April 2025 has seen the start of testing at speed for the world’s first operational steam locomotive to be fitted with European Train Control System or ETCS technology. Tests are being done by Network Rail, the railway infrastructure (the tracks) in Great Britain. So England, Scotland and Wales. Not Northern Ireland.
Tag: Ireland
RAINBOW EUROPE MAP AND INDEX 2025 | United Kingdom, Hungary and Georgia drop dramatically on LGBTQIA+ rights ranking
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has dropped six places on this year‘s ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map and Rainbow Index, as Hungary and the Republic of Georgia also register steep falls following anti-LGBTI legislation. The data highlights how rollbacks on LGBTI human rights are part of a broader erosion of democratic protections across…
France, Spain, USA, China and Italy most visited countries in the world, Belgium 41st
France, Spain, the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China and Italy are the most visited countries in the world. Belgium ranks 41st, the Netherlands 20th. Not only the 193 member states of the United Nations are counted, but also other top level domains such as Hong Kong (17th).
What is Schengen?
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…
ILGA-EUROPE | New era of coordinated attacks on foundations of Fundamental Rights, as EU bins Equal Treatment Directive
A major report published today, 18 February 2025, identifies how LGBTQIA+ people are being weaponized to erode the foundations of freedom and democracy across Europe. The report describes the changes in 2024.
Switzerland, Czechia and Belgium top railway network density in Europe
In 2023, the European Union railway network had 200,947 km of railway lines, with the highest densities being found in and around main cities and other population hubs, a Eurostat blogpost reveals.
NEW ORLEANS | French Quarter ft. Bourbon Street
June 2024. For our first visit to the United States of America since the COVID-19 pandemic, we flew to New Orleans via London Heathrow with British Airways. After two days of exploring NOLA, Amtrak‘s Crescent overnight train brought us from Louisiana to New York, where we we stayed one night only before flying home.
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.
Which flags get to fly at Antwerp City Hall?
Today is the National Holiday of Belgium. On 21 July 1831, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha took the constitutional oath to become King of the Belgians. But I want to look at something else.
SWITZERLAND | Introducing Geneva
Switzerland will host the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. But which city in the Helvetic Confederation will welcome the thousands of artists, media people and fans? Geneva, Sankt Gallen, Basel and Fribourg have already expressed their interest. Other obvious options are Zurich and Bern. And why not Lausanne? Swiss broadcaster Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) also…