https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/davidtrainmic--5437538enPlaces & TravelCopyright David Feng - Trains Plushttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/05c064778bf36cad5a4dbd1f937d0c75.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/davidtrainmic--5437538Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:50:19 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusDavid Feng - Trains Plusfeeds@spreaker.comDavid Feng, world train traveller, shares his world of train knowledge and experiences with you. Unscripted, authentic, informative, insightful — David hits 'record' at the microphones and just launches away about All Things Trains! Across...falseepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/four-trains-a-day-on-a-high-speed-line-in-and-around-the-chinese-capital-09-april-2025--65483649https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65483649Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:50:07 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusThere's one High Speed line around Beijing which has — just four trains a day — serving Daxing Airport. This has David Feng more than a bit concerned — obviously a bit more than the once-a-week (probably) Parliamentary train on Chiltern Railways...270falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/daxing-airport-and-tianjin-west-new-rail-line-and-lines-08-april-2025--65442834https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65442834Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:14:28 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusDavid Feng recorded this actually onboard a train — a service from Daxing Airport to Tianjin West. He talks about how these stations will get new lines — but also how the railways now run services across many lines in a far more streamlined way,...213falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/shanghai-hongqiao-station-s-train-connection-woes-07-april-2025--65405808
Either you have to haul your baggage up stairs — or wait for a lift that, too quickly, and too often, gets crammed with passengers...

(But then again, this is one of the earliest interchange hubs in the network...)]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65405808Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:27:39 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusShanghai Hongqiao railway station in China's largest city is big — busy — connected — and yet, the Express Transfer routes for making train connections is far from ideal. Either you have to haul your baggage up stairs — or wait for a lift that, too...
Either you have to haul your baggage up stairs — or wait for a lift that, too quickly, and too often, gets crammed with passengers...

(But then again, this is one of the earliest interchange hubs in the network...)]]>270falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/an-important-davidtrainmic-announcement--65405795https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65405795Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:25:01 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusAn important update from David Feng and the DavidTrainMic mini-podcast... we are moving to daily updates!128falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-11-china-india-south-asia-and-overloaded-trains--59459651https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59459651Sun, 14 Apr 2024 17:37:27 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusOverloaded trains remain a problem in South Asia — Bangladesh, in particular, but India is also seeing a lot of riders. In China, this was previously a problem as well — people were even getting onboard via the windows!... Things are, however, quite...205bangladesh,china,crowds,india,railways,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-10-toilets-in-china-squat-throne-and-availability--59441803https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59441803Fri, 12 Apr 2024 18:55:18 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusWant to take a sh*t in China's railway stations? Not so fast. To the uninitiated, half trying to use a squat toilet can well be folks to feel it's s like bloody murder. Yet it didn't have to be... and thankfully, it's no longer really the case. The...189china,railways,toiltesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-9-shandan-racecourse-the-world-s-highest-hsr-station--59415780https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59415780Thu, 11 Apr 2024 11:09:38 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusWhat's the "tallest" (as in: station at highest elevation) High Speed railway station in the world? Much as yours truly is a Swiss, it's not in Switzerland — or Europe. Enter Shandan Racecourse/Shandanmachang railway station, which at around 3'600...219china,hsr,railways,station,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-8-insanely-long-emotional-musical-pas-on-china-s-classic-trains--59399581https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59399581Wed, 10 Apr 2024 18:06:22 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusTalk about spending time in front of the onboard microphone! Classic