October 2024. During a week-long whistle-stop tour of Germany, we visit Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt, Weimar in Thuringia, Coburg in Upper Franconia (Bavaria) and Kassel in Hesse. Smaller cities, yes. But each with their own significance. Untouched by overtourism. We’re avoiding using the white trains of DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bahn‘s long-distance section and opt to use…
Month: April 2025
ANTWERP | Former Museum Ridder Smidt van Gelder at Hotel Thijs at Belgiëlei
On Open Monuments Day on 8 September 2024 the former Museum Ridder Smidt van Gelder on the Belgiëlei or Belgium Avenue in Antwerp exceptionally opened its doors. This townhouse, hôtel particulier or stadspaleis is also known as Hotel Thijs.
ANTWERP | Restoration of the tower and carillon of the Borgerhout district house
After the thorough renovation work on the interior of the Borgerhout District Hall, the restoration of the tower and the carillon will start. The work will start at the end of 2025.
What is Schengen?
We haven’t travelled to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg since 2018 and 2019, but in January 2025 we returned to get a taste of the Alstom Coradia Stream HC which the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL) runs under the name Série 2400. The Coradia Stream HC was a candidate to become NMBS…
European travellers report positive experience with rail and multimodal bookings
A new Eurobarometer survey has revealed that the majority of European citizens have a positive experience when booking rail and multimodal journeys. The survey, commissioned by the European Commission‘s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, highlights the consistent improvement in satisfaction with rail booking and ticketing over recent years, confirming the findings of a previous Eurobarometer…
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) plan to launch a new high-speed link between London and Paris
FS Italiane Group, known through its brand Trenitalia, announces a plan to launch a new high-speed rail service connecting London and Paris by 2029. This was announced in a press release.
SEOUL 2024 | Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Autumn 2024. Ten years after my first trip to Seoul in 2014, I am returning to the Republic of Korea, better known as South Korea. Not solo this time, but with Oriol, who has never been to Korea. On the itinerary: flying with Qatar Airways to Incheon via Doha, the capital Seoul, the historic city…
London St. Pancras Highspeed pledges financial support for cross-Channel rail services
London St. Pancras Highspeed, the operator of the high-speed railway line in the United Kingdom has pledged financial support for train companies running services between mainland Europe and London. The support scheme is expected to launch by the end of May 2025.
SAXONY-ANHALT | A day in Dessau
October 2024. During a week-long whistle-stop tour of Germany, we visit Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt, Weimar in Thuringia, Coburg in Upper Franconia (Bavaria) and Kassel in Hesse. Smaller cities, yes. But each with their own significance. Untouched by overtourism. We’re avoiding using the white trains of DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bahn‘s long-distance section and opt to use…
Back-on-Track EU: New study confirms climate protection potential of night trains
Night train advocacy group Back-on-Track looks at a recent German study on night trains and ecology. Climate friendliness and energy efficiency are always big issues in the debate.