The Grand Bazar shopping centre on Antwerp’s Groenplaats is set to disappear entirely to make way for the expansion of the Hilton Hotel, both Het Laatste Nieuws and Gazet van Antwerpen report. The once-busy mall will be largely dismantled, with only the ground-floor retail units remaining. These shops will no longer be accessed from within…
Tag: Charleroi
Belgians choose safety, sustainability and convenience for summer travel: climate change, geopolitical instability and flight convenience shape 2025 holiday trends
The 2025 Europ Assistance Holiday Barometer reveals changing travel habits shaped by climate, politics and practicality.
Spanish CAF to provide trains for NMBS / SNCB AM30
Train manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) from Spain is said to have won a major contract to build hundreds of new AM30 / MR30 electric multiple units (EMU) for Belgian railway company NMBS / SNCB. The CAF Civity Duo then could be a base for the AM30.
BELGIUM | Fête du Rail at Rétrotrain, Saint-Ghislain
August 2024. Two weekends in a row, we experienced some Belgian railway heritage. On the 11th, we went to Baasrode-Noord for the Dendermonde – Puurs Steam Railway or Stoomtrein Dendermonde-Puurs over line 52. On the 17th, we travelled all the way to Saint-Ghislain for a special ride over freight railway line 100, organised by Le…
Farewell to the NMBS / SNCB AM66 ‘Klassiekje’ or ‘Classique’
On Saturday 14 December 2024, Train World is running a farewell tour for the NMBS /SNCB Classical Twin EMUs, as Wikipedia calls the AM66 or MR66. Train staff call these Klassiekjes or Classiques. Sometimes in French Doubles. The farewell tour is sold out.
BELGIUM | Introduction to Charleroi
A month after our visit to Couvin, we returned to the province of Hainaut. While Danny and I have conducted trains to Charleroi-Central many, many times, we never really got out of the station to explore the 5th most populous city in Belgium.
BELGIUM | Excursion to Couvin in Namur
January 2024. Since December 2023, there’s a new intercity train service between Leuven (Louvain) and Charleroi-Central, with stops at Heverlee, Wavre (Waver), Ottignies, Court-Saint-Étienne (Sint-Stefaanshof) and Fleurus. Wanting to try this new link, we decided to first travel to Charleroi via Brussels, a classic itinerary. There we explored railway line 132 to Mariembourg and then…
CHARLEROI PRIDE | Three days of inclusivity and festivities
Today, tomorrow and Saturday Charleroi in the province of Hainaut hosts the Fête de l’Amour, the Festival of Love, aka Charleroi Pride or Pride Carolo. It’s the fifth edition of the Festival of Love and the third edition with a pride parade on Saturday.
Liège Pride 2024 programme and introduction
The city of Liège in the province of Liège will host its first fully-fledged pride weekend on 23, 24 and 25 August 2024. The Liège Pride website has now been launched, with more information and a programme. The organisers expect 5,000 participants.
Dinner Train in Belgium canceled without informing customers
In January we announced enthusiastically Dinner Train would come to Belgium. Dinner Train’s product is very straightforward. A fancy dinner on board a train consisting of restaurant coaches and kitchens. Dinner Train has been successful in the Netherlands, so this is – or as you can already guess – wás something we looked forward to.