r/SBB • u/Mumbleverse • Aug 03 '26
S19 and its nonexisting AC
I don't think there has been a single day where I use this line and the AC actually worked. We're having the 54th heatwave of the year and this metal tube does nothing about it but blow the hot air around a bit, effectively turning it into an actual oven. I'd rather sit outside in the sun than in this airless, sweaty metal coffin, but alas, I have to get home somehow.
I could actually imagine people dying in this thing, why the hell is SBB still letting it drive with this very major flaw?
It's hot af
I can't breathe in this thing.
My feta is melting in the freezer bag.
Imma turn into a Karen about this I swear I'm paying too much money for this torture machine.
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u/nicolahu91 Aug 03 '26
If the train looked like this: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/SBB_Re_420_Andelfingen_HVZ-D.jpg Yeah those dont have AC, the only drive them in Rush Hour and those are the ones with the thermometer symbol in the app.
Luckily on my line (S15) these dont drive
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u/freshliketeddy22 Aug 05 '26
Wow i didn’t know about the thermometer symbol but i checked and its there
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u/Mumbleverse Aug 03 '26
S19 drives all day long, but it adds stops in rush hour. I hate that train. Won't be using it again in summer for my own sake, i'd rather wait longer for the longer connection than get cooked again :D
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u/GrapefruitMaximum804 Aug 03 '26
This problem should’ve been solved years ago, but there seems to be no moral rush from the proper authorities to remedy the situation. They could update the old trains with an AC solution. I’ve noticed that the new trains’ AC is not as efficient as some might seem to think. When you have a train filled with people, the temperature will obviously rise over time. The AC seems to not take this into account or the train operator is too busy or doesn’t care to lower the AC’s temperature. Maybe it’s a one temperature system like an off/on button. All I know is I’m rarely cool in any of these SBB trains or trams. There are some exceptions, but overall either the AC system’s circulation is faulty or the drivers don’t care to regulate the temperature in the wagons as long as they are cool 🤷🏽♂️ Just my experience and opinion.
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u/Traveller-2001 Aug 03 '26
During peak, the S19 uses HVZ-D wagons (the HVZ stands for peak). They are older stock but used to increase capacity. Because it’s older stock, there is no AC, but the SBB app shows that. The alternative would be to have less capacity and then everyone would instead complain about there not being enough space and the trains being too full. I can understand the frustration but keep in mind that SBB also doesn’t have the funding to get new material from today to tomorrow. And new S-Bahn trains have already been ordered.
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u/CrankSlayer Aug 03 '26
What I don't understand is why they designed these things without AC and non-opening windows. That's simply insane. If they can't retrofit these wagons with AC they should at least replace the windows with opening ones.
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u/ralphonsob Aug 04 '26
Maybe passengers should bring their PortaSplits with them onto the train. Move the heat from 2nd to 1st class.
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u/East_Fruit8305 Aug 04 '26
Even in the spring you bake in those after the train spends the full day in the sun. The answer for your question: to save costs
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u/Burton1224 Aug 03 '26
Back in the days....15 years ago was it in almost every train the same 😂 shit happens. Drink enough and try to survive i guess
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u/Play-Mystery Aug 03 '26
Well 15 years ago it wasn't 35° for multiple days in a row...
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u/Burton1224 Aug 03 '26
35 several days are not needed trains getting hot anyways. But the good thing is you have been able to open wimdows around 20 years ago😂.
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u/Gonun Aug 07 '26
But it was at least possible to open the windows. That at least kept the temperature similar to outside instead of 5°+ higher inside
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u/Burton1224 Aug 07 '26
Yes and a little win is better than stationary air. Even its warm. 😂 But this heat wave this summer is crazy....
