All change on London's famous Oxford Street

Oxford Street in London, one of the most famous shopping precincts in the world, will begin a major pedestrianisation project later this month. 

From October 26, close to a kilometre of the shopping thoroughfare will be closed to all vehicles ahead of the busy Christmas shopping season.

No buses. No taxis. I see anger ahead.

The first phase will cover the stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, with buses, taxis, bicycles and other vehicles all banned to create a pedestrian plaza in one of Europe’s busiest retail districts, news hub Travel Mole reports.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the transformation would help strengthen Oxford Street’s appeal to shoppers, businesses and visitors, with the new traffic-free zone marking the beginning of a wider regeneration plan.

The project aims to establish a greener public space where major international retailers sit alongside new workplaces, leisure attractions and cultural events. 

Future activities could include sports, fashion and other entertainment experiences, expanding Oxford Street’s role beyond traditional shopping.

Khan said the project had received strong support from Londoners and businesses, describing it as an opportunity to create a world-class pedestrian destination and reinforce the street’s position as a leading retail and leisure location.

But  the plan faces opposition from Westminster City Council, which has raised concerns about the practical implications of removing traffic from the main thoroughfare.

Tim Barnes, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for growth and planning, said that although a timetable had finally been announced, significant questions remained about how the scheme would operate.

The council wants urgent clarification on vehicle access, air pollution, street cleaning and public safety. It also fears that traffic displaced from Oxford Street could spill into smaller surrounding roads, potentially increasing congestion and creating environmental and economic problems for nearby communities and businesses.

I wonder how shoppers laden with Christmas presents will react to finding they can't hail a taxi. 

Dual pricing raises its ugly head in Bangkok

Dual pricing is one of the Thai tourism industry's dirty little secrets.

No matter where you come from you are likely to be paying more than locals. Unofficially, sometimes officially. 

Reasons: the average foreigner is assumed to have more money than the average Thai and can afford to pay more. Also, because foreigners don’t pay taxes, they can help fund tourism projects.

The Thai dual price system exists across popular travel destinations such as temples and national parks, and sometimes at markets.

Nowhere, however, is it more obvious than when using public transport in Bangkok.

Locals will pay a maximum of 45 baht ($1.90) for all electric train lines per trip starting from January 1, 2027, but foreigners are not eligible.

Our Thailand correspondent says that the press release trumpeting the new fare scheme carefully omits that this is for Thais only, saying only "eligible" passengers.

Under the planned system, Thai citizens would be charged according to the actual value of their journey. If the fare exceeds 45 baht, the government would refund the difference. 

Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat confirmed foreigners won't be eligible, which is why refunds will be paid through the government's Pao Tang app. Expats and tourists will keep paying standard fares.

Which sounds very complicated. And something that could well annoy tourists who are already threatened by increased entry and exit taxes by Thai authorities.

Regular readers know that Thailand is one of GoTR's favourite destinations. But...

"Somewhere in the dark corner of a government building there is a department which houses a group of people whose only job is to dream up ways to make anything as complicated as possible," our correspondent reports.

High-speed trains to link Italy, Austria and Germany

Italy’s Frecciarossa high-speed trains are very much on the move with the launch of direct services between Italy, Austria and Germany getting closer. 

Across Europe, trains can provide travellers with an affordable alternative to short-haul flights.

Testing of the trains began in Germany and Austria last week as part of the international approval process. 

Subject to successful certification, commercial services between Milan and Munich and Rome and Munich are expected to start in summer 2027.

The project is being developed by Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS), through Trenitalia, in partnership with Germany’s Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Austria’s ÖBB.

The initial service will comprise four connections across the two routes.

The Milan-Munich journey will take about six and a half hours, covering roughly 600 kilometers. Planned intermediate stops include Brescia, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano and Innsbruck.

The Rome-Munich service will take approximately eight and a half hours, with stops at Florence, Bologna, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano and Innsbruck.

The services will use the Frecciarossa 1000, Trenitalia’s flagship high-speed train. The train is certified to European interoperability standards and is designed to operate across different railway systems, power supplies and signalling technologies, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The network is planned to grow substantially from December 2028, when the full program is expected to reach 10 connections between Italy and Germany.

