Railjet service ‘Vindobona’ connecting Vienna, Prague and Berlin back this summer
The Railjet train service 258/259, named Vindobona, celebrated its revival in 2020 after being discontinued since 2014. Soon after, however, travellers were left disappointed as the full route was temporarily affected by the construction activities...Read more
Former SBB and NS fleet managers create a ‘Boeing 737 on rails’ with leasing startup
interviewLeasing a passenger train that can be used in almost all of Europe, in a flexible way. Currently impossible, but Axel Kiese and Albert Koch, formerly fleet managers at SBB and NS, want to change...Read more
Arriva and Qbuzz request access for trains between the Netherlands and Paris
Competition for the Thalys between the Netherlands and Paris may just arrive within several years. Both Arriva and Qbuzz have officially requested to operate trains in open access to Paris. Qbuzz also made a request...Read more
‘Belgium’s approach to encouraging night trains should be emulated across Europe’
The Belgian measure in which night train operators will pay nothing for track access fees and energy over the next two years should be adopted across Europe, says ALLRAIL, which represents new entrants in passenger...Read more
European Sleeper’s first night train is a fact
The dream has come true for founders Elmer van Buuren and Chris Engelsman: the first night train of their start up European Sleeper set off last Thursday night from Berlin to Brussels. Despite the bureaucratic...Read more
FlixTrain plan trains to the Netherlands from next year
FlixTrain’s bright green trains that are already running in Germany and Sweden may come to the Netherlands next year. Flix notified the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority (ACM) this week and applied for track capacity...Read moreA real night train renaissance? Join the discussion on RailTech Belgium
After decades of decline for night trains, there is momentum again with various new night train start-ups popping up and renewed interest from the public. But will there be a true night train comeback? And...Read more
Night train can be cheaper than flying, UK consumer organisation finds
Taking a night train can be cheaper than taking a flight, new research by on-profit UK consumer organisation Which? has found. This applies mostly to groups or families. Especially when such items as baggage costs...Read more
Interrail will not be banned on ICEs Netherlands-Germany this summer
NS International and Deutsche Bahn have decided that seat reservations for ICE trains between the countries will be mandatory between 17 June and 18 August this summer. Overcrowded trains caused problems last summer and a...Read more
Czech Gepard Express wins tender Brno – Vienna service over RegioJet
Offering a lower price and shorter travel time, operator Gepard Express has won the tender for the direct rail connection between Brno and Vienna International Airport in favour of current operator RegioJet. Operations will start...Read more
Could there be a direct train from Switzerland to London?
Swiss parliament member Matthias Aebische is calling on the Federal Council to examine with France and Great Britain how a direct Basel-London daily train connection can be created.Read more
Dutch Railways considers banning Interrail from ICEs to Germany this summer
Due to overcrowded trains last summer, Dutch Railways (NS) is considering banning Interrail passengers from ICE trains to Germany this summer. The direct Amsterdam-Berlin intercity remains unaffected. “We cannot prevent a lot of people boarding...Read more
EU to back new cross-border pilots by European Sleeper, SJ, Eurostar, among others
The European Commission will support 10 pilot project for new cross-border services and the improvement of existing ones, it announced on Tuesday. Among the proposals selected are those by night train startup European Sleeper, the...Read more