a bridge over a large motorway. Don't go up the bridge, but rather take the road that stays below the bridge and runs to the right side. This is signposted ''Lamia'', one of the first major cities north of Athens. The best time to get a lift is the early morning when local people are driving to work in more distant communities. Eventually someone will stop who can take you far enough north that you can escape the Athens metropolitan area and get long distance rides. For Macedonia, turn left about a kilometer after the enormous toll booth plaza before Thessaloniki.<br />
<br />
Anywhere you hitch from, try to get a lift going at least to the town/village called Oinofyta. 10km before that there is a huge gas station called Autogrill where you can get long lifts if you are lucky. In Greece it is also no problem to hitch on the actual highway as long as you are far enough from the city suburbs.<br />
<br />
For a place to sleep before Thessaloniki, there is a great 24 hour rest area/gas station called Olympus plaza(olympusplaza.gr). It is 10km east of Katerini and has free wifi, showers and comfortable couches you can sleep on. Workers were really nice when Sma asked if she could sleep there, they said "of course!".<br />
<br />
=== Southwest to [[Patras]] and the [[Peloponnesos]] (E94) ===<br />
==== Option 1 ====<br />
* Bus A16 from Aigaleo Metro Station (end of blue line) <br />
* Bus B16 from Metxourgio Metro Station (Red Line)<br />
* Bus 865 200m from Eleonas Metro Station (blue line)<br />
<br />
Get off at 1st Aerodromiou Stop or Levkes Stop. There you will see the connection with National Road 8(N8)<br />
<br />
==== Option 2 ====<br />
'''Harrys Truck-Stop'''<br />
<br />
In the suburb of Aspropyrgos, in west Athens, there is a truck-stop well known and used by truck-drivers. There are many trucks from western and northern Europe which means that hitchers will have very good chances of getting a lift to the port-city of Patras and possibly even beyond into Europe.<br />
<br />
The truck stop is at the 17th km of National Road Athens-Korinthos (Athinon-Korinthou). Ιt seems this is where Halivas Cement Company is.<br />
It's a huge area and bus drivers and people know it.<br />
<br />
==== Option 3 ====<br />
Take Suburban Train Piraeus-Kiato from Piraeus or Athens aka Larissis Train Station(not to be confused with Larissa TOWN) <br />
<br />
Get off at last stop. Walk straight from the right side of the railway line to the motorway you see. There turn right.<br />
After 20m there is a left turn to Egio, Patras.<br />
There are almost no controllers on that train. I have taken it 5-6 times last two months (April-May 2010) usually on Fridays <br />
and have seen no controllers. My girlfriend neither in different occasions. Ticket is 6 €.<br />
<br />
==== Option 4 ====<br />
Eleusina Toll Station.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping ==<br />
From the northbound hitchhiking point, go up the stairs, across the bridge to the other side of the motorway, take the stairs down, and then walk a few meters south. You'll find a small wooded area surrounded by a fence. The gate of this is open, you just have to look for it. Surrounded on all sides by motorway and away from any normal pedestrian avenues, this is a pretty safe place to camp for the night, even pitch a tent. The large amount of trees means you won't be seen by the cars, which pass by rather fast.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{IsIn|Greece}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:E75]]<br />
[[Category:Greece]]<br />
[[Category:Route Athens - Thessaloniki]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Lyon&diff=45859Lyon2010-10-14T11:43:08Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
'''Lyon''' is a large city in southeast [[France]].<br />
<br />
The ''autoroute du soleil'' passes through the city, so during the summer there are huge amounts of traffic.<br />
<br />
Some hitchhikers have found Lyon easy to leave, because the motorway is so close to the city and there are plenty of spots where cars can stop. However, the city has also gained a reputation as a hitchhiking hell due to the tunnel system in '''and''' out of the city. If you are only passing through Lyin, it is best to get a ride that will take you south of Lyon.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Hitching out ==<br />
<map lat='45.75135490158536' lng='4.833254814147949' zoom='15' view='0' float='right'/><br />
<br />
=== North towards [[Dijon]], [[Paris]] {{European Route Number|15}} ===<br />
* You can stop at the traffic lights on the bridge Kitchener-Marchand near Perrache. It can be better to write "Péage" (toll) or [[Villefranche]] (and then, stop at the toll or before.)<br />