Future services will extend the network to Berlin and Naples, including planned routes linking Milan with Berlin and Naples with both Munich and Berlin. The longer-term network is expected to create five daily round-trip services across the Germany-Austria-Italy corridor.

New challenger on the French rail tracks

 

SNCF, for decades the leading railway provider in France, is about to get some serious competition. 

Velvet, a start-up that aims to challenge SNCF on high-speed routes, has secured its operating license, bringing it a step closer to launching four western France services in 2028.

The company plans to launch four non-stop routes from Paris in 2028: Paris-Bordeaux, Paris-Nantes, Paris-Angers and Paris-Rennes.

The license, issued by France’s Transport Ministry, is one of two key authorisations required before a rail operator can commercially carry passengers, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Velvet still needs to obtain a Single Safety Certificate, demonstrating that it has adequate safety-management systems and can effectively control operational risks before its trains can enter service.

The newly granted license nevertheless allows the company to move into a more advanced stage of preparations, including requesting specific train paths from SNCF Réseau, France’s rail infrastructure manager.

“It’s an important step that allows us to go further in preparing our trains, teams and procedures,” said Velvet Ppesident Rachel Picard.

Picard, a former senior SNCF executive, founded Velvet with a business partner and has raised €1 billion ($1.17 billion) from French infrastructure investor Antin Infrastructure Partners.

Part of that funding has been allocated to purchase 12 next-generation Alstom Avelia Horizon trains. The same train is being introduced by SNCF for its own high-speed operations.

Velvet’s arrival is being welcomed by passenger advocates, who say additional operators could help address capacity shortages on some of France’s busiest routes. They point to heavily booked routes such as Paris-Bordeaux and Paris-Lyon, where trains can sell out for extended periods.

France’s high-speed rail market remains overwhelmingly dominated by SNCF despite the formal opening of European rail markets to competition.

Italian operator Trenitalia entered the French market in late 2021 and now operates services linking Paris with Lyon, Marseille and Milan. It is also targeting the Paris-London market, with cross-Channel services planned by 2030.

Korean airlines all set for merger

Korea's two largest airlines are all set to complete their merger later this year. 

Korean Air's board of directors and Asiana Airlines’ shareholders have formally approved the agreement as the two airlines prepare to launch an integrated airline on December 17. 

Korean Air’s board ratified the merger agreement last week, fulfilling small-scale merger requirements under Article 527-3 of Korea’s Commercial Act, news hub Travel Mole reported.

Concurrently, Asiana Airlines secured shareholder approval during an extraordinary general meeting, with 81.86% shareholder attendance and 99.3% voting in favour.

These approvals formally ratify the merger agreement executed by both boards in May. 

Following creditor protection procedures and remaining administrative formalities, the corporate merger registration will be completed on December 17, 2026.

Korean Air continues to advance its Post-Merger Integration (PMI) roadmap. Following conditional merger approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on June 25 and clearance of its merger registration statement on July 24, the airline is proceeding with Air Operator Certificate (AOC) amendments and international operational permits in close consultation with relevant authorities.

With merger approvals finalised, the two airlines are accelerating operational readiness, focusing on systems integration, joint training, and team engagement ahead of the launch. 

The birth of the integrated flag carrier will mark the completion of a consolidation process spanning over five years.

For passengers, it translates into nu,erous service upgrades, from lounge renewals, catering updates to terminal relocations to improve the traveler’s experience.

Paris express train finally on track

Paris is finally to get an express rail link between the city and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. 

The long-awaited CDG Express rail service connecting central Paris to the airport is scheduled to open on March 28, 2027, offering a 20-minute non-stop journey between Paris Gare de l’Est and Terminal 2, news hub Travel Mole reports.

To be operated by Hello Paris - a joint venture between Keolis and RATP Dev - the service aims to deliver a fast, premium alternative to existing airport transfers.

The current rail links are often slow and crowded, while taxi rides can be slowed by traffic jams. 

During a press presentation at the SNCF maintenance facility in the Paris suburb of Bobigny, Hello Paris confirmed key pricing details. 

A one-way ticket will cost €25, while a round-trip fare is set at €28. 

Holders of the Île-de-France Navigo pass will benefit from a reduced fare of €16.50 per trip. Children under 16 accompanied by an adult will travel free of charge. 

