October 2022. As we wanted to test Trenitalia‘s Frecciarossa 1000 service from Paris to Milan, we planned a rail trip around it. From Antwerp to Paris with Thalys, the ‘Red Arrow’ to Milan and once in Italy continuing to Trieste and Bologna. The return trip took us to Basel in Switzerland to enjoy SBB‘s panoramic coach and Germany‘s Rhine route to Cologne. From there we got back to Belgium.
Yèèèèèss, I already reviewed SBB-CFF-FFS‘s train journey from Switzerland to Germany on the iconic EuroCity EC-8 with its panoramic car. But Danny hadn’t experienced it yet. And it’s such an experience.
EuroCity EC-9 links Hamburg Altona to Zürich HB and the return journey is called the EC-8. But your chance of actually getting the panoramic car is bigger on the EC-8. Look on Vagonweb for the car number when you book your seat. We took the train between Basel Badischer Bahnhof and Köln Hbf. Taking the train in Basel Bad Bf is much cheaper as it’s considered a Deutsche Bahn, German station.
What makes the journey so special?
First of all, I’ll temper your expectations. It’s also ‘just’ a train journey with some beautiful scenery. There are prettier rail lines for sure, such as the Glacier Express, the GoldenPass route or the Flåm line in Norway.
But what do we like about the EC-8?
- It’s a locomotive-hauled train with coaches, rather than an electric multiple unit or EMU. That has more charm. SBB calls these Standard coach IV / EuroCity. The train offers second class, a dining car with actual tables and service and first class. One of the first class cars is the panoramic car.
- Between Koblenz and Cologne the train follows the Rhine, and that is just epic.
Why is the journey along the Rhine so epic?
The Rhine is one of the major of major rivers in Europe. The other one being the Danube. The Rhine is majorly important in the economy, it’s a source for tourism and it’s enshrined in European factual and mythological history.
The Rhine is a border, the Rhine is the source for German nation-building stories. An inspiration for myths and operas by Richard Wagner. So yes, it also has a dark side as some people abused its history.
Along the route you’ll see many medieval and more-than-medieval castles. 19th century romanticism pushed people with money to (re)build castles in a larger-than-life, romanticized medieval style. And of course there’s the Lorelei.
And you get to see all this sitting comfortably, eating something, drinking something. Life is just good on board.
So?
Basel to Cologne with the EC-8 is not the fastest way, but the nicest way to trave between these to rail hubs.
Paris – Italy – Basel 2022
- REVIEW | Restaurant Le Train Blue at Paris-Gare-de-Lyon.
- REVIEW | Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Paris – Milan in Business Executive.
- REVIEW | Just Hotel Milano.
- FYRA NOSTALGIA | Trenitalia Frecciargento Milan to Trieste on the ETR 700 ex-Fyra.
- REVIEW | Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta.
- TRIESTE | Miramare Castle.
- History of Trieste at Diego de Henriquez War for Peace Museum / Museo de la Guerra per Pace.
- ITALY | 1.5 day in Trieste.
- EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Sights and churches in Bologna.
- History of Bologna Museum at Palazzo Pepoli.
- REVIEW | The Social Hub Bologna.
- BOLOGNA | University Museums of Palazzo Poggi ft. Obstetrics, Military Architecture, Geographical Maps and Human Anatomy.
- REVIEW | Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
- EMILIA-ROMAGNA | A walk in Modena.
- EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Bologna & Modena 2022.
- Trains in Italy.
- EUROCITY EC-52 | Milan to Basel (and to Frankfurt) via the Simplon Tunnel.
- SWITZERLAND | Basel during Herbstmesse.
- REVIEW | Hyperion Basel.
