Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
With a new projected connection to Sweden, Finland will no longer be Europe’s railway island
Finland has been part of the EU since 1995 and recently became NATO’s newest member, yet you might be surprised to know that its only cross-border railway link was to neighbouring Russia. At least until last year, when train services between Helsinki and St. Petersburg were suspended in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The good news is that the country is poised to finally be linked to the rest of Europe by rail after a horizon has been announced for the completion of a railway connection between Laurila (Finland) and the nearby Swedish town of Haparanda. Both of these localities are located in the north, which is also where the two countries share a border with a length of 545 kilometres.
And since Laurila is located in Lapland that basically means that finally, you’d be able to hop on a train anywhere in Europe and eventually work your way around to reach Santa Claus' homeland in the comfort of a railway car.
The plans to link both Nordic countries by rail date back to 2021, and preparatory work for the electrification of the line to allow this to happen is set to start this month. The hope is that the improved connection and availability of this public transit mode will inspire more people to venture up North in the comfort of a train.
“I think that train travel is something that is more and more in demand, and we haven’t been able to offer that from international destinations so far,” said Nina Forsell, Executive Manager at the Finnish Lapland Tourist Board, as quoted by Euronews.
Some time ago, a proposed Arctic railway connecting Finland to Norway was halted after protests by the Sami community over the impact the project would have on reindeer.
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
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It will serve as a virtual companion to the municipal network of libraries in the country
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Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
The city thinks that it’s time to update pet-related street cleanliness rules for the 21st century
Yes, you guessed it right, that also includes baguettes and cheeses
Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
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Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
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