Subscription packages for airport employees are also planned, though pricing has not yet been finalised. 

Tickets will be available via vending machines, online platforms, and a dedicated mobile app.

The new transport will be extremely competitive compared to taxis. 

The typical cost for a taxi ride between central Paris and CDG is around €56–€65 on average. 

CDG Express is expected to appeal to solo travellers and business passengers prioritizing speed and reliability.

The CDG Express will indeed operate every 15 minutes from 5am-midnight. 

Each train will accommodate up to 420 passengers, with flexible carriage configurations adjusted throughout the day according to demand. 

A premium “lounge” area at the front of the train, featuring 12 seats, will offer an upgraded travel experience.

Beyond passenger convenience, CDG Express is expected to ease congestion on the heavily used regional train RER B, which has long suffered from overcrowding, delays, and aging infrastructure.

Patience will be a virtue at Western Sydney's new international airport

Are you planning to fly into the new Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) at Luddenham when it opens later this year? 

If your final destination is downtown Sydney, or beyond, you may need to be very, very patient. 

Ongoing delays with the Metro station that is supposed to serve the 24-hour airport mean you'll need to wait for up to 30 minutes after you land and clear customs and immigration, then catch a shuttle bus, and then switch to a suburban train. 

Transport for NSW this week proudly announced that it will offer a free bus service connecting WSI to St Marys railway station/bus interchange as delays continue on the new Metro rail line.

The buses will operate on a half-hourly basis between 4.30am and midnight Sunday to Thursday, and 4.30am until 1am on Friday and Saturday. The ride will take around 30 minutes. 

Then you will wait for a local train. 

A train trip from St Marys to Sydney CBD (Central Station) typically takes around 60-75 minutes on the T1 Western Line, often requiring a change at Strathfield or Lidcombe for faster routes. 

That sounds fun if you are dragging luggage with you. 

But Transport for NSW is proclaiming proudly that "free public transport will connect Western Sydney International Airport when it opens its doors later in the year". 

"The interim service will provide the connection to the wider Sydney public transport network that will be delivered by the new Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport when it opens next year," it says.

The free airport buses will apparently "complement a comprehensive bus plan for Western Sydney, which is set to provide new services every 30 minutes linking the airport to Penrith, Leppington, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Mount Druitt".

The new 23-kilometre Metro line, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Government, will have capacity to move up to 7,740 passengers every hour in each direction. When it opens. Maybe next year. 

The six-stop line will connect Western Sydney International Airport to St Marys in just 15 minutes. 

Track laying on the line is now 70% complete, while the toll-free M12 motorway that will link the airport to the Sydney motorway network is due to open "in coming months". 

Sorry for the flight delay: your pilot is drunk

Air India is under scrutiny after one of its pilots reportedly failed two breathalyzer tests and had to be escorted from a long-distance flight before take off. 

Canada's transport regulator has asked Air India to investigate the incident, which occurred at Vancouver International Airport. 

 
The incident was labelled as a "serious matter" by Transport Canada in a letter to Air India and authorities are likely to pursue enforcement action, news agency Reuters reported. 

The incident occurred on Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Vienna, NEWS 18 said. 

In a statement, Air India confirmed the flight from Vancouver via Vienna to Delhi on December 23 experienced a last-minute delay due to the incident, adding that an alternate pilot was brought in to operate the flight.

"The pilot has been taken off flying duties during the process of enquiry," the airline said in a statement. 

"Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations. 

"Pending the outcome of the investigation, any confirmed violation will attract strict disciplinary action in line with company policy."

The letter from Transport Canada official Ajit Oommen has asked Air India to provide its findings and details of steps taken to prevent future occurrences by January 26, Reuters said. 

India has been under intense scrutiny since the June 12 crash of a Boeing Dreamliner killed 260 people. India's aviation regulator has flagged multiple safety lapses at the airline. 

Fast train to link Riyadh and Doha

The Middle East, already home to several of the world's top airlines, is now moving into the fast train sector. 

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are moving ahead with an ambitious plan that will slash travel time between their capitals to about two hours, a statement carried by official Saudi media and reported by Travel Mole reveals. 

The project, billed as a major step toward deeper regional cooperation and sustainable development, will create a new 785-kilometre rail corridor linking Riyadh and Doha, passing through major Saudi cities including Al-Hofuf and Dammam.

