March 2025. We’re embarking on a train trip to Sicily. We fly from Brussels Airport to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport with ITA Airways. Then we take an Intercity Notte sleeper train by Trenitalia from Roma Termini Railway Station across Italy to Syracuse. Yes, the train is loaded on a ferry to cross the…
Tag: Nederlandse Spoorwegen
BELGIUM | NMBS / SNCB confirms CAF as preferred bidder for AM30
On 23 July 2025, Belgium‘s state-owned railway company NMBS / SNCB has reaffirmed Spanish train manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) as the “preferred bidder” for its major train order, despite ongoing criticism from trade unions and politicians over the impact on local employment.
TRAINS IN LUXEMBOURG | CFL’s Alstom Coradia Stream HC ‘Série 2400’
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…
VIDEO | NS present CAF Civity Duo ‘Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie’, poised to be the NMBS / SNCB AM30
Today, 5 March 2025, the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) present its Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie or Double-Decker New Generation. This train is a Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) Civity Duo. This type of train is poised to become the NMBS / SNCB‘s AM30 / MR30. A coincidence? Probably.
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.
Dutch budget train GoVolta postponed after not getting funds
Dutch start-up train operator GoVolta will not be able to start train services this year after Rabobank decided against granting the new rail company a loan. The train paths (‘slots’ on the rails) allocated for GoVolta’s budget trains to Berlin in Germany, Copenhagen in Denmark and Basel in Switzerland have now been returned.
EUROSTAR | Amsterdam – London connection restored from February 2025
From 10 February 2025, Eurostar will again run trains between Amsterdam Central Station to London St. Pancras. Engineering works in Amsterdam prevents this connection at the moment. Earlier, Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave threatened to leave the Netherlands altogether.
Benelux fast EuroCity Direct and slow(er) EuroCity from 15 December 2024
The train service between Belgium and the Netherlands doubles from December 2024, with significant travel time savings. NMBS / SNCB issued a press release.
Benelux trains to be rebranded EuroCity Direct and EuroCity, allowing new market position
The train service between Brussels and Amsterdam which is nowadays known as ‘the Benelux‘ in Belgium, will be (re)named EuroCity Direct and EuroCity, the Dutch train enthusiasts website Treinreiziger.nl reports.
Eurostar CEO threatens to leave the Netherlands
In an open letter on 18 September 2024 in the Dutch newspaper Financieel Dagblad, Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave has threatened to leave the Netherlands. She complains Dutch politics lack interest in international travellers. State Secretary for Public Transport and the Environment Chris Jansen (PVV) said in a response to Treinreiziger.nl that he is in talks…