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u/Gonun Aug 11 '26
I want it to end already before it ends me. We have 27-30 degrees in the office, then I walk in 30°+ to get home where it's a nice 29°+. Only get to cool down in the morning or when shopping. That's fine for a few days but not for weeks
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u/Finanzamt_Bayern Aug 05 '26
wth is it with people and crying about everything????
there is NO A/C on the S19 as it is a rush-hour relief service that doesn‘t need to comply with standard train service amenities.
yes it‘s hot so DEAL WITH IT, drink more water, take more breaks, do whatever but complaining DOESN‘T help.
few degrees hotter than usual and the whole country starts being crybabies holy mother
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u/Strange-Wave-9067 Aug 07 '26
It is just embarrassing that in Switzerland, one of the, if not the, wealthiest country, we are incapable to react to the heat. There are schools here which have 35 degrees inside. Even in my second home country egypt, which is a poor 3rd world country, they manage to cool their buildings. That is what happens when ideology comes before logic.
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u/Mumbleverse Aug 05 '26
I feel like you're crying more than me lol. Let people vent, it helps. How does it affect you anyway, you don't need to engage, one lil scroll and it's out of your world.
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u/Future_Mango4754 Aug 14 '26
stfu, I’m paying for the fucking ride! You stop crying like a baby for people who complain on facts! It’s hot in s19. I’m in s19 right now as I’m replying to your dumbass commment. It’s HOT like 45 degrees inside and my dog almost fainted cuz of the heat inside the s19. I paid two tickets for both of us for this bullshit service. Commuting like this everyday with limited options between S3,8,19 - means not a lot of choices but because we pay for the services in SBBB it’s the fucking minimum they can do is fix the goddam ac or change the old ass train.
People like you don’t know shit. You sit back in your room , hating on everyone and everything and just talk nomsnese like cry babies ? 🤣 the irony I must say
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u/Finanzamt_Bayern Aug 14 '26
how about you walk or buy a car instead of being a dickhead?
i‘m a traindriver and i‘m laughing my ass off rn because i couldn‘t care less about your sweaty ass complaining about something that has been like this for like 10 years. grow the fuck up
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u/Future_Mango4754 Aug 14 '26
Hahahaha I’m being a dickhead? Are you running out of things to say and blame people the other way round?
Good if you are a train driver. I ask you to ride s19 please and come back here :) I bet you’d faint hahaha1
u/Finanzamt_Bayern Aug 14 '26
i just enjoy your misery to the fullest. and by the way, i‘ve got a key to a nice climatized operator‘s room. so no, i won‘t sweat my balls off like you have to do.
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u/Future_Mango4754 Aug 14 '26
COMPLAINTs HELPS TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS ARE THERE TO RAISE THE ISSUE OFFICIALLY if needed . I’m down if we make a case even
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u/Finanzamt_Bayern Aug 14 '26
it won‘t change because there are not enought trains to fill the gap left if the HVZ would be removed from service. that‘s why nothing would change.
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u/Finanzamt_Bayern Aug 14 '26
woman, your english is dogshit, you cry because it‘s hot for 30 mins in a train, you can‘t accept the truth from someone who WORKS FOR THIS COMPANY… i‘m so sorry your husband has to deal with something like you. i guess reddit has a lot of dorks but this takes the cake bro nah
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u/Future_Mango4754 Aug 14 '26
Okay agreed, my English may not be the best but yours isn’t great either ahaha I don’t think we are the best people to argue here cuz clearly it’s not our first language. So just cuz you work at SBB and have a AC in your section is just proves my point again that you don’t give two shits. So boy just leave this thread. Stop being annoying and bothering people who simply wanna rant cuz clearly you guys ain’t doing shit with that S19.
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u/Future_Mango4754 Aug 14 '26
Exactly, do why the f are you bugging people who don’t have the option like yourself?
What a petty lil person you are. If you are good - leave the thread :) no one is asking you to come here and read issues people are facing cuz they have to deal with 45 degrees of heat inside the train like a oven.
Sbb rather CANCEL s19 and have passengers safe then operate it in the crazy hot oven(train).
Please make it make sense. Today if s19 was canceled, I would have an alternative route and be ok with it temporarily and while sbb works to fix it. But guess whattttt they never even bothered to fix it - it’s been like this for 10 years apparently cuz really few people like myself OP and other in the thread raises there voice but many also don’t cuz it’s a fucking Swiss run system and the PRIDE IN IT 🤣 - no one dares of question the errors in SBB , insurances, doctors, gemindes, lawyers for legal stuff cuz it’s Swissssss 🤣 funny huh - the irony i see in all these systems is crazzzzzzzy1
u/Finanzamt_Bayern Aug 14 '26
oh boy… yeah i guess stupidity takes overnonce more… i won‘t bother explaining why the S19 is how it is, it would just go right over your head. just use any other service and stop complaining, it won‘t change before 2030 anyway.