Along the line, trains would also connect Doha's Hamad International Airport with the planned King Salman International Airport, forming what officials describes “a new backbone for fast, low-carbon mobility across the Gulf“.

Designed for trains to exceed speeds of 300kmh, the service will offer a competitive alternative to air travel. Flights between Riyadh and Doha take roughly 90 minutes. The journey takes over six hours by road. 

Once operational, the rail line is expected to handle more than 10 million passengers annually, bolstering business and leisure travel and giving riders easy access to major attractions in both countries. 

Officials say the project will generate more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs. 

The line will be built over six years to international safety and quality standards, using advanced rail and smart-engineering technologies aimed at cutting emissions and supporting the region’s transition toward cleaner transport.

The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. 

Vietnam resorts target quick recovery after natural disasters

Some of Vietnam's leading tourist destination are racing to be ready for high season after after weeks of relentless rain and flooding.

The weather left historic cities in Central Vietnam submerged, mountain passes closed by landslides, and at least 55 people dead across six provinces, news hub Travel Mole reports.

As waters finally began to recede in parts of the region over the weekend, the scale of the devastation became clear. 

The popular city of Hoi An has been flooded three times within a month time.

The ancient UNESCO-listed town saw layers of mud coating its once-bustling walking streets after floodwaters retreated from the Hoai River.

Clean-up crews, armed with excavators and water tankers, fanned out across the town to scrape away sludge from sidewalks and shopfronts.

The middle section of popular Bach Dang Street, however, remained under about 40 centimetres of water.

Authorities have prioritized clearing the stretch from Chau Thuong Van to the iconic Pagoda Bridge to bring visitors back as quickly as possible.

Tourist boats continued to operate along the Hoai River even as workers raked mud into piles, removed debris, and pushed it back toward the river channel.

In coastal Nha Trang, entire neighbourhoods were submerged last week,

Deadly landslides ripped through highland routes near the Da Lat tourist hub, where hotel operators said bookings evaporated almost overnight as storms intensified.

Viet Nam Railways Corporation (VNR) on Friday announced the continued suspension of multiple passenger services departing from Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City, as widespread flooding in the south-central region persists.

International airports were operating normally despite some flight delays.

The environment ministry said 55 people have died, with 13 still missing. More than 300,000 people remained without power over the weekend.

Image: Hoi An, Shirren Lee, Scop.io  

Melbourne Airport moves to cut down taxi rip offs

Been ripped off catching a taxi from Sydney or Melbourne airports? 

Melbourne Airport is testing a new fixed-fare taxi booking system to make it “simpler and safer” for passengers to reach their destinations, the airport says on its Facebook page. 

The airport has partnered with taxi dispatcher A2B, which supports 13cabs, Silver Top, Black and White and Silver Service, to install three kiosks that will begin trials from today at the Qantas domestic terminal. 

The system will allow customers to pre-book taxis for a guaranteed fare. 

Passengers can input their destination address and pay the fixed fare upfront, then show the receipt to a driver waiting in a dedicated bay. 

"Taxi touts rip off passengers and deprive honest drivers of work, so we’re doing everything in our power to stamp out the practice,” said Melbourne Airport chief of ground transport, property and retail Jai McDermott. 

“People shouldn’t have to haggle with a cabbie over a fare or their destination when they come to the airport, and this trial aims to eliminate that pain point.

“Our hope is that this trial will add a sense of security and certainty to the process of catching a cab from the airport.” 

The move by Melbourne Airport follows the announcement last month of fixed $60 taxi fares from Sydney Airport to the CBD, with a 12-month trial aiming to address a raft of complaints about passengers being “ripped off” by exorbitant charges. 

Good news and bad news for Rex flyers

A low-profile US aviation company is poised to run Australian rural airline Regional Express (Rex).

Air T has secured a deal to take over Rex, which went into administration last year with large debts and has been propped up with government money.

Rex is regional airline that serves numerous small towns across Australia,

It has been able to continue flying regional routes thanks to more than a $100 million government bailout.

The airline’s troubles were created when it attempted to compete with the major airlines - Qantas and Virgin Australia - on mainline big city routes.

