Kalistani Major History

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New Terrestrial Link completed with Baltusia
Lucid Station is expanded and includes connections for NatRail, Bus and Commuter rail
Lucid Valley, Duchy of Suldanor
January 8, 5468


International Terminal for TransSel to Baltusia and Beyond opened at Lucid Valley

The dream of a single Seleyan Train Network took a giant leap forward this week as the connection between Kalistan and Baltusia was completed and the Lucid Station remodel was completed. A line running from the station in the Althosian capital San Luis in Baltusia northwest to Lucid Valley in the Duchy of Suldanor saw its first passenger service immediately following inauguration of the expanded Lucid Station. Representatives from the Baltusian company responsible for building and maintaining the line in Baltusia, InterTrans, were on hand to celebrate, and then were joined by representatives of their Kalistani counterparts, RailSul, in the trip, lasting just over one and a half hours.

The line, a double tracked terrestrial high speed line, will connect Baltusian's National Rail Network to Kalistan's National Rail System, and will complete the link that is currently stretches to Lodamun's frontiers with Likatonia. Once Baltusia's construction is completed in four years, a person will be able to travel over high-speed rail conveniently between Gaduridos and Lodamun with minimal difficulty or hassle, bringing the dream of an integrated Seleyan Rail System one step closer to being realized.

"The link to San Luis is exciting," said RailSul executive director John Heisse. "We have looked for the opportunity to link up with Baltusia, but over several thousand years, there have been more stops than starts. This will not only advance us light years in the goal of a fully integrated continental rail network, but it will also increase trade and tourism between Kalistan and Baltusia, and hopefully warm diplomatic relations between our two countries that have been frozen in place for centuries. An attitude toward integration in both our two governments is very welcomed among the people and in our business community."

To help further the process of full integration, the NRS is working on a program that limits time and delay at border stations for those who are transiting Kalistan, rather than stopping here, as well as offering ticket discounts for Baltusians who would like to travel abroad, either to Kalistan or further on to Lodamun. "There can't be direct lines," said Heisse. "This is unfortunate, but our MagLev system which is now the primary method of passenger ground mass transit in Kalistan, is not compatible with the Baltusian lines. However, we want to make transfers from the Baltusian high-speed system to the Kalistani High Speed system as painless as possible for travellers, and one way we did this was by locating the TransSel lines in adjacent platforms with RailSul lines, and include automated baggage handling for transiting passengers. This will allow transfers within 5 minutes between the two systems." RailSul has also announced that they will be adding an additional 2 trains an hour, one inbound and one outbound, to handle transiting passengers, to give more options and flexibility for international passengers at Lucid Station.

The expanded Lucid Station also now provides links for light commuter rail for Lucid residents to travel into Yoshimi, as well as a new Bus Depot for those who are going either overnight to Neveras or various other areas of the Duchy not connected by rail. "Our new overnight busline features sleepers on the second level," said Heisse. "Customers will be able to obtain tickets for seats on the bus for a nominal fee, and will be able to purchase a sleeper for a slightly higher rate. Customers have demanded that option, and MoCo has come through with a new Overnight line that also as intransit entertainment, and cart service. All these changes will make Lucid Station one of the primary transportation hubs in Suldanor, and a main point of entry and Departure for the Empire."

The trip into Baltusia, completed without incident, was considered successful and full service to San Luis and beyond is now inaugurated.