* Found a [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Rue+du+Professeur+Dep%C3%A9ret&daddr=dijon&hl=fr&geocode=Fb0sugId0K9IAA%3BFe0n0gIdFPdMACl1lv3vjJ3yRzHQWBSzNM4JBA&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=13&sll=45.772073,4.790897&sspn=0.05879,0.154324&ie=UTF8&ll=45.771557,4.790294&spn=0,0.002411&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.771695,4.790451&panoid=WUVigLDlgfvZbSU7ADGAzA&cbp=12,353.24,,2,1.55 hitchhiker on Streetview!] (please someone make a screenshot before it disappears :) - Entry to A7 at Avenue Victor Hugo, looks like metro Valmy is closest, and between that station and the motorway entrance (about 1,5 km) there might be some more options.<br />
* The bridge close to metro Valmy is also really good.<br />
* You can go to the petrol station Bruyéres-Passy on the A6 North. This is a good option because it puts you already north and out of Lyon, at a petrol station right along the motorway. To get there take the metro to the stop ''Gare de Vaise''. From there catch the bus number 21 (Any bus with the number 21 will do, as this is the beginning of the route) and get off at the stop called ''Parc Sans Souci''. After you get off the bus continue walking in the direction the bus leaves (as if you were chasing it after you get off!) After about 50 meters you will hit a street called ''Rue Sans Souci'' and turn left. Continue walking following the road about 10 minutes, then turn right onto a road called ''Chemin de la Bruyere''. You should see the petrol station on the left after the Harley Davidson Warehouse/Store. You'll need to jump the fence to get to it. The petrol station is right near a big store called Metro which you can use as a landmark if you need to ask for directions.<br />
* Where Tunnel de la Duchere / Rue de Bourgogne intersect. There is a great little pull-over place just after the round-about. Closest metro is Gare de Vaise.<br />
<br />
=== South towards [[Orange]], [[Nîmes]], [[Marseille]], [[Saint-Étienne]] {{European Route Number|15}} ===<br />
* On ''Quai du Docteur Gailleton'' near ''Rue Franklin Roosvelt'' there is a bus stop which makes a great place for cars to pull over. It is very close to metro stop ''Ampère Victor Hugo''. There's plenty of traffic heading to [[Valence]] and [[Orange]], which is a good place to continue further East or West along the coast. Hitchhike on the left lane (cars on the right lane will then turn right...) a bit under the speed camera. <br />Quite fast you can get a ride to nearest [http://maps.hitchwiki.org/?lat=45.6504383704269&lng=4.838533401489258&zoom=15&trip=0&view=0 petrol station], which is situated 12km south - just try hitchhiking with sign "A7 - 12km sud". <br />
* You also might want to try from Square Julien Gras.<br />
* Just in front of the 'Prison St-Joseph' on 'Quai Perrache' you can stand on the white-striped space between the continuing street and the lane that joins the motorway.<br />
* A gas station on A7, south of Lyon, on the level of a town called Vernaison, is a perfect place. To get there, you should take a train heading to Vernaison at gare de Perrache (3 euro). At Vernaison you cross the river (there are two bridges and an island betwen). Once on the other site of the river, Turn left (north)and walk for a few kilometers (I walked the no-ones land between the motorway and some firm's fenced property, but there may be a way behind the property). The distance from Vernaison train station to the gas station is not the shortest one, but once you are there, you ar really inside the motorway network, so it's worth the effort.<br />
<br />
=== Getting onto [[A46 (France)|A46]] (Lyon Bypass) ===<br />
There's a big service area on the Lyon bypass (''Contournement de Lyon'') motorway. There are two petrol stations, one on each side of the road. This is located to the south of the urban area. Directions are: <br />
* ''Southbound''<br />
** A7 – Marseille, [[Montpellier]]<br />
** A47 – [[Saint Etienne]]<br />
* ''Northbound''<br />
** A6 – [[Dijon]], [[Paris]]<br />
** A42 – [[Genève]]<br />
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1,+chemin+du+tram,+communay,+france&sll=45.594822,4.837589&sspn=0.048647,0.101967&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=45.591849,4.826775&spn=0.012162,0.039568&t=k&om=1 The place on the map]<br />
<br />
There's one bus going to ''Communay'', the closest village, the bus #179 From "Rond point Darilly" (Métro "Parilly"), but it goes 7 times a day on workdays and 4 times the day on week-ends. there's several stops in the village. You can check out the timetable [http://www.rhone.fr/file/idocumentsattaches/transport/lr_ligne_179.pdf here]. <br />