More details on the deal could be released this week, news hub Travel Mole reported.

Air T operates various aviation divisions in the US, including charter and maintenance services. It also operates some FedEx services and a facility with access to hard-to-find aircraft parts which would help keep Rex’s Saab 340 aircraft running.

Over 30 of Rex’s 56 Saabs are currently in service, with the remainder grounded awaiting parts and engines.

There was also some bad news for Rex frequent flyers this week with the airline's loyalty program, Rex Flyer, suspended after the company managing the program was placed into voluntary administration.

Rex Flyer Pty Ltd is now in the hands of administrator EY (formerly Ernst and Young), which said it is now assessing the next steps for the loyalty brand and will issue an update to members as soon as practicable.

The development followed confirmation of Air T's agreement with Rex administrators to buy the the Rex business and retain staff, but also to pursue growth opportunities.

"The proposed acquisition contemplates a continuation and growth of Rex’s regional airline business and continuing employment for its workforce," Minneapolis-based Air T said on its website.

Air T has said it expects to close the acquisition of Rex by the end of the year, so long as creditor and
other approvals are obtained.


In a statement, a spokesperson for Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the announcement is a “positive step towards bringing Rex out of voluntary administration”.

Established in 1980, Air T has widespread freight and transport interests.

Here is a link to the Air T statement: https://airt.com/2025/10/21/agreement-regional-express-holdings/

Thailand to trial seaplanes to boost tourism

Thailand is moving to emulate the Maldives and introduce seaplane services across the country to boost tourism. 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is joining forces with private operators to launch "a new era of air travel" with a seaplane project at Koh Kradan in Trang, The Nation newspaper reports.

The island will serve as a “sandbox” for testing operations before the service is expanded elsewhere. CAAT wants to begin the project this year, with Phuket under consideration as a future site.

Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, CAAT’s director, said Koh Kradan was chosen because of its favourable geography and strong support from Trang authorities, local agencies and private partners.

Phuket, while included in long-term plans, was deemed less suitable for initial trials due to harsher sea conditions.

Two licensed seaplane operators - Siam Seaplane and Thai Seaplane will participate in the trials.

The seaplanes are being mooted aa favourable way to transport tourists to and from some of Thailand’s lesser-known islands and connect them with other major tourism hubs.

The long-term goal is to develop seaplane routes with passenger terminals and related infrastructure.

Trans Maldivian Airways, which operates flights to many island resorts, has the world’s largest seaplane fleet, taking passengers from Velana International Airport in Malé to holiday destinations.

Image: Seaplane in the Maldives. Jaya Waskar, Scop.io

China to add new high-speed rail route

 

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has given the go ahead for a major new high-speed rail link between Shanghai and Hangzhou.

The new route is part of a broader push to expand the country’s already vast rail network, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The 222.8km line will connect Shanghai East - a new station under construction near Pudong Airport - to Hangzhou in just 40 minutes.

Both cities are already linked by a high-speed train but the new line will cut nearly a third off the current fastest journey.

The $US9.35 billion project will serve nine stations. It includes new stops at Fengxian, Shanghai Jinshan, Pinghu City, and Linping.

Existing stations at Situan, Jiaxing South, Tongxiang, and Hangzhou West will be upgraded to handle the expected surge in traffic.

For Shanghai East, the project marks a significant milestone. The station is set to become a key transportation hub, linking Pudong Airport with high-speed rail for the first time.

The project will boost the airport’s competitiveness with its rivals in China, including Hong Kong.

The new line is expected to drive economic integration between Shanghai and Zhejiang province, supporting growth in the Yangtze River Delta, one of China’s most dynamic economic regions.

The NDRC also approved construction of a 234.5 km line in Tibet on the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. The $US3.1 billion project will initially open with five stations. It will improve access in a region where rail development can be logistically challenging.

Meanwhile, construction will begin next month on the Yining–Aksu line in Xinjiang, a region bordering Central Asia.

The 794km single-track electrified line will require six years to build and carry a price tag of $US5.3 billion. Designed for speeds up to 160 kmh, it will feature 24 stations, half of them equipped with passing loops to support mixed passenger and freight traffic.

In Australia, meanwhile, the interstate rail network remains prehistoric.

