Alan_uk
A2OC Donor
Here are some observations & experiences from my recent road trip to Sweden.
1. Route: Wiltshire, Channel Tunnel, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden (about 60 miles north of Stockholm) - same countries in reverse but different route.
2. Distance:
Going: 1368 miles (2189 km) - approx 24 hrs driving over 3 days = average 56 mph
When there: 898 miles (1437 km)
Back: 1757 miles (2811 km) - more sightseeing coming back so slower
Total: 4023 miles (6437 km)
3. Fuel: 62 mpg (22 kpl / 4.6 l/100km) - mostly standard (lorry) diesel (no choice) but once V powered and once city diesel,
4. Vehicle: 1.4 TDI with 5th gear change to 0.65 (Skipton) and remap of +20 bhp (Stealth)
These were great! A2 ran purred along at 80 mph on motorways and remap gave a boost when pulling out. Downside was it was only just possible to keep in 5th on the Swedish roads where the national limit is 45 mph (70 kph) - yes, that's right, 45 mph (1400 rpm). (Note: I had 2 people and lots of luggage or 4 people at other times).
5. Problems: 1 chipped windscreen; 1 blown dipped beam bulb.
6. Driving Experience
France: Nothing to report - only about 1 hour motorway each way
Belgium: ditto - only motorway
Netherlands: ditto - nearly all motorway
Germany: motorways going; 50% A & B roads coming back.
Light traffic (compared to UK) going (Weds & Thurs), mostly lorries trundling along at 90 kph - on much of the motorway lorries are banned from the outside lane in the day time even on 2 lane motorways, of which there are lots. Exception was Antwerp ring road in the evening rush hour where it took an hour to do get round the city but then the motorway cleared to very little traffic.
Much of the motorways have a limit (130, 120 110 or 100 kph - ie only some is unrestricted) plus limits often reduce to 80 kph for intersections (even on the straight through road). Most people keep to the speed limits.
Heading up past Bremen and Hamburg to the Danish boarder the motorway is being widened with extensive roadworks to replace bridges with contraflows and low speeds of 40 kph.
Some urban areas have emission zones (see earlier thread).
Heavier traffic coming back on a different route coming east from Berlin direction (a holiday week). Apparently lorries are banned on bank holidays but I did see some.
Lots of urban motorways have variable speed signs. Did reach 140 kph once trying to keep up with another A2 (I had a heavy load so couldn't and it was getting congested).
Some slips roads on motorways very short with mandatory reducing speed limits but some slip roads very long (2 km) with lane separation barrier at 1 km. This did not sync well with the sat nav.
Worse aspect was the constantly changing speed limits (e.g. limit drops by 20 or 30 kph for a junction or sharp bend or farm exit) and small town signs indicating 50 kph (all this the same in Sweden and Denmark).
Fair number of forward facing speed cameras spotted - Sat nav safety camera warnings are illegal and there are no advanced warnings. Cameras are tall cylinder shaped, say 30cm wide and 3m tall, and grey and sometimes hidden! Plus saw radar trap in bushes in the road works.
Road surface conditions good to poor (rutted concrete but very few pot holes). Roads in the former east seemed better - much patched up but good quality smooth patching.
Denmark:
Very good roads with some stretches of motorway at 120 or 130 kph (80mph) but most 110 kph (70 mph) but again fair degree of changing limits.
Sweden:
Excellent roads despite hard winter where I'm told the roads froze to a depth of 1.5 metres.
Low national speed limit of 70 kph (45mph) unless signed otherwise. Some A roads at 80 kph and occasionally 90 kph if there is deer fencing. Motorways 110 kph and sometimes 120 kph.
Speed camera seem to be concentrated in particular areas but always warning about 100m ahead. All forward facing and cylinder but painted blue. Often just inside 50 kph zones or a junctions.
Again lots of changing limits even on main roads where every junction off seems to have a lower limit through the junction. Villages often have 50 kph zone, a couple of chicanes, then a 30 kph zone (and just to make sure you are alert) a raised pedestrian crossing with 45 degree cobbled ramp that really should be taken at no more than 15 kph in an A2.