If you missed it there's a bus #39 from metro ''Venissieux'', but goes only until ''Solaize'', 5 km closer to the center on road D307/N7, leading to the motorway. The station is about 1 km south from the interchange. The service-stations are sealed off from the normal road but at least for the northbound spot, you can easily climb over the fence. Finding a hitch here is very easy. If you know how to get here, it is definitely worth the hustle.<br />
<br />
Marché de Gros is situated in the very south of the Saone peninsula. Coming from "Rue Casimir Périer" You reach a street alongside A7 with lots of cars going to the the motorway. Vasy there, a lot of stop-and-go. I stood for 2h near the train station "Lyon-Perrache" and then 5min there. <br />
<br />
A petrol station on the A6 North near Limonest is potentially good. (see above)<br />
<br />
<br />
:''It's only information I found on the net, i didn't verify it since i was dropped off at the station by someone heading '''to''' the city, but got a ride in about 1/2 hour (In Nov 2006)'' --[[User:Daniel|Daniel]] 20:21, 13 January 2007 (CET)<br />
<br />
=== Getting onto A42 - Direction Bourg-en-Bresse, [[Genève]], [[Germany]] ===<br />
<br />
Bus 171 will take you to the village of Montluel. It runs around every hour (time table from the [http://tcl.fr/index.asp?page=horaires&etape=3&Date=2010|03|27&Line=171|Pont%20Guilloti%E8re%20-%20Cr%E9pieux%20Les%20Brosses%20(Montluel)|16|tcl171|Pont%20Guillotiere%20RD%20vers%20Crepieux%20Les%20Brosses|Crepieux%20Les%20Brosses%20vers%20Pont%20Guillotiere%20RD|1|Bus&DateFinBases=2010|5|1&DateMajBases=????|??|??&StopArea=1467|tcl5046|H%F4tel%20de%20Ville%20-%20Louis%20Pradel|Lyon%201er&submit=Valider&Direction=1 tcl.fr]. Attention, the bus stop for "hotel de ville" is actually on the banks of the river Rhone. From the hotel de ville (the actual building) walk towards the river (east) to find it. The ride costs 2€.<br />
<br />
In Montluel, go down at the train station. (The bus trip takes 50 min) Then walk direction Pérouges, turn right to direction of Niévroz. You cross under the railway and over the motorway. Looking to the left you see the petrol station you are heading for. The whole way to walk takes about 10-20min. See the place here: [http://maps.google.de/maps?f=d&hl=de&geocode=1972572113067456031,45.845405,5.070403&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=45.842912,5.07122&daddr=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=45.845363,5.062466&sspn=0.026786,0.080338&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1]<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Chambery]], [[Grenoble]], [[Geneva]] {{European Route Number|70}} ===<br />
<br />
There is an [[on-ramp]] in Lyon where you can hitch straight onto the motorway to Geneva (A43/ E70). There is a roundabout and a bike-lane where cars can stop for you. Take the metro Line D to Mermoz and walk to Rue Lionel Terray. You'll find a sign for [[Geneva]] here (see also a [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=Bron+&sll=45.688914,4.886169&sspn=0.505556,0.883026&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bron,+Rh%C3%B4ne,+Rh%C3%B4ne-Alpes,+Frankrijk&ll=45.730844,4.887159&spn=0,359.997253&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.730349,4.887796&panoid=18XTMoZRWgo7hU2KAFWmew&cbp=12,78.29,,0,12.14 Streetview]).<br />
Tell them to drop you off at the gas station in St. Priest (Station service in french)and get a ride from there.<br />
<br />
=== Northeast toward [[Bourg en Bresse]], [[Dijon]], [[Geneva]] {{European Route Number|611}} A42 ===<br />
<br />
Bus 171 from "Hotel de ville" next to river in Lyon (dep at hours 03/33, weekend only 33), brings you close to a petrol-station on the motorway. It departs near the opera on Quai Jean moulin and takes about 45 mins (2 euros one way). It goes through some small French villages and along the way lots of big supermarkets in case you need food.<br />
<br />
Leave the bus at Montluel train station which is the second last. You will see the train station when you pass, so don't panic. Trains are faster and have to be taken from the main station in Lyon.<br />
<br />
Get off and turn right, cross under the railway tracks. Then you will enter the industrial area in Montluel. Find Rue des Chartinières to cross the motorway. Once you crossed the bridge, turn left and follow the road close to the motorway. There is a small space to enter the petrol-station, only for pedestrians, behind the little house at the end of the parking lot. <br />
<br />
Cars go all directions in France from here, including with Dutch and Germans numberplates going via Dijon. Halfway before the road splits in direction Geneva and Dijon (after about 30km) there is a parking and after the split another petrol-station at Ceignes.<br />