Heavy metal: Calls for airport to be named after Ozzy Osbourne

 

Birmingham International Airport (BHX) in the UK could soon be known as Ozzy Osbourne Airport.

There have been calls for the airport to be re-named to honour the Birmingham-born former Black Sabbath singer, who died this week.

Osbourne never lost his Brummie accent despite spending much of his life in the US and a movement is gaining steam to honour the larger-than-life rocker with a petition launched by fan Dan Hudson after his death.

“Naming our international airport after him would be a fitting tribute to his extraordinary career and contributions to the arts,” Hudson said.

“Together, we can celebrate the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne and the incredible influence our city has had on the world stage, thanks to him.”

He cited examples of British airports named after celebrities including John Lennon Airport in Liverpool and George Best Airport in Belfast.

Hop to it: a new way to explore the Canberra wine region

It just got a whole lot easier to explore the Canberra District Wine Region with the launch of the new Wine Hopper tour. 

This hop-on, hop-off service allows visitors to experience the wine region at their own pace.

The Wine Hopper's flexible weekend schedule includes stops at some to the Canberra region's most celebrated wineries with time for tastings and relaxation without a designated driver. 

With a loop around Murrumbateman throughout the day, there is enough time to visit three or four wineries before being ferried back to the Canberra CBD.

Wine Hopper's hop-on, hop-off tour run Saturdays and Sundays from 10am until 5pm. Tickets start from $89 per person and include round-trip transport from Canberra with expert driver-hosts, a route map, winery guide and unlimited hops throughout the day.



Hoppers can sample wines at McKellar Ridge Wines, Murrumbateman Winery Eden Road Wines, 
Shaw Estate, Clonakilla, The Vintner's Daughter, Four Winds Vineyard and Dionysus Winery. Take your pick. 

There also stops at Murrumbateman Country Inn for a lunch break between wine tastings. 

Tours depart Saturday and Sundays at 10am from 7 Akuna Street, Canberra. For more info see their website.

Images: Bus at Dionysus; tasting at Vintner's Daughter.

French air traffic controllers flag strike action

Peak holiday season is approaching in France. 

So, just as predictably as night follows day, are strike warnings.

French air traffic controllers are threatening to strike as the summer season starts for millions across Europe, Euronews and Travel Mole report.

The UNSA-ICNA union - the second-largest union for air traffic controllers in France - has filed a strike motion for the July 3 and 4, citing “toxic” and “authoritarian” management as one of the reasons for the walkout.

The union is calling for increased staffing levels and a pay rise, which have been denied by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC).

The third-largest ATC union, USAC-CGT, also issued a strike notice this week for July 3 but the largest union representing French air traffic controllers, SNCTA, has indicated that it isn’t calling for a strike.

The union has also criticised the DGAC for ” failing to modernise the tools that are essential for air traffic controllers, even though it keeps promising that all means are being put in place.”

The union cites repeated major breakdowns despite “weeks of repeated alerts.”

The DGAC has said it “deeply” regrets the choice of dates. The air traffic controllers strike dates correspond to the busiest days of the year, due to the numerous departures for vacations during this period.

In a statement, the DGAC acknowledge “the difficulties related to the situation of chronic understaffing,” which “affect the quality of the service provided to airlines.”

In France, air traffic controllers must submit a strike notice at least five days in advance. This is in accordance with the 1984 law governing the right to strike in the public service.

So it looks like two days of cancellations and delays later this week.

UPDATE: Budget airline Ryanair alone says it has been forced to cancel at least 170 flights due to the action which started on Friday.   

Catch the bus: Bali resumes regular services

Visitors to Bali can now resume taking advantage of the local bus service to get to key tourism destinations including Ubud and Sanur.

Bali’s public bus service, Trans Metro Dewata, will resume operation as of today, the Bali Sun newspaper reports.

The service came to a halt at the beginning of the year due to funding constraints, leaving thousands of local residents without access to affordable public transport and reducing travel options for tourists.

But potential bus riders have been warned buses will operate at a reduced capacity compared to 2024.

The service previously operated 105 services a day, and while the routes will remain the same, only 75 services will operate daily - and none at night.

Ida Bagus Eka Budi, operational manager of PT Satria Trans Jaya, told local media: “The distance between buses becomes between 17-19 minutes from the previous 12-13 minutes.”

