Talk:Train categories in Europe

Germany

Germany used to have Interregio (IR) trains, too. They were classified as long-distance services but with more stops than IC/EC and ICE. Then with the expansion of the ICE network, Deutsche Bahn decided to phase out the IR category, abolishing some lines and replacing other lines with IC, which stop now more frequently than ICE. The local train service IRE took over the IR tradition in name only and you will find it only in a few places.

I believe most of the train categories mentioned in the Germany section are in fact brand names (likely with the exception of S-Bahn). Some of them were invented in the 1980s to replace generic categories like Nahverkehrszug, Eilzug and Schnellzug. Third-party operators are not allowed to call their services RB, RE etc. and have to come up with their own brand names, which sound often a bit peculiar.

I understand that this is way too much background information to include in the article. But all this leads me to suggest to mention Interregio (IR) in the Germany section, marked as "phased out" or something along these lines. Because below the section "Private operators (Austria, Germany and Switzerland)" lists two third-party replacement services for Interregio in Germany, which doesn't seem to make sense as long as Interregio is not even mentioned in the Germany section.141.48.25.130 (talk) 19:03, 22 October 2013 (UTC)

Platskart or platzkart

I have been seeing both spellings on Wikipedia including in a link in Ukrainian Railways with one spelling. When I click on that link it takes me to Couchette car and it shows the other spelling. A Google search shows about 6,000 results for 'Platskart' and 12,000 for 'Platzkart.' Scholar.google.com shows 20 and 26 respectively.

FYI I am playing this post on Ukrainian Railways, Couchette car, and Train categories in Europe as all three one one form of spelling of the other. I am hoping the people that best know can decide one over the other and possibly with a "also known as" note. .(Unsigned comment by Rickinasia (talk) 02:16, 3 July 2014 )

I think that this is because Platz is word in German, the Google and other spelling correctors in Western countries will replace Plats to Platz. The correct version is ofcourse "Плацкарт" which comes from German "Platz-Karte", but the correct version for the Ukrainin will be Platskart. Both versions are therefore valid. One is latin written Ukrainian word, the other is German spelled version. The only problem with this theory is that it's both my original research AND only reference I have is Ukrainian version of Wikipedia. Someone else can hopefully use this information to solve this proper way - or maybe prove me wrong as I'm not specialist, just putting this in hope it'll be helpful for some future editor. 46.23.60.131 (talk) 09:23, 21 January 2015 (UTC)