Dutch start-up train operator GoVolta will not be able to start train services this year after Rabobank decided against granting the new rail company a loan. The train paths (‘slots’ on the rails) allocated for GoVolta’s budget trains to Berlin in Germany, Copenhagen in Denmark and Basel in Switzerland have now been returned.
Tag: Budapest
Back On Track Belgium not surprised inaugural European Sleeper from Brussels to Venice didn’t reach Italy
European Sleeper inaugurated its night train service from Brussels in Belgium to Venice in Italy, via the Netherlands, Germany and Austria, in the night from Wednesday 5 February to Thursday 6 February 2025. But the sleeper train never made it passed Innsbruck. “And this is unfortunately not a surprise”, Back On Track Belgium says in…
2025: Overtourism overdose?
On 1 January 2024 we wrote about how rising prices affect travel. Not only the price of flights, but also the price of activities. Pricing was a topic the year before, 2023. In 2024, conventional and social media dug into the issue of overtourism. Articles about locals protesting, Instagrammers posting about big crowds in Japan…
Mr Gay Europe 2026 contest to cruise with VACAYA at summer’s end
In 2026, the Mr Gay Europe contest will take place on a gay cruise, specifically a VACAYA cruise. “The finals will take place on board an all-LGBT+ cruise spanning nine days in late summer 2026 alongside the world’s leading LGBT+ vacation company, VACAYA”, the press release says.
Visiting the European Parliament in Brussels
As pupils Danny and I visited the Federal Parliament of Belgium. On our travels, we visited many parliament buildings such as the Houses of Parliament in London (United Kingdom), the Bundestag in Berlin (Germany) the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne (Australia), the Old and New Parliament House in Canberra, the Palace of the Parliament in…
European Commission supports 10 pilot projects for cross-border train travel, but Back On Track Belgium calls out key weakness
The European Commission will support ten pilot project for new cross-border services and the improvement of existing ones, it announced recently. But that support is not financial. Back On Track Belgium says the initiative is weak.
Forbidden Colours helped over 500 queer refugees to flee war in Ukraine
On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT or IDAHOT), Belgium-based LGBTQIA+ organisation Forbidden Colours put the spotlight on its extensive work to help LGBTQIA+ persons living in Ukraine.
ANTWERP | ‘Stories of Refuge’ exhibition at Red Star Line Museum
Until 11 December, the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp hosts the temporary exhibition ‘Stories of Refuge‘. A topical exhibition, now with the war Russia is waging against Ukraine.
Trans Europ Express 2.0 advocates a renewed extensive European train network
Besides the renewed interest in night trains in Europe, besides an increase in awareness something must be done to make cross-boarder train travel in the European Union much easier, there’s also this Trans Europ Express 2.0. A revival of the old TEE network.
EUROPEAN UNION | The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the European Transport Corridors
This week, the European Commission committed itself to facilitate train travel in the European Union more more. Booking train journeys should be easier and travellers should get passenger rights comparable to air passengers rights.