NMBS / SNCB to order 180 CAF Civity trains, including battery-powered sets

The Board of Directors of the National Railway Company of Belgium, the NMBS / SNCB, is set to award the contract for the new MR30 / AM30 trains to manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) from the Basque Country in Spain, Thibault Lapers‘ mobilithib blog has learned from a source.

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.

5 September = Benelux Day

Did you know 5 September is Benelux Day? For only the second time, the Benelux countries are officially celebrating Benelux Day, an annual occasion that highlights the deep-rooted partnership between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. 

NMBS / SNCB sees popularity increase of international train travel 

Year after year, Belgian railway operator NMBS / SNCB is seeing growing interest in international train travel during the summer months. Since 2019, the number of bookings via NMBS / SNCB International has increased by more than 50 per cent, the operator says in a press release. 

Introducing the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

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…