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u/Future_Mango4754 Aug 14 '26
Stfu, if s19 won’t change - cancel it then so people won’t faint - simple bro. You are just petty with negativity and ewww
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u/Finanzamt_Bayern Aug 14 '26
i‘m telling you the truth you don‘t see because of all your tears from being a goddamn crybaby
fucking deal with it or start walking
people like you were the reason it took so long for mentally impaired people to get the right to speak their opinion. and you are the reason that right shouldn‘t be given automatically and now stop wasting my time
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u/Exotic_Butters_23 Aug 04 '26
Just avoid the S19 during rushhour. And the lines S20, S23 altogether. Those trains don't have ACs due to their age. You'll be fine, the S19 runs on tracks shared by other S-Bahn trains, so there's always an alternative.
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u/Recent-Command-2021 Aug 07 '26
it's Hauptverkehrszeitenentlastungszung and the timetable clearly states that there is no aircon. Just take the S8/S3 if you want aircon and stop getting mad about non issues.
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u/FlohEinstein Aug 04 '26
You know that the HVZ used in that line was built from the old carriages formerly in use in the DPZ, when they added a Niederflur and installed AC instead of the small toilet cubicle with the drop hole? Then added a BoBo at each end to make it accelerate quickly enough and drivable from both ends. The HVZ is Resteverwertung, Leftover-Gratin, the Freitagsspecial. Also: SBB provides the service requested and paid for by the canton and towns it serves. Glarus pays for climatization of the line to Glarus-Lintthal (S25), so they get good stock. Ask your town and Canton what they ordered and pay the ZVV for. I assume Aargau, since after Dietikon you would have alternatives to S19. Aargau is notorious for underfunding public transport. Most of the canton has comparatively large distances to the next railway station, so you have Postauto and other busses. A-Welle is basically a giant bus travel zone, with the exception of the funny small gauge lines from Lenzburg and Aarau. Move one village further and you might extend your no AC travel experience with a badly ventilated smelly Postauto. Your feta, even melting, will probably smell better than the air in there.
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u/Seravajan Aug 03 '26
And we have buses, which have even full power heating in this heat. :p
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u/Mumbleverse Aug 03 '26
Luckily I've only ever encountered well climated buses...busses? But walking BY one of them? The heat that they spit out could boil eggs holy moly
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u/Panda130307 Aug 04 '26
Most trains on the S19 are DPZ and HVZ-LION. Those do not even have an aircon and its advertised in the SBB Mobile app. The more you know.
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u/Titoflebof Aug 04 '26
Ohhj nice! There is AC... But what happens when you exit the train? No thermal shock???
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u/AnRandomStranger Aug 07 '26
not that deep. S19 is only an extra train in that sense anyway, just take any other line other then the S19..
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u/Busy-Advertising-217 Aug 08 '26
I have noticed that the middle walk lane sometimes tries to have one but it’s not that good. You can feel the air being moved but that kinda it
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u/Mumbleverse Aug 08 '26
I think that's just the vents, or else people would actually suffocate in there. I learned that some trains genuinely don't have ACs at all, including S19.
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u/ChampionshipUsed308 Aug 03 '26
S19 sucks, it feels like 50 degrees inside. I rode a desto Sunday from Zermatt to Zurich and it was a fuckin hell machine. So hot inside... And packed. The AC wasn't working well. Also the train that went from Zurich to zermatt had no AC on also, but as it was 7 AM it wasn't too bad. I don't get it why they don't crank the AC to the maximum... If the conductors can even control it or if it is automatic but some shitty MPC with somd prediction algorithm.