Everyone seems to keep to the speed limits despite the long and boring drive (forest, pretty forest, pretty lake, forest, pretty lake - you get the picture). The biggest challenge is to stay alert off the motorways where traffic can be very light.
One foul night at about 11pm I must have driven 25 miles without seeing another vehicle - just staring into the abyss looking out for the dark shape of an elk - it's a no win contest. Roads have little side verges and steep V shaped ditches (presumably to shovel the snow into when they use their monster snow ploughs - I've seen them in the winter, makes the UK ones seem puny!). So there is little margin for error.
Sweden used to have very wide roads with half width "hard shoulders" where slower vehicles were expected to move over to let fast vehicles pass. Many seem to have been converted into 3 lane highways that alternate 2 +1 and then after a few km to 1 +2. There is a wire safety barrier between the lanes and surprise, surprise a 110 kph speed limit. But it does mean that there is no space for a broken down vehicle to get off the road and they can pose a hazard.
Lots of garages are self service only (unmanned) even in the day.
Stockholm has congestion charging and once I got diverted off the main E4 motorway (due to an uncompleted section) and found myself going through a matrix sign reading 10 Kr (£1) and then another. Guidebook said it didn't apply to foreign vehicles. Why they take a major European motorway through the city beats me but it may be due to the numerous lakes and islands in that part.
Addendum: This article http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/stockholm-congestion/ is about the scheme and says that the E4 is exempt provided one doesn't exit it. It's a micro charging system using on-board transponders as well as ANPR. If you don't pay then the authorities can automatically remove the amount from your bank account!
7. Other A2s
France: 0
Belgium: 0
Netherlands: 0
Germany: c5
Denmark: 1
Sweden: 2 or 3
Very disappointing. I was expecting loads in Germany, nay I was expecting a "welcome home" cavalcade of fellow A2 drivers waving and hooting!
8. Conclusion:
Driving on the right was no problem. Motorway driving was no problem other than lots of repairs / rebuilding in Germany. Off the motorways the driving was slow and constantly looking for changing speed limits and adjusting speed became tedious and irritating. Sat Nav was useless at accurately showing the prevailing speed limits.
The last time I did this trip was 30 years ago. I think I will wait another 30 years before doing it again!
1. Route: Wiltshire, Channel Tunnel, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden (about 60 miles north of Stockholm) - same countries in reverse but different route.
2. Distance:
Going: 1368 miles (2189 km) - approx 24 hrs driving over 3 days = average 56 mph
When there: 898 miles (1437 km)
Back: 1757 miles (2811 km) - more sightseeing coming back so slower
Total: 4023 miles (6437 km)
3. Fuel: 62 mpg (22 kpl / 4.6 l/100km) - mostly standard (lorry) diesel (no choice) but once V powered and once city diesel,
4. Vehicle: 1.4 TDI with 5th gear change to 0.65 (Skipton) and remap of +20 bhp (Stealth)
These were great! A2 ran purred along at 80 mph on motorways and remap gave a boost when pulling out. Downside was it was only just possible to keep in 5th on the Swedish roads where the national limit is 45 mph (70 kph) - yes, that's right, 45 mph (1400 rpm). (Note: I had 2 people and lots of luggage or 4 people at other times).
5. Problems: 1 chipped windscreen; 1 blown dipped beam bulb.
6. Driving Experience
France: Nothing to report - only about 1 hour motorway each way
Belgium: ditto - only motorway
Netherlands: ditto - nearly all motorway
Germany: motorways going; 50% A & B roads coming back.
Light traffic (compared to UK) going (Weds & Thurs), mostly lorries trundling along at 90 kph - on much of the motorway lorries are banned from the outside lane in the day time even on 2 lane motorways, of which there are lots. Exception was Antwerp ring road in the evening rush hour where it took an hour to do get round the city but then the motorway cleared to very little traffic.
Much of the motorways have a limit (130, 120 110 or 100 kph - ie only some is unrestricted) plus limits often reduce to 80 kph for intersections (even on the straight through road). Most people keep to the speed limits.
Heading up past Bremen and Hamburg to the Danish boarder the motorway is being widened with extensive roadworks to replace bridges with contraflows and low speeds of 40 kph.
Some urban areas have emission zones (see earlier thread).