<br />
== Public transport ==<br />
You can blackride the metro, just go in quickly after someone. Not sure about bus or tram.<br />
Alternatively look for used tickets left around by people. The tickets can be used up to an hour after they were validated. Tickets also work for all public transport in the city.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping ==<br />
The parks on ''Fourvière Hill'' in ''Vieux Lyon'' are peaceful at night and if you are too, no one will bother you for [[camping]] out there. It's nearby, but it feels so far outside of the city that you can get a relaxing night of sleep without worrying about police or thieves. It is however quite difficult to find a flat place there.<br />
[[trash:Lyon]]<br />
{{IsIn|Rhône-Alpes}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:France]]<br />
[[Category:E15]]<br />
[[Category:E70]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Lyon]]<br />
[[es:Lyon]]<br />
[[fr:Lyon]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Lyon&diff=45858Lyon2010-10-14T11:41:23Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
'''Lyon''' is a large city in southeast [[France]].<br />
<br />
The ''autoroute du soleil'' passes through the city, so during the summer there are huge amounts of traffic.<br />
<br />
Some hitchhikers have found Lyon easy to leave, because the motorway is so close to the city and there are plenty of spots where cars can stop. However, the city has also gained a reputation as a hitchhiking hell due to the tunnel system in '''and''' out of the city. If you are only passing through Lyin, it is best to get a ride that will take you south of Lyon.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Hitching out ==<br />
<map lat='45.75135490158536' lng='4.833254814147949' zoom='15' view='0' float='right'/><br />
<br />
=== North towards [[Dijon]], [[Paris]] {{European Route Number|15}} ===<br />
* You can stop at the traffic lights on the bridge Kitchener-Marchand near Perrache. It can be better to write "Péage" (toll) or [[Villefranche]] (and then, stop at the toll or before.)<br />
* Found a [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Rue+du+Professeur+Dep%C3%A9ret&daddr=dijon&hl=fr&geocode=Fb0sugId0K9IAA%3BFe0n0gIdFPdMACl1lv3vjJ3yRzHQWBSzNM4JBA&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=13&sll=45.772073,4.790897&sspn=0.05879,0.154324&ie=UTF8&ll=45.771557,4.790294&spn=0,0.002411&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.771695,4.790451&panoid=WUVigLDlgfvZbSU7ADGAzA&cbp=12,353.24,,2,1.55 hitchhiker on Streetview!] (please someone make a screenshot before it disappears :) - Entry to A7 at Avenue Victor Hugo, looks like metro Valmy is closest, and between that station and the motorway entrance (about 1,5 km) there might be some more options.<br />
* The bridge close to metro Valmy is also really good.<br />
* You can go to the petrol station Bruyéres-Passy on the A6 North. This is a good option because it puts you already north and out of Lyon, at a petrol station right along the motorway. To get there take the metro to the stop ''Gare de Vaise''. From there catch the bus number 21 (Any bus with the number 21 will do, as this is the beginning of the route) and get off at the stop called ''Parc Sans Souci''. After you get off the bus continue walking in the direction the bus leaves (as if you were chasing it after you get off!) After about 50 meters you will hit a street called ''Rue Sans Souci'' and turn left. Continue walking following the road about 10 minutes, then turn right onto a road called ''Chemin de la Bruyere''. You should see the petrol station on the left after the Harley Davidson Warehouse/Store. You'll need to jump the fence to get to it. The petrol station is right near a big store called Metro which you can use as a landmark if you need to ask for directions.<br />
* Where Tunnel de la Duchere / Rue de Bourgogne intersect. There is a great little pull-over place just after the round-about. Closest metro is Gare de Vaise.<br />
<br />
=== South towards [[Orange]], [[Nîmes]], [[Marseille]], [[Saint-Étienne]] {{European Route Number|15}} ===<br />
* On ''Quai du Docteur Gailleton'' near ''Rue Franklin Roosvelt'' there is a bus stop which makes a great place for cars to pull over. It is very close to metro stop ''Ampère Victor Hugo''. There's plenty of traffic heading to [[Valence]] and [[Orange]], which is a good place to continue further East or West along the coast. Hitchhike on the left lane (cars on the right lane will then turn right...) a bit under the speed camera. <br />Quite fast you can get a ride to nearest [http://maps.hitchwiki.org/?lat=45.6504383704269&lng=4.838533401489258&zoom=15&trip=0&view=0 petrol station], which is situated 12km south - just try hitchhiking with sign "A7 - 12km sud". <br />
