Three short years ago when planning the first tour that was known as #CrossBorderRail, little did I know this would be the start of a project that would become a good part of my professional life in the years in between. That list of 95 rail borders investigated in 2022 has now grown to 289 at the time of writing, all of them mapped here. But that means there are not that many international railway lines in Europe that are still worth visiting.
But there are enough – over 80 more lines – for one final big tour, with the focus on the EU’s external borders (towards Ukraine and Moldova), and a bunch of central European lines that I am missing so far. The Hungary-Romania border, now Romania has joined Schengen, looks particularly interesting. And I am missing two Norway-Sweden borders, so I have added those as well. And having not been able to take it last year, I am even managing to ride on the the legendary Optima Express from Turkey to Austria.
The aim now, as before, is to identify shortcomings with international railway connections, and formulate proposals as to how to overcome those shortcomings. And do that by visiting the places, speaking to local people, and photographing what I discover in these places.
The tour will start 6th June and will be split into two parts – with a week of rest in France in between the two halves. As before there will be events throughout the trip, although likely fewer than in previous tours, as more of this year’s routes are in very isolated rural areas, and in countries where my network is weak. As ever I will have the folding bike with me to get to the places I cannot reach by public transport. And the whole thing will be crowd funded as in previous years – crowd-funding will start in early May.
What can you do to help with the project?
My detailed route plan including a complete timetable can be found here – PLANNED.xlsx, tab “Central Europe Finale”, and the detailed zoomable map of the route is here. Am I passing your town or city? If so could you host me (saves having to crowd-fund nights in hostels or hotels), or organise a small event? Even just gathering a few people over a coffee or a beer is great. Is there something with the route that you think I could improve? Bear in mind this is research – any nice places I see are simply a bonus! Or do you want to come along for a few days of the tour? Or do you have something you think I ought to know about a particular border or particular line? Whichever it is, I’d like to hear from you!
Approximate list of c. 80 further borders that will be investigated