Heavier traffic coming back on a different route coming east from Berlin direction (a holiday week). Apparently lorries are banned on bank holidays but I did see some.
Lots of urban motorways have variable speed signs. Did reach 140 kph once trying to keep up with another A2 (I had a heavy load so couldn't and it was getting congested).
Some slips roads on motorways very short with mandatory reducing speed limits but some slip roads very long (2 km) with lane separation barrier at 1 km. This did not sync well with the sat nav.
Worse aspect was the constantly changing speed limits (e.g. limit drops by 20 or 30 kph for a junction or sharp bend or farm exit) and small town signs indicating 50 kph (all this the same in Sweden and Denmark).
Fair number of forward facing speed cameras spotted - Sat nav safety camera warnings are illegal and there are no advanced warnings. Cameras are tall cylinder shaped, say 30cm wide and 3m tall, and grey and sometimes hidden! Plus saw radar trap in bushes in the road works.
Road surface conditions good to poor (rutted concrete but very few pot holes). Roads in the former east seemed better - much patched up but good quality smooth patching.
Denmark:
Very good roads with some stretches of motorway at 120 or 130 kph (80mph) but most 110 kph (70 mph) but again fair degree of changing limits.
Sweden:
Excellent roads despite hard winter where I'm told the roads froze to a depth of 1.5 metres.
Low national speed limit of 70 kph (45mph) unless signed otherwise. Some A roads at 80 kph and occasionally 90 kph if there is deer fencing. Motorways 110 kph and sometimes 120 kph.
Speed camera seem to be concentrated in particular areas but always warning about 100m ahead. All forward facing and cylinder but painted blue. Often just inside 50 kph zones or a junctions.
Again lots of changing limits even on main roads where every junction off seems to have a lower limit through the junction. Villages often have 50 kph zone, a couple of chicanes, then a 30 kph zone (and just to make sure you are alert) a raised pedestrian crossing with 45 degree cobbled ramp that really should be taken at no more than 15 kph in an A2.
Everyone seems to keep to the speed limits despite the long and boring drive (forest, pretty forest, pretty lake, forest, pretty lake - you get the picture). The biggest challenge is to stay alert off the motorways where traffic can be very light.
One foul night at about 11pm I must have driven 25 miles without seeing another vehicle - just staring into the abyss looking out for the dark shape of an elk - it's a no win contest. Roads have little side verges and steep V shaped ditches (presumably to shovel the snow into when they use their monster snow ploughs - I've seen them in the winter, makes the UK ones seem puny!). So there is little margin for error.
Sweden used to have very wide roads with half width "hard shoulders" where slower vehicles were expected to move over to let fast vehicles pass. Many seem to have been converted into 3 lane highways that alternate 2 +1 and then after a few km to 1 +2. There is a wire safety barrier between the lanes and surprise, surprise a 110 kph speed limit. But it does mean that there is no space for a broken down vehicle to get off the road and they can pose a hazard.
Lots of garages are self service only (unmanned) even in the day.
Stockholm has congestion charging and once I got diverted off the main E4 motorway (due to an uncompleted section) and found myself going through a matrix sign reading 10 Kr (£1) and then another. Guidebook said it didn't apply to foreign vehicles. Why they take a major European motorway through the city beats me but it may be due to the numerous lakes and islands in that part.
Addendum: This article http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/stockholm-congestion/ is about the scheme and says that the E4 is exempt provided one doesn't exit it. It's a micro charging system using on-board transponders as well as ANPR. If you don't pay then the authorities can automatically remove the amount from your bank account!
7. Other A2s
France: 0
Belgium: 0
Netherlands: 0
Germany: c5
Denmark: 1
Sweden: 2 or 3
Very disappointing. I was expecting loads in Germany, nay I was expecting a "welcome home" cavalcade of fellow A2 drivers waving and hooting!
8. Conclusion:
Driving on the right was no problem. Motorway driving was no problem other than lots of repairs / rebuilding in Germany. Off the motorways the driving was slow and constantly looking for changing speed limits and adjusting speed became tedious and irritating. Sat Nav was useless at accurately showing the prevailing speed limits.
The last time I did this trip was 30 years ago. I think I will wait another 30 years before doing it again!
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