The six bus routes are as follows:
Route 1: Kuta Parking Centre-Pesiapan Terminal
Route 2: Ubung Terminal-Ngurah Rai Airport
Route 3: Ubung-Sanur Terminal
Route 4: Ubung Terminal-Monkey Forest Parking Centre
Route 5: Kuta Parking Centre-Bali State Polytechnic
Route 6: Kuta-Nusa Dua Parking Centre

Officials from Dishub, the Bali Transportation Agency, have confirmed that passengers can use the Trans Metro Dewata smartphone app to check to-the-minute information regarding bus times and to plan their routes.

The app is called ‘MitraDarat’ and is available on the Apple App Store and on Android.

One-way ticket fees will remain at IDR 4,400 (that's 43 cents in Australian money) for both Indonesian residents and tourists.

The service connects tourists with destinations in central Ubud like Ubud Palace, and the Ubud Monkey Forest, as well as destinations in Denpasar like the Bajra Sandhi Monument and the beach resort of Sanur.

Forget that earthquake: tourists told to party on

Thailand is not about to let a minor inconvenience like an earthquake interfere with a festival that is one of its major tourism drawcards.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has confirmed that Songkran celebrations nationwide will proceed as planned, assuring tourists that travel, transport, and hotels remain unaffected by last week's fatal quake.

TAT announced over the weekend that plans to hold grand Songkran (water festival) celebrations across the country would proceed as scheduled.

TAT said that after assessing the situation following Friday’s earthquake, it found that conditions in Bangkok and other parts of the country had returned to normal.

It noted that Don Mueang International Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok continued to operate as usual, with airlines providing normal services.

Additionally, public transportation - particularly the electric railway services operated by BTSC and MRT - remained fully functional. Hotels and entertainment venues in key tourist destinations were also unaffected.

TAT reported that tourists had not cancelled their bookings, and tour group operators had not withdrawn reservations either, newspaper The Nation reported. 

It also confirmed that highways across the country remained undamaged and fully accessible for travel.
To ensure tourist safety, the TAT stated that it would seek cooperation from the Engineering Institute of Thailand and the Public Works Department to inspect high-rise hotels.

The authority reassured the public that planned grand Songkran celebrations in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other locations would not be impacted.

The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 is a nationwide celebration of Thai New Year taking place from early to mid-April across every region of the country.

More than 100 events will take place across Bangkok, where at least 18 people died as a result of the quake, and throughout the country. 

Each Thai location has its own blend of tradition and celebration - from rituals and temple fairs to music festivals and lively water fights - which can be very annoying as young locals arm themselves with giant water guns. 

Festival Highlights Include:

Maha Songkran World Water Festival, Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Klang, Bangkok (April 11-15)
Songkran Music Festival, Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok (April 12-14)
Chiang Mai Songkran traditions (April 7-16))
Grand Isan Songkran Festival, Khon Kaen (April 8-15)
Coastal celebrations in Phuket, Songkhla, and Surat Thani
Cultural parades in Phrae, Lamphun, and Ubon Ratchathani

First we take Paris, then we take Berlin

 

Travelling by train is often the best choice in Europe - and two of the continent's great capitals are now linked by a direct high-speed train connection. 

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn and France's SNCF introduced a daytime InterCity Express (ICE) service between Paris and Berlin last month and are planning to add a second route between the two capitals in 2026.

Taking advantage of its new fleet of 322 kph ICE3neo trains, the once-a-day service takes around eight hours in each direction, also serving Strasbourg, Karlsruhe and Frankfurt on its 878km trip.

The trains link Paris Gare de l'Est with Berlin Hauptbahnhof. 

Fares start from around $100 Aus and each train has capacity for 444 passengers, of which 111 are in first class.

The new high-speed ICE service is the first direct daytime train between Paris and Berlin since the 1990s and complements the Nightjet sleeper service introduced in 2023.

Unfortunately, speeds on some section are reduced with trains having to use lower speed lines, but the service is expected to prove popular with both business and leisure travellers. 

The price of a Paris-Berlin ticket varies depends on many parameters such as whether you have a discount card or an SNCF subscription, the dates of the journey and the railway company.

For more details see https://www.sncf-connect.com/train/trajet/paris/berlin