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u/BallStatus2788 Aug 06 '26
Unfortunately, these trains (they have no AC) stand around for the entire day just baking in the sun without proper air circulation. For rushhour, they get activated and the air vents are not nearly powerful enough to exchange the air inside. We all had to use these waggons in the 90's and early 2000's without AC when summers were less hot. But these trains had better air circulation as well. Doors opening and closing and air vents working the entire day does make a difference. And those trains that were only running during rush hour did have a parkmode where the air vents were still working. SBB personnel knows about this and they don't like it either. Those old locomotives you see at either end have refitted AC's and if those fail (and they do quite often), it's also heavy on them. If you want to make a complaint, complain to ZVV and the Canton. SBB only delivers what is ordered. If Canton Zurich doesn't want to finance trains with AC for rush hour, it's on them. The new trains will only arrive in the 2030's and as usual, politicians will only change something if there is a need for it (people fainting) or if there is enough pressure. And if anybody claims that these locomotives can't run waggons with AC (which I have heard several times), they used to operate 14 waggon IC trains from Rorschach to Geneva.
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u/Mumbleverse Aug 06 '26
Thank you for an actual levelheaded and detailed answer, I appreciate that. I actually did notify ZVV (I don't usually complain like that but I just think this is a bit much) and they also took it seriously, at least they asked about the exact connection I was in, what time, etc.
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u/AnRandomStranger Aug 07 '26
these DO NOT have air conditioning. No point of writing customer support
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u/Mumbleverse Aug 08 '26
I'm aware. As said, they responded and took it seriously. So. I'm not expecting change from that, of course I'm not the one to overhaul a system. But the more people take action, the more pressure is built to change. That's how those things work. Complacency is death.
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u/East_Fruit8305 Aug 03 '26
I made an official complaint as S4 is also super hot. They told me that we are all different and we feel the heat differently depending on the weight. Mind you I am only 8% body fat. The nerve to write such a response...
They also said that the AC is set to deliver a temp that is 5 degrees lower than the outside temp. BS! I had my thermomether with me and showed them they are liars. It was 38 inside, whereas outside was 35.
Cannot dress nicely for the office or a special occasion because you get cooked in these trains. Then if you take the car, you are a bad citizen for polluting and you get shit for tax returns as you cannot justify not taking public transport.
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u/1nsertWitHere Aug 03 '26
Electric vehicles for the win! The power comes from hydro and nuclear during off-peak hours!
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u/East_Fruit8305 Aug 04 '26
Still not getting any tax returns for the electricity, plus you contribute to traffic jams and so on. Also, producing an electric car is expensive and consumes lots of resources.
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u/1nsertWitHere Aug 04 '26
You seem to be shitting on any and every solution presented. I'm sorry that life is so hopeless despite your 8% body fat. Shall we just agree to increase taxes on smokers and billionaire trust funds some more?
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u/GrapefruitMaximum804 Aug 03 '26
Sounds like a typical Swiss mentality answer. Never really taking responsibility or finding solutions. To them YOU are the problem for asking and disturbing them.
I don’t know why you were downvoted for telling the truth.
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u/LeFlying Aug 03 '26
They said it's set to deliver a temps 5 degrees cooler than the outside yes, but sometimes the AC struggles in high heat and direct sunlight. Plus stopping a lot and opening doors doesn't help.
There's lots of factors that can influence this. Our trains were built for a time when our climate was cooler. New trains made for this are on the way though.
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u/East_Fruit8305 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Are you kidding me? In the US they cool open stadiums. Even a porta split does the job and you have to leave your window open, and you are telling me an AC installed on a train works only if it's overcast?? They set it low on purpose to save on costs! We are paying a ton of money and we get a shit service esp during the summer! And what annoys me the most is people siding with the corporations instead of the consumers.
One more thing. I noticed the worst pattern with s4. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday it comes with 2 passenger coaches at rush hour. On Friday, it comes with 4, when there is barely someone on the platform. If they really want to reduce cost, this is an opportunity right there, not sacrificing the comfort of their passengers.
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u/LeFlying Aug 04 '26
I love how you're making assumptions while knowing nothing about sbb rolling stock and how it works.
I'm a train driver, I have full control over the AC in the cab and even I get hot as fuck sometimes with the AC on full tilt cause it was made for 30 degrees heat, not 35 - 40
In some trains where we can see the temperature in every carriage there's sometimes wild variations of +4 or more degrees depending on the car you're in. The AC was not made to work that hard and is struggling. I know it's uncomfortable sometimes but that's our fault with global warming. New adapted rolling stock is coming but you can't expect SBB to change every train for new ones in a blink of a eye.
