Travel
Flight-free travel: the best new European train routes that will launch in 2023 and 2020
The full list of new routes in Europe, arranged by country.
Train travel in Europe is experiencing a boom as the trend towards flight-free travel grows. renaissance.
The latest inter-country link will connect three cities that are not well-known in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
You can reduce your travel costs by changing the way you travel. Carbon footprint. For example, flying between London and Paris emits 14x more CO2 than traveling by train.
Fortunately, many countries in the EU are investing. Railways This new technology provides faster and better connections than ever.
Here are the latest European railways, from budget-friendly night trains to cross-country tracks. Railway routes.
Austria
Nightjet from Vienna to Paris
Austrian national railway company OBB has been a trailblazer in Europe’s sleeper train Nightjet has been bringing back the spirit of revival since 2016. It launched a new route in late 2021. Vienna Paris is reached via Salzburg and Munich.
The journey lasts 14 hours, and is run three times a weeks in both directions. Prices range from EUR30 for a single seat to EUR120 for a private compartment.
In summer 2023 Nightjet New-generation trains will be launched that rival first class flights in terms of comfort. Wireless charging stations, free WiFi, bicycle and ski equipment storage, and private compartments that have their own showers, toilets, and bathrooms are all expected.
Nightjet from Vienna to Genoa, La Spezia and La Spezia
Nightjet’s new timetable for 2023 extended its Vienna/Munich service from Milan to Genoa and La Spezia, Italy. You can continue on to Monaco, Nice, and elsewhere by train. Cinque Terre.
Belgium
European Sleeper: From Amsterdam to Berlin via Brussels
The long-teased European SleeperOn 25 May, a Belgian and Dutch social cooperative launched its first route, from Brussels to Berlin via Amsterdam.
Passengers on the European Sleeper can travel to Paris, London and Warsaw with just one change. The service will be extended to Dresden and Prague in 2024.
****Arriva and SNCB offer a direct service from Liege to Aachen, Maastricht and Maastricht. (December 2023)
A new train service linking Aachen, Germany, Liege, Belgium and Maastricht will be launched.
The project is a collaborative effort between Arriva, a part of the German Deutsche Bahn Group, SNCB (the National Railway Company of Belgium), and NS (Nederlandse Sporwegen).
Czech Republic
CD from Prague to Zurich
In December 2022 the Czech Republic’s national rail operator Ceske drahy launched a new train service. Sleeper service Frankfurt and Basel are included in the route from Prague to Zurich.
You can also find out more about the following: overnight journeyA revival of a service which was closed in 2017 will take less than 14 hours. Travellers can choose from a variety of fares, including six-bed couchettes and deluxe sleeper compartments that include en-suite showers and toilets.
Tickets for a couchette with six beds start at EUR49.90.
France
SNCF trains from Paris to Aurillac (December 2023)
The Paris-Aurillac Night Train, which was taken out of service at the beginning of this century, will be making a comeback in late 2018.
SNCF Voyageurs announced that Le Pyreneen et L’Occitan, night trains, will connect the French capital to the south-central commune as of 10 December 2023.
During the holiday season, a daily train will run between Cantal and the surrounding areas. The rest of the year, the trains will run on Friday and Sunday nights in both directions.
This is part a larger initiative to relaunch night trains in the country, which has included services between Paris and Nice as well as Paris and Lourdes.
TGV from Paris to Berlin (2024)
France and Germany announced a new TGV route between Paris, Germany and Berlin. The route is expected to begin running in 2024.
A trip between the two capitals currently requires travellers to change trains at a different station, such as Cologne or Frankfurt. The new high-speed connection would allow passengers to complete the journey in seven hours.
Midnight Trains from Paris to Venice (2025)
French startup Midnight Trains The European Commission is backing a new night-train service that will connect France and Italy from Paris to Venice, via Milan, starting in 2025. This will make it easier for UK travellers to travel to Italy by train.
