The Italian state railway group Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS), better known under its brand name Trenitalia, is considering a major expansion into Germany’s long-distance rail network with a fleet of around 50 high-speed trains, a move that could introduce the first large-scale competition for Deutsche Bahn on its home market.
Tag: Austria
The best cities for gay cruising? London, Berlin, Paris, Madrid and Barcelona
A new Global Gay Cruising Index published by Erobella in September 2025 reveals where gay men around the world have the best chances for spontaneous erotic encounters, and Europe emerges as the undisputed leader.
Paris Nightjet axed: France’s withdrawal threatens Europe’s night train revival
The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) have confirmed that the Nightjet services from Vienna in Austria and Berlin in Germany to Paris in France will be discontinued from 14 December 2025. The decision follows the announcement by the French Ministry of Transport that it will no longer provide state funding for the operation of international night…
TRAIN TRAVEL | European Union records 429 billion passenger-kilometres in 2023 but domestic travel still dominates
Rail travel in Europe soared to new heights in 2023, marking the highest levels of passenger transport in years. According to Eurostat, total rail passenger transport across the European Union reached an impressive 429 billion passenger-kilometres.
BELGIUM | Meise Botanic Garden
During the Ascension weekend in May 2025, Jeroen and I visited the Meise Botanic Garden. World famous in Belgium, but I had never been.
European Commission pumps €2.8 billion in 94 transport infrastructure projects
The European Commission has announced in July 2025 the selection of 94 transport infrastructure projects to receive nearly €2.8 billion in grants under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), a flagship EU funding instrument aimed at building a sustainable and interconnected transport network across the continent.
Back-on-Track Europe warns the ‘night train revival’ is a false dawn
The European passenger rail network is at risk of losing momentum in its night train revival, according to Back-on-Track Europe, the European network promoting cross-border night trains.
GERMANY | Gasometer Oberhausen in the Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia
The weekend before Christmas 2024, Dennis and I went to Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia for the Weihnachtsmarkt, the Christmas market. Germany is a master in Christmas markets. And a successful excursion to Bonn in 2023 left us wanting a sequel. On our way to Germany on Friday night, we learned about the 2024 Magdeburg Christmas…
BELGIUM | Flight shame? Airports break records during 2025 summer season
On Monday 28 July 2025 , Brussels Airport recorded its highest number of passengers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Around 48,000 people boarded a flight, while 44,000 arrived, De Morgen reported. The surge in travellers was attributed to the end of Tomorrowland, the traditional changeover weekend, and the final days of…
SICILY | Catania
March 2025. We’re embarking on a train trip to Sicily. We fly from Brussels Airport to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport with ITA Airways. Then we take an Intercity Notte sleeper train by Trenitalia from Roma Termini Railway Station across Italy to Syracuse. Yes, the train is loaded on a ferry to cross the…