Rail services in China are known to have long, varying-in-topics, music-rich, and occasionally news in the onboard announcements. You're told how long your next leg will be, but also...287announcements,china,psa,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-7-details-details-details-train-doors-and-safety--59385809https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59385809Wed, 10 Apr 2024 05:53:14 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusLoud/annoying/effective enough door close chimes fast/slow enough to ensure ontime departures? Thick enough rubber strips to prevent the door slamming into your fingers and crushing your bones? As a commuter, specialist, enthusiast, and just...253railways,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-6-beijing-subway-s-outdated-ticketing-system-pre-2008--59369181https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59369181Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:03:32 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusIt's supposed to be a Green way to get around, but pre-2008, the Beijing Subway suffered from a paper-intensive, outdated ticketing system making frequent journeys rather less attractive. These days, though, it's all smartcards and QR codes, making...220beijing,china,metro,subway,ticketingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-5-tomb-sweeping-festival-2024-millions-rush-for-the-rails-new-records-set--59345291https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59345291Mon, 08 Apr 2024 14:06:11 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusAs families across China honour their ancestors over Tomb Sweeping Festival, the spring travel season has also kicked off — and Chinese railways are carrying more people than ever, with a new one-day record set in early April 2024. The railways are...151china,railways,trains,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-4-why-not-expand-zurich-airport-s-underground-railway-station--59330783https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59330783Sun, 07 Apr 2024 16:37:22 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusZürich Airport always seems to have this, that, and the other part renovated, expanded, or renewed. Everything from the toilet flush buttons to the immigration desks have been refreshed. The only thing missing: an expansion to its railway station. In...299airport,railway,switzerland,zürichfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-3-where-are-china-railways-english-customer-services--59318865https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59318865Sat, 06 Apr 2024 07:10:55 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusWith expats returning and first-time foreigners inbound, it's no longer just OK for the Chinese railways to have partially bilingual signage. The world's largest HSR network needs a better English-language service — at info desks, online, everywhere....323falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-2-classic-rail-in-china-for-cheap-for-good-too--5926417028 March 2024 (Impromptu Announcement 2): Classic Rail in China, For Cheap? For Good, Too!
Get mileage for just the equivalent of 10p — as low as it can go on a Permit to Travel in the UK, but in China, it's a short-haul full-fare ticket on a classic Green Train on Classic Rail!
The Green Trains are still here in China — and they're here for good. For cheap, of course, but also, for good...]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59264170Tue, 02 Apr 2024 17:20:44 +0000David Feng - Trains Plus28 March 2024 (Impromptu Announcement 2): Classic Rail in China, For Cheap? For Good, Too! Get mileage for just the equivalent of 10p — as low as it can go on a Permit to Travel in the UK, but in China, it's a short-haul full-fare ticket on a classic...28 March 2024 (Impromptu Announcement 2): Classic Rail in China, For Cheap? For Good, Too!
Get mileage for just the equivalent of 10p — as low as it can go on a Permit to Travel in the UK, but in China, it's a short-haul full-fare ticket on a classic Green Train on Classic Rail!
The Green Trains are still here in China — and they're here for good. For cheap, of course, but also, for good...]]>207china,slow,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impromptu-announcement-1-the-obsession-to-details-when-travelling--59210762David Feng Trainscast...
27 March 2024 (Impromptu Announcement 1): The Obsesion to Detail When Travelling...
In a recent journey to Tianjin, David Feng remarks the lack of any focus on detail — in a part of the station with very bright natural lighting — rendering a set of escalators/stairs nearly invisible for those not watching. The lack of any warning signs is in particular very worrying...]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59210762Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:49:25 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusAnnouncing a refresh! After "simulcasting" this, if you like, with Twitter Audio, this show is going solo — and full-length (up to about 5 minutes!). This is also being renamed as the David Feng Trainscast... 27 March 2024 (Impromptu Announcement 1):...David Feng Trainscast...