Trenitalia: From Paris to Madrid (starts in late 2024)
In December 2022 FS Italiane Group, the owner of Italy’s state-owned national railway Trenitalia, announced plans for a high-speed Frecciarossa Train Connection Between Paris and Madrid.
The new train will connect Paris Barcelona, where a high-speed service already connects the Spanish capital with the city. It is expected to launch by the end of 2024. There are hints that additional services could connect Madrid and Italy via France.
Germany
Snalltaget: From Berlin to Stockholm
Swedish railway company Snalltaget rerouted some of its trains Berlin The train service from Malmo to Stockholm is extended through Hamburg, Denmark and Stockholm. The journey is just under 17 hours long, and prices start at around EUR50 for direct services.
Nightjet from Munich to Genoa & La Spezia
Nightjet’s new timetable for 2023 has extended its Vienna/Munich service from Genoa and La Spezia to Milan. From here, travel to MonacoNice and Cinque Terre are possible.
Nightjet and EuroNight: From Stuttgart to Zagreb, Rijeka and Rijeka
Nightjet’s new schedule for 2023 includes sleeper trains from Munich to Venice, Ljubljana, and Zagreb, starting in Stuttgart, Germany.
The route will also run seasonally to the coastal Croatian The journey takes approximately 15 hours to reach the city of Rijeka.
EuroNight is operated by Croatian Railways HZ, and Slovenian Railways SZ, and the Nightjet service to Venice travels through Munich, Salzburg, and Treviso.
Brussels to Berlin with European sleeper
Details below
Arriva, SNCB, and NS: From Liege to Aachen and Maastricht (December 2023)
Details below
Italy
NTV Italo: From Genoa to Naples
In late 2021, Italian High-speed rail NTV Italo has launched a service in Genoa that connects the port city, located in the northwest of Italy, with the south.
The journey from Genoa Naples It takes about seven hours to get back and costs around EUR80.
Frecciarossa from Milan to Paris
Frecciarossa, the high-speed arm to Italian Trenitalia, the national train operator, has launched a new train between Milan Paris is a great place to visit.
The train is faster and more luxurious than the previous services on this line. It takes just under seven-hours. Tickets start at EUR29, but you can spend more on an executive fare for a comfortable armchair.
Portugal
Porto to Lisbon, Vigo and the Iberian High-Speed Rail Network Construction to begin in 2024
Portugal The government has approved plans to build a high-speed railway line between Lisbon, Porto, and Vigo. It will be a part of a wider Iberian high speed rail network that connects Portugal with Spain.
At the moment, it takes nearly three hours to travel between Porto and Lisbon. The new rail link will reduce the journey time from 2 hours to only 1 hour and 15 minutes. The new line will eventually connect the Portuguese cities to Vigo in Spain.
Netherlands
Amsterdam to Austria with TUI Ski Express
Snow sports Lovers are preparing for the launch of a new overnight rail service between Amsterdam and some Austria’s largest ski resorts.
TUI’s ‘Ski ExpressThe service will leave Amsterdam every Friday between 23 December and the 31 March. After leaving the Dutch capital, at 5:30pm, this service will stop in Utrecht before continuing directly to Austria.
Nightjet from Amsterdam to Zurich
Austrian-led Night Trains Nightjet has launched a new route between Amsterdam and Zurich in late 2021. It departs at 8.30pm, and arrives at 8:05am.
From couchettes (starting at around EUR60) up to sleeper cabins starting at around EUR120, there are many options for sleeping.
Arriva, SNCB, and NS: From Liege to Aachen and Maastricht (December 2023)
Details below
Amsterdam to Barcelona with European sleeper (Spring 2025)
The soon-to-launch Dutch and Belgian train operator European Sleeper is hoping to launch a night train service between Amsterdam and Barcelona Spring 2025. This would greatly improve the north-south rail links in Europe.
Spain
Madrid to Alicante with Ouigo, Avlo, and Iryo
In November 2022, SNCF will own Ouigo Launched a new low-cost, high-speed route between Madrid and Valencia. In summer 2023, it will also be running to Alicante. Tickets will initially cost EUR9 for one-way travel with one suitcase. After the launch period, tickets will cost EUR30.