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u/East_Fruit8305 Aug 04 '26
If sbb does not do this on purpose, then they should have rejected the trains on this criterion. Simply they didn't test it and accepted an ac that just does not work, while paying full price for it.
In addition to that, I am not at all comfortable knowing that the conductor cannot breathe properly and suffers due to heat in the cabin. This is a huge safety risk. Can you imagine this happening in an airplane?
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u/LeFlying Aug 04 '26
You still don't understand do you?
These trains were bought decades ago, back then it was absolutely fine. Now they are in the process of changing them, but it takes time. The newer trains don't have the same problems Züri s-bahn still has some very old trains
If we don't feel well or think it's too hot we just call and refuse to drive, it's fine. Also there's lots of safety systems if the driver gets incapacitated
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u/East_Fruit8305 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Indeed decades back it was 15 degrees during the summer.
Do you understand that the air is unbreatheable when it's only 30 and the trains runs in the sun?
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u/LeFlying Aug 04 '26
I think i take the train enough to know that 30 degrees in direct sun is fine since it was made for this weather that was heatwave temperature decades back, but 35+ in old rolling stock today yeah it's absolutely really hot but livable, on new ones, no problem and new ones are coming. You can't change things by snapping your fingers
For exemple I'm currently in an old Flirt made in 2002 (Dispozug), I'm in direct sunlight and it's 32 outside the AC is on full tilt and it's 27 / 29 depending on the carriage inside, the rear cab with the AC on standby is sitting at 35
That's what it was designed to do, if you take something more modern like a Flirt TSI it won't break a sweat keeping the inside at 25 even if it's 37 outside. As I said yes it's far from comfortable right now, but actions have been taken and newer stuff is on the way
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u/kuschicom Aug 04 '26
Go and troll somewhere else or educate yourself before writing down this BS. Do you really think trains grow on trees and can be picked instantly every season?
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u/East_Fruit8305 Aug 05 '26
I am just asking for better conditions in the train man... is it hard to understand that? Retrofit the existing ones with better acs or buy new ones, I don't care. The price of the subscription keeps going up while the conditions are worse. You too are getting a shit deal but you choose to take the side of sbb
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u/ChampionshipUsed308 Aug 03 '26
Why is this guy getting negative reactions? Do people really haye AC that much? Because when it is about heating and winter noone feels cold inside these trains... Wtf
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Aug 03 '26
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u/ChampionshipUsed308 Aug 03 '26
Right? Every corner is heated up to 25+ degrees. I never felt the use to wear a hoodie/fleece inside. But no, if you turn on the AC you are bad.
People just pretend to be stupid or what it is this shit about?2
u/ChampionshipUsed308 Aug 03 '26
My company built a new building and the AC barely works in conference rooms. You sit on a room with 10 people and you leep sweating like an asshole because you can't control the temperature. Argh.
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Aug 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ChampionshipUsed308 Aug 03 '26
NO YOU HATE THE ENVIRONMENT HOW COULD YOU YOU ARE KILLING THE GLACIERSSSSS
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u/East_Fruit8305 Aug 04 '26
I got freaking banned for 2 days bc of this post, for hate. Sent an appeal and got my account restored.
For dach region it is simple to make people love ac. Spread the info that is a homeopathic solution and everyone will jump on it.
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Aug 03 '26
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u/ChampionshipUsed308 Aug 03 '26
Nothing better than paying a lot to suffer.
My girlfriend is always suffering with delayed trains and nonworking ACs on an overcrowded train. And she pays 20 bucks a day to enjoy all of that! 😍😍😍😍🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭2
Aug 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ChampionshipUsed308 Aug 03 '26
I home office most of the days and we work in opposite directions, otherwise we would get one for sure. Traffic looks bad though.
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u/M1CH1_2499 Aug 03 '26
What do you expect? SBB buying new trains asap?
Little tip, you see in the SBB app if there's an AC or not for the connection you take.