* You also might want to try from Square Julien Gras.<br />
* Just in front of the 'Prison St-Joseph' on 'Quai Perrache' you can stand on the white-striped space between the continuing street and the lane that joins the motorway.<br />
* A gas station on A7, south of Lyon, on the level of a town called Vernaison, is a perfect place. To get there, you should take a train heading to Vernaison at gare de Perrache (3 euro). At Vernaison you cross the river (there are two bridges and an island betwen). Once on the other site of the river, Turn left (north)and walk for a few kilometers (I walked the no-ones land between the motorway and some firm's fenced property, but there may be a way behind the property). The distance from Vernaison train station to the gas station is not the shortest one, but once you are there, you ar really inside the motorway network, so it's worth the effort.<br />
<br />
=== Getting onto [[A46 (France)|A46]] (Lyon Bypass) ===<br />
There's a big service area on the Lyon bypass (''Contournement de Lyon'') motorway. There are two petrol stations, one on each side of the road. This is located to the south of the urban area. Directions are: <br />
* ''Southbound''<br />
** A7 – Marseille, [[Montpellier]]<br />
** A47 – [[Saint Etienne]]<br />
* ''Northbound''<br />
** A6 – [[Dijon]], [[Paris]]<br />
** A42 – [[Genève]]<br />
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1,+chemin+du+tram,+communay,+france&sll=45.594822,4.837589&sspn=0.048647,0.101967&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=45.591849,4.826775&spn=0.012162,0.039568&t=k&om=1 The place on the map]<br />
<br />
There's one bus going to ''Communay'', the closest village, the bus #179 From "Rond point Darilly" (Métro "Parilly"), but it goes 7 times a day on workdays and 4 times the day on week-ends. there's several stops in the village. You can check out the timetable [http://www.rhone.fr/file/idocumentsattaches/transport/lr_ligne_179.pdf here]. <br />
If you missed it there's a bus #39 from metro ''Venissieux'', but goes only until ''Solaize'', 5 km closer to the center on road D307/N7, leading to the motorway. The station is about 1 km south from the interchange. The service-stations are sealed off from the normal road but at least for the northbound spot, you can easily climb over the fence. Finding a hitch here is very easy. If you know how to get here, it is definitely worth the hustle.<br />
<br />
Marché de Gros is situated in the very south of the Saone peninsula. Coming from "Rue Casimir Périer" You reach a street alongside A7 with lots of cars going to the the motorway. Vasy there, a lot of stop-and-go. I stood for 2h near the train station "Lyon-Perrache" and then 5min there. <br />
<br />
A petrol station on the A6 North near Limonest is potentially good. (see above)<br />
<br />
<br />
:''It's only information I found on the net, i didn't verify it since i was dropped off at the station by someone heading '''to''' the city, but got a ride in about 1/2 hour (In Nov 2006)'' --[[User:Daniel|Daniel]] 20:21, 13 January 2007 (CET)<br />
<br />
=== Getting onto A42 - Direction Bourg-en-Bresse, [[Genève]], [[Germany]] ===<br />
<br />
Bus 171 will take you to the village of Montluel. It runs around every hour (time table from the [http://tcl.fr/index.asp?page=horaires&etape=3&Date=2010|03|27&Line=171|Pont%20Guilloti%E8re%20-%20Cr%E9pieux%20Les%20Brosses%20(Montluel)|16|tcl171|Pont%20Guillotiere%20RD%20vers%20Crepieux%20Les%20Brosses|Crepieux%20Les%20Brosses%20vers%20Pont%20Guillotiere%20RD|1|Bus&DateFinBases=2010|5|1&DateMajBases=????|??|??&StopArea=1467|tcl5046|H%F4tel%20de%20Ville%20-%20Louis%20Pradel|Lyon%201er&submit=Valider&Direction=1 tcl.fr]. Attention, the bus stop for "hotel de ville" is actually on the banks of the river Rhone. From the hotel de ville (the actual building) walk towards the river (east) to find it. The ride costs 2€.<br />
<br />
In Montluel, go down at the train station. (The bus trip takes 50 min) Then walk direction Pérouges, turn right to direction of Niévroz. You cross under the railway and over the motorway. Looking to the left you see the petrol station you are heading for. The whole way to walk takes about 10-20min. See the place here: [http://maps.google.de/maps?f=d&hl=de&geocode=1972572113067456031,45.845405,5.070403&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=45.842912,5.07122&daddr=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=45.845363,5.062466&sspn=0.026786,0.080338&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1]<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Chambery]], [[Grenoble]], [[Geneva]] {{European Route Number|70}} ===<br />
