On Trains & Buses

Prix Versailles has announced its selection of seven exceptional railway stations that opened recently across the globe, recognising architectural excellence in transport infrastructure. The honoured stations span four continents, with locations in Sydney, Belgium, Guangzhou, two in Paris, and two in Riyadh.

European Sleeper, a Dutch night train operator, will launch a new Paris to Berlin service starting on 26^th March 2026, following the discontinuation of ÖBB and SNCF Nightjet services on this route on 15^th December 2025. The trains will run three times a week in each direction, with departures from Paris on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and return journeys on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

This development follows the company’s earlier launch of a seasonal Brussels to Venice route and its existing year-round service connecting Brussels and Prague. The operator is also considering future expansion to either Switzerland and Milan or Barcelona from Amsterdam and Brussels.

A Swiss mobility start‑up, Twiliner, will introduce a new sleeper bus service in November that offers comfortable, lie‑flat seats on two inaugural routes from Zurich, a twelve-hour one to Amsterdam and a fourteen-hour one to Barcelona. The former of these also calls at Basel, Luxembourg, Brussels and Rotterdam, while the latter only serves Bern and Girona. Toilet facilities, free coffee, water, Wi-Fi and a snack bar are also available.

The railway line between Stoke-on-Trent/Wilmslow and Stockport, part of the West Coast Main Line, will undergo a complete closure from 2^nd to 22^nd August 2025 inclusive. This cause is the replacement of the Greek Street bridge in Stockport, built in 1958, with a new structure having an expected lifespan of 120 years.

Rail replacement buses will connect Macclesfield with Stockport, Wilmslow and Stoke-on-Trent during this time. Journey times from Macclesfield will increase: 70 minutes for Manchester and 50 minutes for Stoke-on-Trent. Users from elsewhere will benefit from the validity of rail tickets on temporary Bee Network buses provided by TfGM.

Eurostar plans to increase its services in the coming months and years. From 9^th September 2025, there will be four daily direct trains between London and Amsterdam, rising to five trains a day by mid-December, with journey times remaining at under four hours. The company’s winter service to the French Alps will continue to run from December to March or April each season. Looking further ahead, direct services to Geneva and Frankfurt are to launch in December 2026, pending infrastructure and fleet readiness.

Nox Mobility, a Berlin-based startup, aims to revolutionise night trains across Europe, and it plans to launch its first routes in 2027. The trains will feature fully private cabins, including single and double occupancy options, with prices starting from €79 for a private single cabin and €75 per person for a double cabin. The company aims to connect major Western and Central European cities with journey times of under 12 hours, directly competing with short flights, and intends to serve than 100 interconnected cities by 2035.

The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has announced a £15 billion investment in transport infrastructure across England, with a focus on tram, train and bus projects in mayoral authorities in the Midlands, North and West Country. The funding will be allocated over five years from 2027 to 2032, with major investments including £2.5 billion for Greater Manchester’s tram network and £2.4 billion for the West Midlands. Other regions set to benefit include South Yorkshire, Liverpool, the North East, West of England, Tees Valley and East Midlands, with projects aimed at improving road, rail and bus connections.

Changes are being made to school bus services for Calday Grange Grammar School and West Kirby Grammar School from 11^th May. The 670 route’s 08:00 journey has been renumbered to 670A and now follows a different path along Quarry Road East and Irby Road, no longer serving Delavor Road or Banks Road. Additionally, the 674 morning journey now begins at Borough Road, South Road, while for West Kirby Grammar School, the 672 afternoon journey has been extended to terminate at Borough Road, Prenton Road West.

Cheshire East Council launched an enhanced bus saver pass offering young people aged 16-19 a £1 flat fare for single journeys across the borough. This is valid all day on local bus services for journeys that start or finish within Cheshire East. Care leavers aged 16-22 are entitled to free travel with the pass. Young people can apply online via the Council’s website by providing proof of identity and age, with the only other requirement being residence in Cheshire East. The passes are valid until October 2026 or until the holder’s 20^th birthday (23^rd for care leavers). The scheme, delivered by the Cheshire East Bus Partnership with participation from all local bus operators, aims to encourage more people to use public transport.

A new complimentary hop-on hop-off shuttle bus service has launched in north Clare, connecting major attractions with local towns and villages. The Burren and Cliffs Explorer, jointly developed by Clare County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, aims to disperse over one million visitors across the region’s protected landscape. Running until August as a pilot scheme with a potential extension into September, this sustainability-focused initiative encourages visitors to leave their cars behind, helping to support local economies while protecting the environment for future generations.