Aryo, a low-cost operator of Renfe, will launch its own Madrid-Alicante service starting on 27th March at EUR7. Iryo will launch the same service on 2nd June.
In 2023-2024, Ouigo plans on expanding its service to Cordoba and Seville.
Barcelona to Madrid with Iryo
Traveling between SpainThis new high-speed train service from Iryo will make the journey between’s capital city and its top tourist destination faster and cheaper by November 2022.
Iryo, a consortium formed by Air Nostrum of Spain and Trenitalia of Italy, runs 16 return trains between Barcelona and Madrid every day. The journey takes just 2.5 hours and costs only EUR18.
The low-cost rail service will launch a new service between 31 March 2023. MalagaThe journey between Madrid and Cordoba takes three hours. Avlo, Renfe’s Avlo, will link Madrid to Malaga and Seville from June 2023.
Renfe: From Madrid to Marseille via Barcelona (starts in mid-2023)
In 2023, the state-owned rail network of Spain will launch new high speed AVE services from France. The trains will initially run alternate days, but later they will be increased to twice daily.
Renfe from Barcelona to Lyon via Montpellier & Nimes (mid 2023)
Renfe plans to extend its rail services into France, including a new route between Barcelona and Lyon that will be launched later this year.
By the end of this year, we expect to see more routes to Paris.
Slovenia
Hungarian Railways: Ljubljana-Budapest
The Hungarian Railways train will launch in December 2021 from Ljubljana to Budapest. Hungary The scenic route runs through Graz, Austria. The journey takes about 7.5 hours, and prices as low as EUR16 per way.
Sweden
SJ EuroNight: From Stockholm to Hamburg
The Stockholm Central to Hamburg-Altona train will be launched in September 2022. Night train It is powered by renewable energies. It departs daily from 5.30pm to arrive at 6.30am.
The cheapest option (starting at EUR25) is a seat on a carriage. A bed in a compartment shared starts at EUR45. A private compartment with sink for two people starts at EUR165. Private compartments with a shower, toilet, and breakfast are available for up to three people starting at EUR205. Pet-friendly There are also compartments for trains.
The service can be used in conjunction with existing Eurostar or Deutsche Bahn services to travel from London Stockholm in less than 24 Hours
Switzerland
Nightjet from Zurich to Rome
Nightjet announced at a press conference in 2020 that it will launch a brand new night flight. Trains Zurich and Rome will be connected in winter 2022. It remains to be determined whether the plans will proceed as planned. The operator’s only option is to use the existing network. Rome The routes include Vienna, Salzburg Villach and Munich.
UK
London to Bordeaux via HS1 (approximately 2026)
High Speed 1 (HS1) in the UK, which operates the Channel Tunnel rail line, is preparing to launch a brand new route from London. Passengers must travel through Paris in order to reach the French wine region. The journey takes almost six hours. The new line will bypass Paris and reduce travel time to five hours.
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Travel
Sicilian town bans Mafia souvenirs to clean up its image before it becomes 2025 capital of culture
The ban comes as Agrigento readies itself to be Italy’s capital of culture next year and aims to shine the spotlight on its cultural riches rather than Mafia heritage.
In souvenir shops around the Italian island of Sicily, you’ll often find Mafia-themed merchandise from magnets and t-shirts to bottle openers and shot glasses.
The Sicilian mafia continues to operate on the island, engaging in criminal activities like extortion, narcotrafficking and kidnapping.
Agrigento is a town in southern Sicily still struggling with Mafia control – and it is also set to be the Italian Capital of Culture in 2025.
In a bid to change its international image and crack down on the glamourisation of the criminal organisation, the town has decided to ban the sale of Mafia-themed souvenirs.
Francesco Miccichè, the mayor of Agrigento, has brought in a ban on the sale of souvenirs that feature the Mafia.
It is common to find images and symbols of the underworld organisation on merchandise, including Sicilians in traditional dress holding a sawn-off shotgun known as a ‘lupara’.