<br />
There is an [[on-ramp]] in Lyon where you can hitch straight onto the motorway to Geneva (A43/ E70). There is a roundabout and a bike-lane where cars can stop for you. Take the metro Line D to Mermoz and walk to Rue Lionel Terray. You'll find a sign for [[Geneva]] here (see also a [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=Bron+&sll=45.688914,4.886169&sspn=0.505556,0.883026&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bron,+Rh%C3%B4ne,+Rh%C3%B4ne-Alpes,+Frankrijk&ll=45.730844,4.887159&spn=0,359.997253&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.730349,4.887796&panoid=18XTMoZRWgo7hU2KAFWmew&cbp=12,78.29,,0,12.14 Streetview]).<br />
Tell them to drop you off at the gas station in St. Priest (Station service in french)and get a ride from there.<br />
<br />
=== Northeast toward [[Bourg en Bresse]], [[Dijon]], [[Geneva]] {{European Route Number|611}} A42 ===<br />
<br />
Bus 171 from "Hotel de ville" next to river in Lyon (dep at hours 03/33, weekend only 33), brings you close to a petrol-station on the motorway. It departs near the opera on Quai Jean moulin and takes about 45 mins (2 euros one way). It goes through some small French villages and along the way lots of big supermarkets in case you need food.<br />
<br />
Leave the bus at Montluel train station which is the second last. You will see the train station when you pass, so don't panic. Trains are faster and have to be taken from the main station in Lyon.<br />
<br />
Get off and turn right, cross under the railway tracks. Then you will enter the industrial area in Montluel. Find Rue des Chartinières to cross the motorway. Once you crossed the bridge, turn left and follow the road close to the motorway. There is a small space to enter the petrol-station, only for pedestrians, behind the little house at the end of the parking lot. <br />
<br />
Cars go all directions in France from here, including with Dutch and Germans numberplates going via Dijon. Halfway before the road splits in direction Geneva and Dijon (after about 30km) there is a parking and after the split another petrol-station at Ceignes.<br />
<br />
== Sleeping ==<br />
The parks on ''Fourvière Hill'' in ''Vieux Lyon'' are peaceful at night and if you are too, no one will bother you for [[camping]] out there. It's nearby, but it feels so far outside of the city that you can get a relaxing night of sleep without worrying about police or thieves. It is however quite difficult to find a flat place there.<br />
[[trash:Lyon]]<br />
{{IsIn|Rhône-Alpes}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:France]]<br />
[[Category:E15]]<br />
[[Category:E70]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Lyon]]<br />
[[es:Lyon]]<br />
[[fr:Lyon]]</div>Smauahttps://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Lyon&diff=45857Lyon2010-10-14T11:40:32Z<p>Smaua: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
'''Lyon''' is a large city in southeast [[France]].<br />
<br />
The ''autoroute du soleil'' passes through the city, so during the summer there are huge amounts of traffic.<br />
<br />
Some hitchhikers have found Lyon easy to leave, because the motorway is so close to the city and there are plenty of spots where cars can stop. However, the city has also gained a reputation as a hitchhiking hell due to the tunnel system in '''and''' out of the city. If you are only passing through Lyin, it is best to get a ride that will take you south of Lyon.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Hitching out ==<br />
<map lat='45.75135490158536' lng='4.833254814147949' zoom='15' view='0' float='right'/><br />
<br />
=== North towards [[Dijon]], [[Paris]] {{European Route Number|15}} ===<br />
* You can stop at the traffic lights on the bridge Kitchener-Marchand near Perrache. It can be better to write "Péage" (toll) or [[Villefranche]] (and then, stop at the toll or before.)<br />
* Found a [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Rue+du+Professeur+Dep%C3%A9ret&daddr=dijon&hl=fr&geocode=Fb0sugId0K9IAA%3BFe0n0gIdFPdMACl1lv3vjJ3yRzHQWBSzNM4JBA&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=13&sll=45.772073,4.790897&sspn=0.05879,0.154324&ie=UTF8&ll=45.771557,4.790294&spn=0,0.002411&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.771695,4.790451&panoid=WUVigLDlgfvZbSU7ADGAzA&cbp=12,353.24,,2,1.55 hitchhiker on Streetview!] (please someone make a screenshot before it disappears :) - Entry to A7 at Avenue Victor Hugo, looks like metro Valmy is closest, and between that station and the motorway entrance (about 1,5 km) there might be some more options.<br />
* The bridge close to metro Valmy is also really good.<br />