27 March 2024 (Impromptu Announcement 1): The Obsesion to Detail When Travelling...
In a recent journey to Tianjin, David Feng remarks the lack of any focus on detail — in a part of the station with very bright natural lighting — rendering a set of escalators/stairs nearly invisible for those not watching. The lack of any warning signs is in particular very worrying...]]>240china,rail,tianjin,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/announcement-22-modern-railways-expo-2023-beijing-high-speed-cargo-for-china--57667573https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57667573Thu, 16 Nov 2023 16:30:41 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusThe Modern Railways Expo 2023 just wrapped up in Beijing — David Feng himself did his usual "microphone foam cover smooching" (ie: railway talk) about the China-Laos Railway, but much more importantly, stumbled across a model of... a 350 km/h cargo...422falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/announcement-21-new-records-for-china-rail-summer-2023--56662656https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56662656Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:54:48 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusChina's national railways claims to have recorded over 830 million departures (in essence journeys) during the 62-day period from 01 July 2023 through to and including 31 August 2023. This would make it the very best summer peak travel season ever,...241falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/announcement-20-monthly-update-hangzhou-and-new-north-china-airport-links--56651261https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56651261Thu, 31 Aug 2023 18:11:06 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusDavid has just returned from Hangzhou in eastern China, where he also filmed at Hangzhou West station, and taught crew Rail English for the upcoming Asian Games. He continues by spilling the beans on the new airport intercity railway connecting...203airport,beijing,china,hangzhou,qiantang,railways,tianjinfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/announcement-19-china-railways-extreme-timetable-acid-test--55947209https://api.spreaker.com/episode/55947209Mon, 03 Jul 2023 16:54:18 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusThe new July 2023 timetable means that China railways can run more trains to longer destinations faster. So we decided to take a look at how the new timetables, featuring new and faster HSR trains, could be put to the acid test… an extreme timetable...238china,hsr,laos,lhasa,railways,trains,ürümqifalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/announcement-18-beijing-tianjin-intercity-rail-and-timetables--54461880https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54461880Fri, 16 Jun 2023 16:55:29 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusFrom 15 June 2023, new timetables apply for the Beijing-Tianjin intercity railway in Northern China. 16-car trains return, and over the weekend, timetables change every day! The challenges of running China's first 350 km/h intercity high speed railway...261falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-17-shopping-at-stations-and-onboard-trains--48965455https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48965455Sun, 06 Mar 2022 05:41:16 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusIn Switzerland you're not allowed to do your shopping on Sundays as a general rule – except for at railway stations. And, about 20 years ago, even on board trains as a trial…426railways,shopping,switzerland,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-16-trains-on-taiwan--48962079https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48962079Sat, 05 Mar 2022 17:28:37 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusOrange trains, amazing interchanges, and the obsession with the "big egg" — suggestively-named stadia, futuristically-designed stations, and a smart ticketing and seat assignment system on Taiwan High Speed Rail. Looking back at my 2010 journey there...813hsr,kaohsiung,taipei,taiwan,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-15-line-by-line-in-brief-beijing-subway-2022-all-other-lines--48962049https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48962049Sat, 05 Mar 2022 17:25:11 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusHere's a look at the rest of the Beijing Subway network... those without numbers in their line names. Including trams, maglevs, and airport links!773beijing,china,metro,subway,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-14-line-by-line-in-brief-beijing-subway-2022-lines-with-numerals--48950228https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48950228Fri, 04 Mar 2022 16:16:01 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusThe Beijing Subway is a genuine Brobdingnagian Monstrosity with close to 30 lines at a mere glance. Today, here's a look at all the lines with NUMERALS in it... because a fair number more have NAMES! (We haven't even done the trams and maglev yet!)795beijing,china,metro,subway,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-13-the-amazing-yet-confusing-zurich-main-station-its-many-platforms--48950152https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48950152Fri, 04 Mar 2022 16:09:28 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusWhat's not to love about Zürich main station (Zürich Hauptbahnhof)? You can hop on a train across the city, across the country, or across the continent. That, for one, is to be loved. Less loved, though, are the many — at times feeling even...526railways,switzerland,trains,zurich,zürichfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-12-zurich-s-metro-or-u-bahn-system-built-unbuilt--48939454https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48939454Thu, 03 Mar 2022 19:21:17 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusThe plan to give Switzerland's most populous city a metro line failed at the ballot box, yet even before