The ordinance hopes to change the way tourists see the town and send a clear message that the activities of the criminal organisation are not condoned by local authorities.
“Considering that the sale of such products in the territory of Agrigento humiliates the local community, which has been committed to spreading the culture of legality for years, I order a ban on the sale of any type of object that praises, or refers in any way and form, to the mafia and organised crime,” the mayor told Italian press.
The local police force has been given powers to inspect gift shops in the town and issue fines if prohibited products are found. How much businesses will have to pay has not yet been confirmed.
Agrigento cleans up its images as it prepares to be Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2025
The ban comes as Agrigento readies itself to be Italy’s capital of culture next year and aims to shine the spotlight on its cultural riches rather than Mafia heritage.
The city council says the cultural programme will include 44 new projects which explore humans’ relationship with nature.
One of the most important events will be a concert by the Italian operatic pop trio Il Volo at the Valley of the Temples.
Tourists already flock to this UNESCO heritage site with archaeological remains that date back to when the island was an Ancient Greek colony in the 6th and 5th centuries BC.
The city proper is a palimpsest of ancient, medieval, Baroque and modern architecture and there is a noteworthy archaeological museum.
Author
Digital nomads may be unwelcome in many places but one area of Spain is luring them with grants.
Once considered beneficial to a community, digital nomads have become unwelcome in many areas of Europe, accused of aggravating gentrification and pricing out the local population.
But one region of Spain is still keen to host remote workers – so much so that it is offering financial aid to those who relocate there.
Extremadura, an autonomous community bordering Portugal, is one of Spain’s lesser visited regions but nevertheless is home to wild nature reserves, fauna-filled mountain ranges and a capital scattered with Roman ruins.
Here’s who is eligible for the grant to move to Extremadura and how to apply.
You can get paid to be a digital nomad in Spain’s Extremadura
The regional government of Extremadura is offering digital nomads up to €15,000 to move to the area.
The autonomous community has one of the lowest populations in Spain and is one of the least-developed regions. It has one of the country’s lowest GDPs per capita and one of the highest rates of unemployment at 17.6 per cent compared to the national average of 11.9 per cent.
To bolster both the population and the economy, authorities in Extremadura have earmarked €2 million that will be used to aid the relocation of 200 remote workers and digital nomads to the region.
As well as receiving financial aid, digital nomads can enjoy a low cost of living compared to many other areas in Spain. When compared with the Spanish capital Madrid, the Extremadurian city of Badajoz costs on average 30 per cent less for meals out, public transport and utilities, according to Numbeo.
According to regional authorities, Extremadura lacks in transport infrastructure but has above national average fibre optic and mobile coverage.
Who can apply for Extremadura’s digital nomad grants?
Extremadura is targeting remote workers who are highly qualified professionals in the tech industry.
You must be able to work completely remotely and online “through the exclusive use of media and IT systems, telematics and information fields.”
Those who wish to apply have to commit to maintaining a remote job and living in Extremadura for at least two years.
Both those living in other regions of Spain and those living abroad are eligible as long as they have not lived in Extremadura in the previous six months.
Foreign nationals may apply, but must be resident legally in Spain and be in possession of a foreign identity number (NIE) as found on their green EU certificate or non-EU TIE card.
Non-EU nationals can also apply as long as they are already participating in Spain’s digital nomad visa scheme.
Those not in possession of a digital nomad visa would need to apply for this first and have it approved by Spanish authorities as well as obtain a residency document before applying for the Extremadura scheme.
How much funding will digital nomads receive?
Women, young people under 30 years old and those who relocate to towns in Extremadura with populations less than 5,000 are eligible for a €10,000 grant. Others will receive €8,000.
After two years, those in the first category who choose to stay on another year will receive a second payment of €5,000 while the others will be given €4,000.
When can digital nomads apply for the Extremadura grant?
The date when applications open has not yet been confirmed but authorities say it will be the day after publication of the scheme in the Official Gazette of Extremadura, likely to be around mid-September.