* You can go to the petrol station Bruyéres-Passy on the A6 North. This is a good option because it puts you already north and out of Lyon, at a petrol station right along the motorway. To get there take the metro to the stop ''Gare de Vaise''. From there catch the bus number 21 (Any bus with the number 21 will do, as this is the beginning of the route) and get off at the stop called ''Parc Sans Souci''. After you get off the bus continue walking in the direction the bus leaves (as if you were chasing it after you get off!) After about 50 meters you will hit a street called ''Rue Sans Souci'' and turn left. Continue walking following the road about 10 minutes, then turn right onto a road called ''Chemin de la Bruyere''. You should see the petrol station on the left after the Harley Davidson Warehouse/Store. You'll need to jump the fence to get to it. The petrol station is right near a big store called Metro which you can use as a landmark if you need to ask for directions.<br />
* where Tunnel de la Duchere / Rue de Bourgogne intersect. There is a great little pull-over place just after the round-about. Closest metro is Gare de Vaise.<br />
<br />
=== South towards [[Orange]], [[Nîmes]], [[Marseille]], [[Saint-Étienne]] {{European Route Number|15}} ===<br />
* On ''Quai du Docteur Gailleton'' near ''Rue Franklin Roosvelt'' there is a bus stop which makes a great place for cars to pull over. It is very close to metro stop ''Ampère Victor Hugo''. There's plenty of traffic heading to [[Valence]] and [[Orange]], which is a good place to continue further East or West along the coast. Hitchhike on the left lane (cars on the right lane will then turn right...) a bit under the speed camera. <br />Quite fast you can get a ride to nearest [http://maps.hitchwiki.org/?lat=45.6504383704269&lng=4.838533401489258&zoom=15&trip=0&view=0 petrol station], which is situated 12km south - just try hitchhiking with sign "A7 - 12km sud". <br />
* You also might want to try from Square Julien Gras.<br />
* Just in front of the 'Prison St-Joseph' on 'Quai Perrache' you can stand on the white-striped space between the continuing street and the lane that joins the motorway.<br />
* A gas station on A7, south of Lyon, on the level of a town called Vernaison, is a perfect place. To get there, you should take a train heading to Vernaison at gare de Perrache (3 euro). At Vernaison you cross the river (there are two bridges and an island betwen). Once on the other site of the river, Turn left (north)and walk for a few kilometers (I walked the no-ones land between the motorway and some firm's fenced property, but there may be a way behind the property). The distance from Vernaison train station to the gas station is not the shortest one, but once you are there, you ar really inside the motorway network, so it's worth the effort.<br />
<br />
=== Getting onto [[A46 (France)|A46]] (Lyon Bypass) ===<br />
There's a big service area on the Lyon bypass (''Contournement de Lyon'') motorway. There are two petrol stations, one on each side of the road. This is located to the south of the urban area. Directions are: <br />
* ''Southbound''<br />
** A7 – Marseille, [[Montpellier]]<br />
** A47 – [[Saint Etienne]]<br />
* ''Northbound''<br />
** A6 – [[Dijon]], [[Paris]]<br />
** A42 – [[Genève]]<br />
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1,+chemin+du+tram,+communay,+france&sll=45.594822,4.837589&sspn=0.048647,0.101967&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=45.591849,4.826775&spn=0.012162,0.039568&t=k&om=1 The place on the map]<br />
<br />
There's one bus going to ''Communay'', the closest village, the bus #179 From "Rond point Darilly" (Métro "Parilly"), but it goes 7 times a day on workdays and 4 times the day on week-ends. there's several stops in the village. You can check out the timetable [http://www.rhone.fr/file/idocumentsattaches/transport/lr_ligne_179.pdf here]. <br />
If you missed it there's a bus #39 from metro ''Venissieux'', but goes only until ''Solaize'', 5 km closer to the center on road D307/N7, leading to the motorway. The station is about 1 km south from the interchange. The service-stations are sealed off from the normal road but at least for the northbound spot, you can easily climb over the fence. Finding a hitch here is very easy. If you know how to get here, it is definitely worth the hustle.<br />
<br />
Marché de Gros is situated in the very south of the Saone peninsula. Coming from "Rue Casimir Périer" You reach a street alongside A7 with lots of cars going to the the motorway. Vasy there, a lot of stop-and-go. I stood for 2h near the train station "Lyon-Perrache" and then 5min there. <br />
<br />
