Antwerp is now directly connected to Cologne by high-speed train for the first time, giving the city a new rail gateway to Germany and, via Cologne’s major railway hub, onward destinations in Switzerland and Central and Eastern Europe. The new Deutsche Bahn ICE service also puts Brussels Airport back on the international high-speed rail network…
Tag: Liège
Antwerp sees increase in international train travel
International rail travel from Antwerp in Belgium is continuing to grow strongly, with Eurostar reporting a 16% increase in passengers during the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year. The growth comes as Antwerp gains another direct international high-speed connection, with Deutsche Bahn’s ICE trains beginning direct services to Cologne…
European Sleeper, ÖBB Nightjet and OUIGO services through Belgium to change from September 2026
Rail news website Mobilithib, by Thibault Lapers, has uncovered a series of timetable changes affecting international rail services through Belgium.
Belgium tourism reaches new heights as record visitor numbers underline the country’s growing appeal
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.
NMBS / SNCB turns 100 on 23 July and holds nationwide celebrations in the coming months
Belgium‘s national railway operator NMBS / SNCB will celebrate a major milestone next week as it marks the 100th anniversary of its creation. On 23 July 2026, exactly one century after the Belgian Parliament approved the law establishing the railway company in 1926, passengers and railway staff will be treated to special anniversary activities, while…
Arriva expands Paris rail ambitions with extra The Hague to Belgium connections
Dutch rail operator Arriva has unveiled plans to significantly expand its international rail ambitions by adding direct services from The Hague and Amersfoort to Paris, complementing its previously announced Groningen to Paris route. The company is now targeting a launch in early 2028, although it acknowledges that the timeline remains uncertain.
TUI Fly to end operations from Antwerp Airport in 2027
TUI Fly will end all flight operations from Antwerp International Airport (ANR) in Deurne at the end of March 2027, bringing to a close 12 years of services from the airport, Flightlevel reports. The head office in Germany made this decision on Monday evening. The move is part of the airline’s strategy to further concentrate…
Deutsche Bahn Cologne – Ostend ICE caters to 700K Belgian Coast-loving tourists from Germany
German tourists are Belgium’s largest foreign visitor group at the coast, and a new direct high-speed rail ICE service between Cologne and Ostend aims to make travel to the North Sea even easier. Deutsche Bahn launched the seasonal weekend connection on Saturday 6 June, marking the return of a direct rail link between the two…
NMBS / SNCB to expand train services by 3% under 2026–2029 transport plan
Belgium‘s Federal Government has approved a new three-year rail transport plan that will see state-owned train operator NMBS / SNCB expand its train services by a further 3% between December 2026 and 2029. One of the most notable changes will be the introduction of additional early-morning trains to Brussels Airport – Zaventem, allowing passengers from…
Italy welcomes more than 185 million visitors as tourism surges 7.1% in record year 2025
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…