Deutschkreutz 🇦🇹 – Harka 🇭🇺
Hodoš 🇸🇮 – Bajansenye 🇭🇺
Loipersbach-Schattendorf 🇦🇹 – Sopron 🇭🇺
Lutzmannsburg 🇦🇹 – Répcevis 🇭🇺
Mogersdorf 🇦🇹 – Szentgotthárd 🇭🇺
Pamhagen 🇦🇹 – Fertőszéplak 🇭🇺
Rattersdorf 🇦🇹 – Köszeg 🇭🇺
Schachendorf 🇦🇹 – Torony 🇭🇺
Spielfeld-Straß 🇦🇹 – Šentilj 🇸🇮
Carei – Tiborszállás 🇭🇺
Episcopia Bihor 🇷🇴 – Biharkeresztes 🇭🇺
Episcopia Bihor 🇷🇴 – Nagykereki 🇭🇺
Oar 🇷🇴 – Csenger 🇭🇺
Peles 🇷🇴 – Zajta 🇭🇺
Sacuieni Bihor 🇷🇴 – Létavértes 🇭🇺
Salonta 🇷🇴 – Kötegyán 🇭🇺
Valea lui Mihai 🇷🇴 – Nyírábrány 🇭🇺
Borša 🇸🇰 – Sátoraljaújhely 🇭🇺
Bušince 🇸🇰 – Nógrádszakál 🇭🇺
Cieszyn 🇵🇱 – Ceský Tešín 🇨🇿
Fratres 🇦🇹 – Slavonice 🇨🇿
Glucholazy 🇵🇱 – Jindrichov ve Slezsku 🇨🇿
Glucholazy 🇵🇱 – Mikulovice u Jeseníku 🇨🇿
Hodonín zastávka 🇨🇿 – Holíc nad Moravou 🇸🇰
Javorník nad Velickou zastávka 🇨🇿 – Vrbovce 🇸🇰
Komárno 🇸🇰 – Komárom 🇭🇺
Krzanowice Poludniowe 🇵🇱 – Chuchelná 🇨🇿
Laa an der Thaya 🇦🇹 – Hevlín 🇨🇿
Lenartovce 🇸🇰 – Bánréve 🇭🇺
Lucenec 🇸🇰 – Ipolytarnóc 🇭🇺
Lupków 🇵🇱 – Medzilaborce mesto 🇸🇰
Miedzylesie 🇵🇱 – Lichkov 🇨🇿
Mosty u Jablunkova zastávka 🇨🇿 – Svrcinovec zastávka 🇸🇰
Pietrowice Glubczyckie 🇵🇱 – Krnov 🇨🇿
Podczerwone 🇵🇱 – Suchá Hora 🇸🇰
Šahy 🇸🇰 – Drégelypalánk 🇭🇺
Šiatorská Bukovinka 🇸🇰 – Somoskoújfalu 🇭🇺
Slovenské Nové Mesto 🇸🇰 – Sátoraljaújhely 🇭🇺
Sudomerice nad Moravou 🇨🇿 – Skalica na Slovensku 🇸🇰
Summerau 🇦🇹 – Horní Dvorište 🇨🇿
Turna nad Bodvou 🇸🇰 – Tornanádaska 🇭🇺
Unterretzbach 🇦🇹 – Šatov 🇨🇿
Zwardon 🇵🇱 – Skalité-Serafínov 🇸🇰
Kapitan Andreevo 🇧🇬 – Kapikule 🇹🇷
Marasia 🇬🇷 – Karaagaç 🇹🇷
Nea Vyssa 🇬🇷 – Karaagaç 🇹🇷
Negru Voda 🇷🇴 – Kardam 🇧🇬
Pythio 🇬🇷 – Uzunköprü 🇹🇷
Bakosh 🇺🇦 – Eperjeske Rendező 🇭🇺
Basarabeasca 🇲🇩 – 121 km 🇺🇦
Basarabeasca 🇲🇩 – Serpneve 🇺🇦
Câmpulung la Tisa 🇷🇴 – Teresva 🇺🇦
Chop 🇺🇦 – Čierna nad Tisou 🇸🇰
Chop 🇺🇦 – Záhony 🇭🇺
Dilove 🇺🇦 – Valea Viseului 🇷🇴
Dorohusk 🇵🇱 – Yahodyn 🇺🇦
Falciu 🇷🇴 – Prut-2 🇲🇩
Galati 🇷🇴 – Giurgiulesti 🇲🇩
Giugiulesti 🇲🇩 – Remi Main 🇺🇦
Halmeu 🇷🇴 – Nevetlenfolu 🇺🇦
Hrebenne 🇵🇱 – Piddubne 🇺🇦
Hrebenne 🇵🇱 – Rava Ruska 🇺🇦
Hrubieszów 🇵🇱 – Izov 🇺🇦
Krościenko 🇵🇱 – Smolnica 🇺🇦
Malhowice 🇵🇱 – Nyzhankovychi 🇺🇦
Mamalyha 🇺🇦 – Criva 🇲🇩 – Lipcani 🇲🇩 – Iwaniwzi 🇺🇦 – Ocnița 🇲🇩
Medyka 🇵🇱 – Shehyni 🇺🇦
Otaci 🇲🇩 – Mohyliv-Podilskyi 🇺🇦
Rybnitsa 🇲🇩 – Klymentove 🇺🇦
Tiraspol 🇲🇩 – Kuchurgan 🇺🇦
Ungheni Prut 🇷🇴 – Ungheni 🇲🇩
Uzhhorod 🇺🇦 – Maťovské Vojkovce 🇸🇰
Vadul Siret 🇺🇦 – Vicsani 🇷🇴
Werchrata 🇵🇱 – Rava-Rus’ka 🇺🇦
Gries 🇦🇹 – Brennero 🇮🇹
Griesen 🇩🇪 – Ehrwald Zugspitzbahn 🇦🇹
Mittenwald 🇩🇪 – Scharnitz 🇦🇹
Pfronten-Steinach 🇩🇪 – Vils in Tirol Stadt 🇦🇹
Charlottenberg 🇸🇪 – Magnor 🇳🇴
Riksgränsen 🇸🇪 – Bjørnfell 🇳🇴
Future Line – Nauders 🇦🇹 – Reschen 🇮🇹
Future Line – Nauders 🇦🇹 – Scuol-Tarasp 🇨🇭
