Belfast-Dublin trains to receive a multimillion-euro upgrade
The existing fleet of Enterprise trains for the cross-border service will be replaced by eight new, more sustainable trains running on electricity and battery power.
The upgrade will cut train travel times between the two cities from two and a half hours to under two hours. The service will also be more accessible and improve the passenger experience.
The project is funded by the PEACEPLUS programme, a partnership between the EU, UK, and Ireland. PEACEPLUS said the project would pave the way for an hourly train service between Belfast and Dublin. The new trains will begin operating in 2029.
Italy creates three-day rail pass
Italy has launched a three-day unlimited rail pass for €29 (R585) on all regional trains. Additionally, it has launched a five-day unlimited rail pass for €49 (R985).
The tickets cover trips to almost all the cities and towns in the region but does not include travel to Cinque Terre or Bolzano.
The ticket offers trips to and between Venice, Verona, Mantova, Modena, Bologna, Mantua, Rome, Florence, Arezzo, Assisi, Perugia, Lamezia Terme, Tropea, Scilla, Reggio Calabria, Messina, Taormina-Giardini and Catania.
France trials monthly rail pass
During July and August, France will trial a €49 (R985) monthly rail pass for travellers under the age of 27.
The pass will allow unlimited travel on TER and Intercity trains but will exclude high-speed TGV trains and the network outside the Ile-de-France region.
Popular TER routes include Bordeaux to Arcachon, normally €13 (R260), and Marseille to Toulon, €14 (R280). A less than four-hour trip from Lyon to Marseille is another option, and a one-way ticket often costs more than the price of the new rail pass.
Popular intercity train routes include Bordeaux to Montpellier, and the rail pass would also save money on a return trip.
Turkey launches sightseeing train
Turkey’s train service provider, TCDD Transportation Inc., has announced that, after a successful trial, it will launch regular Mesopotamia Express train tours on April 19.
The Mesopotamia Express train is equipped with nine sleeping cars and one dining carriage and can accommodate 180 passengers.
The cabins sleep two people, and prices start at TRY9 000 (R5 163) for the outbound journey and TRY8 000 (R4 590) for the return trip.
The 1 051km journey passes towns and cities with heritage sites and offers tours to some of the attractions to teach foreign tourists about their history and culture. Additionally, during the stops, travellers can taste local cuisine.
Destinations on the itinerary include Kayseri, Malatya, and Elaziğ, home to attractions such as 13th-century Seljuk-era sites, the Hunat Hatun Mosque complex, and Arslantepe Mound – a Unesco World Heritage Site.