voters sent those plans to that great big train shed in the sky, a few parts of the network was already built — and can be visited today, to see...494metro,switzerland,trains,u-bahn,zurich,zürichfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-11-don-t-forget-the-metropolitan-line-in-london--48939351https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48939351Thu, 03 Mar 2022 19:14:32 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusThe Jubilee, Central, even Waterloo & City lines are often packed with passengers. Ditto for the Northern, Piccadilly, even District lines, and of course, the Bakerloo. Yet the Metropolitan was here first... and is often a bit lost, or more likely,...529london,metro,trains,undergroundfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-10-private-compartments-on-a-train--48925958https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48925958Wed, 02 Mar 2022 18:39:10 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusPicking the very best seat is now all the rage on trains — get Seat 61! No, Seat 3F! But what about the 6-person compartments... they're there, but not everywhere now. Have the way we're getting around by rail changed as compartments onboard seem to...673compartments,railways,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-9-the-railways-around-the-lake-of-zurich--48925922https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48925922Wed, 02 Mar 2022 18:35:29 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusZürich is known for its rail megahub, but there's also a lake — and alongside it, both local and even international railway routes, as well as tiny stations on the causeway by Rapperswil you might never have heard of!...581railways,switzerland,trains,zürichfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-8-long-train-journeys-and-sleeper-hsr-to-hong-kong-west-kowloon--48914971https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48914971Tue, 01 Mar 2022 20:33:02 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusCovid and locked borders won't make Portugal-Singapore happen overnight as the longest rail journey which can be travelled on by passengers... so here's one I did before across borders (Beijing-Hong Kong via sleeper and HSR, this was before Covid...)643china,journeys,trains,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-7-the-disconnected-beijing-subway-network--48914913https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48914913Tue, 01 Mar 2022 20:28:00 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusAt close to 800 km today, the Beijing Subway looks to be a very well-connected colossal urban rail network — yet did you know that as early as a few years back, there were lines physically separated from the rest of the network?...479beijing,china,metro,subway,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-6-the-swiss-intercity-pocket-timetables-that-used-to-be--48825454https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48825454Tue, 22 Feb 2022 05:00:40 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusIn late 2021, the Swiss railways discontinued the miniature pocket timetables for intercity travel. It's understandable — in this day and age of the smartphone, paper timetables are in less demand — but they also killed a classic of the rails in...634railways,switzerland,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-5-the-rail-oddities-of-liechtenstein--48815486https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48815486Mon, 21 Feb 2022 10:41:59 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusIt's the only country/territory I've been to so far where I've done rail mileage without starting a journey from there. It's an independent country which uses Swiss currency and Austrian rail services. And it's often misspelt and misunderstood....460liechtenstein,railway,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-4-charting-all-rail-travel-so-far-across-half-a-million-kilometres--48808215https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48808215Sun, 20 Feb 2022 17:44:41 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusThe latest trend on railway Twitter seems to be doing maps of all the railway routes you've taken. For someone who's done half a million kilometres across 17 countries and territories, this was the perfect chance to 'show off' all my miles!......538miles,railway,train,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-3-beijing-subway-line-3-s-ambitious-past-and-present--48787875https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48787875Fri, 18 Feb 2022 19:04:11 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusFor the longest time, Beijing was missing a Subway Line 3. It's finally coming next year (2023); but did you know it had very ambitious plans? Summer Palace... Central Beijing... Workers Stadium for Sanlitun... Wangjing and the airport?... Part of...562beijing,china,subway,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-2-buying-rail-tickets-in-china-in-english-away-from-ticket-counters--48772997https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48772997Thu, 17 Feb 2022 17:09:21 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusTrain announcement 2 - With queues at Chinese stations sometimes surreally long, expats and visitors used to feel limited — as ticket machines and online ticketing were mostly for locals. Now, no longer, as an English-language, foreigner-friendly...451china,railways,trainsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/davidtrainmic-1-swiss-stations-in-germany-german-stations-in-switzerland--48772945https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48772945Thu, 17 Feb 2022 17:06:22 +0000David Feng - Trains PlusTrain announcement 1 - Did you know that there are a number of railway stations on German soil managed by the Swiss, and vice versa? There are two Swiss stations in Germany, and a fair bit more German stations in far northern Switzerland.394germany,railways,switzerland,trainsfalsefull