Authorities say applications will stay open until all the funds to cover around 200 digital nomads have been allocated which will be no less than a month but no more than a year.
How can digital nomads apply for the Extremadura grant?
Applications have to be submitted electronically using the Extremadura General Electronic Access Point. Applicants need to be in possession of a digital certificate or electronic Spanish ID card which allows for electronic identification.
You must submit your application form along with an official document issued by your country or another region in Spain to prove your current place of residence and a certificate from your employer authorising you to work in Extremadura or remotely in Spain or, if you are self-employed, a document detailing the terms and conditions in which you will carry out your professional activity remotely.
If you are moving from another Spanish region, you will need an original report supplied by the General Treasury of Social Security showing you are up to date with social security payments, a document certifying you are up to date with your tax payments and a certificate proving you don’t have any debts with the Treasury of Extremadura.
Documents not in Spanish need to be accompanied by a sworn legal translation certified by a professional.
Applicants will hear within three months if they have been successful.
Those successful need to register with a municipality in Extremadura to get a padrón certificate (a local record for people residing in a Spanish municipality) within three months.
After this, you have a month to request payment of the grant, which will be made in a single transaction.
Author
The latest generation of scanners allows passengers to carry electronic devices and liquids without quantity restrictions, but the European Commission questions their reliability and calls for a temporary restoration of the previous model.
Passing through airport security can be a tedious part of the air travel process but some European airports had managed to speed it up thanks to the installation of state-of-the-art scanners, which allow passengers to carry electronic devices and cosmetics of any quantity in their luggage without having to take them out.
But despite the equipment’s positive reception, Brussels recently called for a return to the previous model of limiting liquid containers to 100 milliliters.
Efficient but insufficient
The C3 EDSCB technology, as these advanced scanners are called, displays high-resolution three-dimensional images of baggage contents from CT scans and can easily detect explosive components in all kinds of cosmetics, liquids or electronic devices.
Passengers therefore don’t need to open suitcases or take out some of their belongings, which can create delays, and only have to pass through a metal detector.
But its effectiveness was called into question by a technical report that the Commission sent to the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) last May, according to which the software of these scanners cannot guarantee their reliability for containers with a content of more than 330 milliliters.
Then on July 31, Brussels announced the decision to apply “temporary” restrictions to these C3 explosives detection systems as a “precautionary measure” until “certain technical problems are solved”, a Commission spokesperson said. Officially, however, “the Commission has not changed its opinion on the quality of this new generation of scanners and their performance has not been called into question”, the spokesman added.
Airports already using the C3 model will now have to switch back to the traditional X-ray scanner, whose technology is insufficient to show in detail the interior of objects and thus detect explosive material in liquids.
Financial losses for airports
These new scanners are “eight times more expensive” with maintenance costs “four times higher”, so airports that have already invested in these new scanners to improve the passenger experience “will be heavily penalised, as the benefits associated with the use of this state-of-the-art technology will hardly materialise”, the Airports Council International Europe (ACI) said in a statement.
“Security is non-negotiable, it is one of the top priorities of European airports. Therefore, all airports will fully comply with the new restriction. However, airports that have been early adopters of this new technology are being heavily penalised, both operationally and financially,” ACI director general Olivier Jankovec said.
“The decision to now impose significant restrictions on its use calls into question the confidence that the industry can place in the current EU certification system for aviation security equipment,” he added.
Most of the passengers interviewed by Euronews at Zaventem airport in Belgium said they were used to not travelling with liquids and trying to leave electronic devices at home, so this change in regulations would not affect them too much. Those who had encountered the high-tech C3 scanners or the advanced body scanners at an airport, however, recognised a fundamental difference in the ease with which they gained access to boarding gates.
Nevertheless, the response is unanimous among airport staff and travelers alike: everyone wants to start their holiday as soon as possible and as easily as possible. To this end, those who have decided to postpone their break in September should make sure that sun cream and beauty products do not take up more than 100 milliliters if they do not want to waste any more of their free time at an airport checkpoint.
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