Italian high-speed rail operator Italo is preparing a major expansion into Germany with a €3.6 billion investment plan aimed at challenging Deutsche Bahn’s dominance of…
Italian high-speed rail operator Italo is preparing a major expansion into Germany with a €3.6 billion investment plan aimed at challenging Deutsche Bahn’s dominance of…
Dutch private train operator GoVolta will stop running trains from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Hamburg in Germany, train spotter Martijn van Vulpen reports. Since…
Dutch private train operator GoVolta will stop running trains from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Hamburg in Germany, train spotter Martijn van Vulpen reports. Since…
November and December 2017. During my solo trip to Taiwan – the vacation which was a catalyst to start Trip By Trip – I met…
Dutch train operator GoVolta has announced a major expansion of its cross-border services, with a new daily Amsterdam to Paris route set to launch on…
Dutch train operator GoVolta has announced a major expansion of its cross-border services, with a new daily Amsterdam to Paris route set to launch on…
Dutch train operator GoVolta has announced a major expansion of its cross-border services, with a new daily Amsterdam to Paris route set to launch on…
Dutch train operator GoVolta has announced a major expansion of its cross-border services, with a new daily Amsterdam to Paris route set to launch on…
The Hague, the Dutch seat of government and home to over 500 international organisations, is pushing to restore its direct rail connection to Brussels in…
The Hague, the Dutch seat of government and home to over 500 international organisations, is pushing to restore its direct rail connection to Brussels in…
Cross-border rail travel in Europe is at a crossroads, says the European Rail Passengers Union. While trains are the most sustainable option for connecting communities…
Cross-border rail travel in Europe is at a crossroads, says the European Rail Passengers Union. While trains are the most sustainable option for connecting communities…
Deutsche Bahn (DB) will launch a new daily direct connection between Berlin and Oslo via Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö, and Gothenburg from summer 2028. This initiative,…
Deutsche Bahn (DB) will launch a new daily direct connection between Berlin and Oslo via Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö, and Gothenburg from summer 2028. This initiative,…
Deutsche Bahn (DB) will launch a new daily direct connection between Berlin and Oslo via Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö, and Gothenburg from summer 2028. This initiative,…
A memorandum of understanding for a possible direct rail connection between Switzerland and London in the United Kingdom was signed today by SBB-CFF-FFS, SNCF Voyageurs…
A memorandum of understanding for a possible direct rail connection between Switzerland and London in the United Kingdom was signed today by SBB-CFF-FFS, SNCF Voyageurs…
A memorandum of understanding for a possible direct rail connection between Switzerland and London in the United Kingdom was signed today by SBB-CFF-FFS, SNCF Voyageurs…
November and December 2017. During my solo trip to Taiwan – the vacation which was a catalyst to start Trip By Trip – I met…
On 13 May 2026, the European Commission has unveiled sweeping plans to make rail travel across Europe simpler and more integrated, promising easier booking, stronger…
On 13 May 2026, the European Commission has unveiled sweeping plans to make rail travel across Europe simpler and more integrated, promising easier booking, stronger…
On 13 May 2026, the European Commission has unveiled sweeping plans to make rail travel across Europe simpler and more integrated, promising easier booking, stronger…
The Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) is not adopting Dutch train passengers union Rover‘s proposal to extend the EuroCity Brussels-South to Breda route to Eindhoven Central instead…
The Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) is not adopting Dutch train passengers union Rover‘s proposal to extend the EuroCity Brussels-South to Breda route to Eindhoven Central instead…
On Wednesday 13 May 2026, the European Commission proposed new rules to simplify train travel, enabling single-ticket booking across Europe. The move aims to boost…
On Wednesday 13 May 2026, the European Commission proposed new rules to simplify train travel, enabling single-ticket booking across Europe. The move aims to boost…
The European Commission wants to make international train travel in Europe much simpler. Its newly unveiled Passenger Package promises easier booking, stronger passenger rights and…
The European Commission wants to make international train travel in Europe much simpler. Its newly unveiled Passenger Package promises easier booking, stronger passenger rights and…
In 2024, Europe’s rail networks experienced unprecedented demand, with passengers embarking on 8.7 billion trips, accumulating a total of 444.5 billion passenger-kilometres. This surge marked…
In 2024, Europe’s rail networks experienced unprecedented demand, with passengers embarking on 8.7 billion trips, accumulating a total of 444.5 billion passenger-kilometres. This surge marked…
From Sunday 13 December 2026, the ÖBB Nightjet connecting Amsterdam and Zurich will operate with the latest Nightjet New Generation rolling stock (with individual pod!),…
From Sunday 13 December 2026, the ÖBB Nightjet connecting Amsterdam and Zurich will operate with the latest Nightjet New Generation rolling stock (with individual pod!),…
In December 2025, European Sleeper announced a new night train connection: Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Milan in Italy. Independent railway…
In December 2025, European Sleeper announced a new night train connection: Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Milan in Italy. Independent railway…
Belgian-Dutch railway cooperative European Sleeper has announced in its newsletter changes to the route of its new Brussels in Belgium to Milan in Italy night…
Belgian-Dutch railway cooperative European Sleeper has announced in its newsletter changes to the route of its new Brussels in Belgium to Milan in Italy night…
Belgian-Dutch railway cooperative European Sleeper has announced in its newsletter changes to the route of its new Brussels in Belgium to Milan in Italy night…
Belgian-Dutch railway cooperative European Sleeper has announced in its newsletter changes to the route of its new Brussels in Belgium to Milan in Italy night…
From 14 December 2026, Dutch rail operator GoVolta will begin daily services between Amsterdam and Paris, stopping in Antwerp and Ghent in Belgium, as well…
From 14 December 2026, Dutch rail operator GoVolta will begin daily services between Amsterdam and Paris, stopping in Antwerp and Ghent in Belgium, as well…
The European Parliament has given its final approval to the Regulation on the Use of Railway Infrastructure Capacity in the Single European Railway Area, a…
The European Parliament has given its final approval to the Regulation on the Use of Railway Infrastructure Capacity in the Single European Railway Area, a…
Stockholm is rapidly moving up the agenda of Europe’s railway operators, as a wave of new and planned train services positions the Swedish capital as…
Stockholm is rapidly moving up the agenda of Europe’s railway operators, as a wave of new and planned train services positions the Swedish capital as…
Italy’s tourism industry reached another historic milestone in 2025, with more than 185 million arrivals recorded across the country as international demand for Italian culture,…