A petrol station on the A6 North near Limonest is potentially good. (see above)<br />
<br />
<br />
:''It's only information I found on the net, i didn't verify it since i was dropped off at the station by someone heading '''to''' the city, but got a ride in about 1/2 hour (In Nov 2006)'' --[[User:Daniel|Daniel]] 20:21, 13 January 2007 (CET)<br />
<br />
=== Getting onto A42 - Direction Bourg-en-Bresse, [[Genève]], [[Germany]] ===<br />
<br />
Bus 171 will take you to the village of Montluel. It runs around every hour (time table from the [http://tcl.fr/index.asp?page=horaires&etape=3&Date=2010|03|27&Line=171|Pont%20Guilloti%E8re%20-%20Cr%E9pieux%20Les%20Brosses%20(Montluel)|16|tcl171|Pont%20Guillotiere%20RD%20vers%20Crepieux%20Les%20Brosses|Crepieux%20Les%20Brosses%20vers%20Pont%20Guillotiere%20RD|1|Bus&DateFinBases=2010|5|1&DateMajBases=????|??|??&StopArea=1467|tcl5046|H%F4tel%20de%20Ville%20-%20Louis%20Pradel|Lyon%201er&submit=Valider&Direction=1 tcl.fr]. Attention, the bus stop for "hotel de ville" is actually on the banks of the river Rhone. From the hotel de ville (the actual building) walk towards the river (east) to find it. The ride costs 2€.<br />
<br />
In Montluel, go down at the train station. (The bus trip takes 50 min) Then walk direction Pérouges, turn right to direction of Niévroz. You cross under the railway and over the motorway. Looking to the left you see the petrol station you are heading for. The whole way to walk takes about 10-20min. See the place here: [http://maps.google.de/maps?f=d&hl=de&geocode=1972572113067456031,45.845405,5.070403&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=45.842912,5.07122&daddr=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=45.845363,5.062466&sspn=0.026786,0.080338&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1]<br />
<br />
=== East towards [[Chambery]], [[Grenoble]], [[Geneva]] {{European Route Number|70}} ===<br />
<br />
There is an [[on-ramp]] in Lyon where you can hitch straight onto the motorway to Geneva (A43/ E70). There is a roundabout and a bike-lane where cars can stop for you. Take the metro Line D to Mermoz and walk to Rue Lionel Terray. You'll find a sign for [[Geneva]] here (see also a [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=Bron+&sll=45.688914,4.886169&sspn=0.505556,0.883026&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bron,+Rh%C3%B4ne,+Rh%C3%B4ne-Alpes,+Frankrijk&ll=45.730844,4.887159&spn=0,359.997253&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.730349,4.887796&panoid=18XTMoZRWgo7hU2KAFWmew&cbp=12,78.29,,0,12.14 Streetview]).<br />
Tell them to drop you off at the gas station in St. Priest (Station service in french)and get a ride from there.<br />
<br />
=== Northeast toward [[Bourg en Bresse]], [[Dijon]], [[Geneva]] {{European Route Number|611}} A42 ===<br />
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Bus 171 from "Hotel de ville" next to river in Lyon (dep at hours 03/33, weekend only 33), brings you close to a petrol-station on the motorway. It departs near the opera on Quai Jean moulin and takes about 45 mins (2 euros one way). It goes through some small French villages and along the way lots of big supermarkets in case you need food.<br />
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Leave the bus at Montluel train station which is the second last. You will see the train station when you pass, so don't panic. Trains are faster and have to be taken from the main station in Lyon.<br />
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Get off and turn right, cross under the railway tracks. Then you will enter the industrial area in Montluel. Find Rue des Chartinières to cross the motorway. Once you crossed the bridge, turn left and follow the road close to the motorway. There is a small space to enter the petrol-station, only for pedestrians, behind the little house at the end of the parking lot. <br />
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Cars go all directions in France from here, including with Dutch and Germans numberplates going via Dijon. Halfway before the road splits in direction Geneva and Dijon (after about 30km) there is a parking and after the split another petrol-station at Ceignes.<br />
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== Sleeping ==<br />
The parks on ''Fourvière Hill'' in ''Vieux Lyon'' are peaceful at night and if you are too, no one will bother you for [[camping]] out there. It's nearby, but it feels so far outside of the city that you can get a relaxing night of sleep without worrying about police or thieves. It is however quite difficult to find a flat place there.<br />
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[[Category:France]]<br />
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