Those who love to city-hop across Europe will be elated to hear that three under-the-radar cities – Aachen in Germany, Liège in Belgium and Maastricht in the Netherlands – will soon be linked by one train service. The new route joins the evergrowing list of new train lines launching across the continent and will give you the chance to see some of Europe’s smaller cities on one direct route.
The three-country service, which follows a perfectly triangular route between the cities, is set to run once every hour starting from December 2023. It will be run jointly by train companies Arriva, SNCB and NS.
If you haven't visited these must-see spots before, here’s a rundown. Aachen, a quaint spa town located right on the border of all three countries, is known for being the home to northern Europe’s oldest cathedral, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Liège, located just an hour away from Brussels, is a haven of medieval landmarks like the romanesque Church of St Bartholomew. Finally, Maastricht, with its cobbled old town, gothic Sint Janskerk church, and quintessentially Dutch architecture, is sure to steal your heart.
Despite being quite close to one another, getting between these three cities has historically been a bit of a faff, with passengers having to change at Maastricht. But, after finally getting the green light from the three countries’ transport ministries after almost four years of planning, the project to link up these exciting spots is well underway. Here’s to seeing more of Europe’s underrated destinations – and long may Europe’s train renaissance continue.
Did you hear that the EU is giving away 35,000 free train tickets for travel across Europe?
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