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, cities, beaches and cuisine continued to grow strongly. New figures from the Italian Interior Ministry’s ‘Alloggiati Web’ system show that total arrivals increased by 7.1% compared with 2024, rising from…
Tag: Charleroi
Belgium and the Netherlands work on Brussels to Eindhoven direct train, possibly via Antwerp
Belgium and the Netherlands have taken a step towards improving cross-border rail connectivity, with a potential direct Brussels to Eindhoven train emerging as one of the most symbolic and politically significant projects in a newly signed joint declaration on rail cooperation.
BRUSSELS AIRPORT | 2026 brings Chengdu, Palma de Mallorca, Oviedo, Gdańsk, Pristina…
Brussels Airport in Zaventem is heading into one of its most dynamic years in recent memory. As first revealed by Thibault Lapers on his Mobilithib blog, Belgium’s main airport expects a busy 2026 summer season with more than 4,000 weekly flights, underpinned by a wave of new routes, new airlines and long-haul expansion.
Satisfaction surveys outline profile and strengths of Antwerp Airport and Ostend–Bruges Airport
Passenger satisfaction surveys conducted past autumn at Antwerp International Airport (ANR) in Deurne and Ostend–Bruges Airport (OST) in Ostend confirm both the strong appeal of Belgium’s regional airports and a clear profile of their typical users. Travellers cite proximity, short walking distances and personalised service as the main reasons for choosing regional airports, with older…
Board of Directors of NMBS / SNCB awards MR30 / AM30 contract to CAF and orders first trains
“Following a European public procurement procedure launched in 2022 for the purchase of new multiple units, the Board of Directors of NMBS / SNCB decided this Friday to award the framework agreement to the manufacturer CAF“, a press release says.
FRANCE | Train excursion to Maubeuge and Lille
September 2025. A few days before our Journey Across Japan, Sam, Danny, and I went an a day excursion to Maubeuge and Lille in France, just across the border with Belgium. Some proper #CrossBorderRail. From Charleroi-Central Railway Station in Wallonia, there is an S63 suburban train (while the scenery is very green and nut urban…
Aachen Christmas Market Trains from Vilvoorde / Antwerp / Lier / Hasselt and Braine-le-Comte / Mons / Charleroi-Central / Namur on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December 2025
Heritage rail organisation PFT-TSP has confirmed that its Weihnachtsmarkt-Express will run again this winter, offering passengers a festive rail journey from Belgium to Aachen (Aken, Aix-la-Chapelle) in Germany on Saturday 13 December 2025. The special train, which will call Vilvoorde, Antwerp-Central, Lier and Hasselt, will provide a direct and comfortable connection to Aachen Hauptbahnhof –…
BELGIUM | Trams in Liège
April 2025. For the first time since 1968, trams ride on the streets of Liège (Luik, Lüttich). Belgium has now five cities with trams: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and now Liège. And, of course there’s the Coast Tram or Kusttram in West Flanders, with 67 km the longest tram line in the world. Danny and…
Kanal-Centre Pompidou to open in Brussels in November 2026
Brussels is preparing to unveil one of Europe’s most ambitious cultural projects: the KANAL-Centre Pompidou, a vast new museum of modern and contemporary art. Slated to open on 28 November 2026, the museum will be housed in the city’s former Citroën garage, an iconic industrial site along the Brussels-Charleroi Canal. When it opens, it will…
BELGIUM | Council of State backs NMBS / SNCB’s choice of Spanish CAF for multi-billion train order
The Council of State has dismissed an appeal by Siemens and rejected a request from NGOs, clearing the way for Belgian state railway NMBS / SNCB to move forward with its plans to order hundreds of new trainsets from Spanish manufacturer CAF. A ruling on a parallel case brought by French rival Alstom is still…