A couple of weeks ago, I subscribed to Back on Track’s mailing list, and it was a bit like jumping into a rabbit hole and tumbling out into a parallel universe.

Back on Track describe themselves as a European network to support European cross-border passenger train traffic and in particular the night trains.

It is hard to get a feel for just how dynamic the subject of European trains is from outside the rabbit hole, so if you have not yet taken the leap, let me tempt you with a bunch of articles on improving the European train network. All published in only the last few weeks!

The articles below were listed in Back on Track’s email sent on 20 July, 2019. You’ll need a web page translator to get some of these into your language of choice. Enjoy!

• Big crowds on night trains from Switzerland to the rest of Europe. Lots of trains are fully booked weeks in advance. (10 July)

• The environmentally aware generation is looking for alternatives to flying - Switzerland. (10 July)

• Zurich Airport has had decreased passenger numbers two months running for the first time since 2009! Is it a statistical blip, or is something else happening? Love the phrase invented by the journalist from CH Media: “Greta instead of Crete!” (19 June)

• A look at the relative prices of train and plane tickets, and the unsustainability of very cheap plane tickets. (11 July)

• In Germany last year, 690,000 summer holiday trips were made by rail, more than 100,000 more than in the previous year. (15 July)

• An interview with a feisty Austrian Green Party politician on night trains to Italy and the problem with low-cost airlines. (17 July)

If you feel inspired, join Back on Track’s mailing list. You can even become a member if you want to be more involved!