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…
Tag: Austria
Back-on-Track.eu criticises lack of EU action as ÖBB cuts into Nightjet order
On 11 July 2025, Back-on-Track.eu, a European network advocating for night trains, voiced serious concern following the announcement by the Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB, the European Union‘s largest night train operator, that it will reduce its order with Siemens Mobility for new Nightjet trains from 33 to 24 units.
ÖBB prioritises Railjet over Nightjet: Is the night train revival a False Dawn?
Austrian state railway ÖBB has amended its rolling stock contract with Siemens Mobility, RailTech reports. This decision puts a hold on further deliveries of its new-generation Nightjet sleeper trains. The move marks a shift in investment priorities, with ÖBB responding to rising passenger numbers by focusing instead on expanding its Railjet 2 daytime fleet.
Introducing the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
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 SLEEPER | Brussels to Barcelona night train to stop in Avignon, Montpellier, Narbonne, and Girona
In a May 2025 newsletter, European Sleeper lets slip its Barcelona-bound night train service will stop at Avignon, Montpellier, Narbonne in France, and Gerona / Girona in Spain‘s Catalonia region. This service will depart from Brussels in Belgium.
Seventeen EU countries condemn Hungary’s pride and protest ban as human rights groups launch legal challenge
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage across Europe, the Budapest police have formally banned an LGBTQIA+ march scheduled for 1 June 2025, citing its resemblance to Budapest Pride. This is the first known use of Hungary’s newly enacted ‘Anti-Pride’ law, and it has triggered an intense backlash from human rights organisations, 17 European…
FlixTrain orders 65 trainsets with Talgo and Siemens fit for Europe
FlixTrain, the private rail operator in Germany and subsidiary of global travel-tech company Flix SE, has announced on 27 May 2025 a landmark investment in European rail transport with the purchase of 65 high-speed trainsets.
FRANCONIA | Veste Coburg
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…
Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB launch Frecciarossa EuroCity trains linking Berlin, Munich, Milan, Rome and Naples
Starting in December 2026, Trenitalia’s sleek Frecciarossa ETR1000 trains will begin linking major cities across Italy, Austria and Germany with five new daily EuroCity services. These international high-speed routes, developed in collaboration with Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB, mark a significant expansion in European cross-border rail connectivity.
COBURG | Ehrenburg Palace
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…