Thursday, October 31, 2013

Globe Grab Bag: Europe's Trains Running on Time

"Airline grounds Dreamliner jet

COPENHAGEN — Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA on Saturday became the latest airline to ground a Boeing 787 Dreamliner so that officials from Boeing can examine what appears to be a technical problem. Norwegian spokesman Lasse Sandaker-Nielsen declined to identify the technical glitches. The jets have been plagued by problems since they were grounded worldwide in January for lithium-ion batteries that overheated or caught fire (AP)." 

What a piece of shit Boeing makes.

Looks like you are going to have to take a train.

"Train riders to be compensated for delays, EU court rules" by Juergen Baetz |  Associated Press, September 27, 2013

BRUSSELS — The European Court of Justice found that Austrian railway operator OBB’s policy of refusing to pay compensation for delays caused by acts of nature like bad weather or by striking employees was invalid....

European railway firms have until now been invoking reasons beyond their control like adverse weather to avoid paying compensation.

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, which has annual revenues of about $54 billion, said it welcomed the decision because it established legal certainty. The company claimed it had only rarely invoked force majeure to avoid compensation payments.

In the United States, there’s no federal rule dictating how much of a refund railroad passengers should receive for delays and cancellations.

Amtrak says it offers refunds when trains are canceled or if they are delayed more than two hours.

Consumer advocacy groups cheered the ruling....



I'm sure I've seen a few since and if I find them I will post them.