A sleek, deep-blue train gliding across Europe at 400 km/h. Passengers board in Helsinki and arrive in Berlin just three hours later. Freight bypasses congested motorways. New architectural landmark stations double as concert halls and cultural hubs. Welcome to Starline—a ‘metro-style’ high-speed rail vision that aims to redraw the European map.
Tag: Lisbon
Nox night trains: a smart new cabin concept or just an unachievable dream?
Announced in June 2025, the Franco-German night train initiative Nox (Latin for ‘night‘) has drawn immediate comparisons with the defunct start-up Midnight Trains, which folded in 2024. Back-on-Track.eu’s Juri Maier weighs up the viability of Europe‘s latest night train start-up.
West of Ireland to host EuroPride 2028
For the first time, EuroPride will be held on the island of Ireland in 2028. The event will showcase Ireland’s rich culture, heritage, and welcoming spirit; bringing a uniquely rural and inclusive pride experience to the Wild Atlantic Way.
European Commission wants to link all EU capitals by high-speed train by 2040… and that’s not going to happen
On Wednesday 5 November 2025, the European Commission unveiled a comprehensive plan to accelerate the development of high-speed rail across the European Union, offering passengers significantly reduced travel times. By boosting fast, comfortable, safe, and reliable rail services, the plan supports the EU’s twin goals of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050 and strengthening Europe’s global competitiveness.
Brussels Airlines carried nearly 2 million passengers this summer
Brussels Airlines reports a strong 2025 summer season, having transported over 1.9 million passengers on almost 13,000 flights in July and August, a 12% increase compared to 2024. The addition of more aircraft to the fleet enabled the airline to expand capacity and meet high demand.
Brussels Airlines set to transport 1 million passengers during Easter and spring 2025 holiday season
Brussels Airlines is gearing up for the 2025 Easter and spring holidays in Belgium, expecting to transport approximately one million passengers throughout the season. The airline, the fastest-growing carrier within the Lufthansa Group, has increased its capacity by 20% compared to the same period in 2024.
Madrid – Lisbon night train set to return in 2025 ahead of AVE
The governments of Spain and Portugal are advancing negotiations to reactivate the Lusitânia night train, which will reconnect capitals Madrid and Lisbon before the long-awaited AVE high-speed rail.
QUESTION | Should you be scared of travelling to South Korea?
Autumn 2024. Ten years after my first trip to Seoul in 2014, I am returning to the Republic of Korea, better known as South Korea. Not solo this time, but with Oriol, who has never been to Korea. On the itinerary: flying with Qatar Airways to Incheon via Doha, capital Seoul, the historic city of…
Belgium to host Eurovision Song Contest 2026? But in which city?
Coming Saturday, 1 February 2025, a jury and the television watching public will decide will represent Belgium for Flemish public broadcaster VRT at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel in Switzerland. Oddly, Belgium has been on top of the bookmakers’ charts for the outright win. Íf, and it’s a big íf, that happens, which…
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…