HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE
| Autumn 2014 | Protests (demonstrations, flash mobs …) against the cancelling of night trains in France and Germany (September) and in Denmark (November) with activists form several countries; common activities in Hamburg, Hannover, Munich and Paris on the last journey of the Berlin/Hamburg/Munich-Paris train (December); many activists are train crew members of DB fighting for their jobs, plus trade unionists from France |
| January 2015 | First hearing on night trains in the Transport Committee of German Parliament; train crew member (and B-o-T activist) one of the invited experts, other activists from Germany, Denmark, Sweden and France among the audience; “sleep-in” of Swiss activists at Zurich central station |
| March 2015 | Manifestation in Berlin and meeting of activists willing to form a European network for the support of night trains |
| May 2015 | B-o-T meeting in Paris |
| June 2015 | First coordinated “weekend of action” of B-o-T: activities in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and Spain |
| November 2015 | Climate Summit COP 25 in Paris; German Railway DB announces shutdown of night trains by end of 2016; B-o-T activities in Berlin and Paris |
| October 2016 | B-o-T presence during press conference of ÖBB and DB on night trains in Berlin |
| November 2016 | B-o-T representatives attend annual railway conference (“Horber Schienentage”) in Germany |
| December 2016 | DB terminates German night trains, Austrian ÖBB takes over some lines; activities of B-o-T and other groups in Berlin, Zurich, Munich, Rome and elsewhere |
| February 2017 | Second hearing on night trains in the Transport Committee of German Parliament, again train crew member (and B-o-T activist) one of the invited experts, B-o-T members among the audience; |
| March 2017 | B-o-T conference in Hamburg |
| May 5, 2017 | Meeting in European Parliament in Brussels, hosted by MEPs Lucy Anderson and Jakob Dalunde. |
| 2017 | Response to a rather negative report by consultants “Passenger Night Trains in Europe – the end of the Line?” |
| August 2017 | Seminar on “How to tackle aviation growth” organised by “Stay Grounded” as part of the Attac Summer University in Toulouse; B-o-T was represented |
| November 2017 | B-o-T meeting in Perpignan; B-o-T representatives attended Climate Conference in Bonn and the annual “Horber Schienentage” conference |
| January 2018 | B-o-T conference at the European Parliament in Brussels attended by 60 people. After subsequent discussion, 8-point statement issued. |
| April 2018 | Week of action in different countries. |
| April 27, 2018 | B-o-T representatives meet DGMOVE officers in Brussels. |
| April 28/29, 2018 | B-o-T input in Stay Grounded conference in London. |
| June 2018 | KCW/STEER study on cross-border rail |
| October 2018 | Joint conference of B-o-T and Stay Grounded in Vienna |
| January 2019 | B-o-T meeting in Brussels with representatives of CER, EPTO, BEUC and other bodies to discuss common lobbying, e.g. on decarbonisation paper. |
| October 2019 | B-o-T conference in Hamburg, attended by 150 participants during a long weekend, covering local, national and international issues; Theme “Night trains – not planes”; included also a workshop session by EPF on cross-border services, public discussion with participation of Allrail, Fridays for Future, and others; meeting with MEP head of Transport committee Karima Delli, |
| 2019 | Back-on-Track Belgium formed |
| 2019 | European Rail Campaign (UK) formed. |
| November 2019 | Participation in EU Conference on KCW/STEER Report, which was then issued on December 14th |
| January 2020 | Twelve B-o-T supporters gathered in Brussels at European Parliament for meetings with officials, MEPs and lobbyists. Two days of meetings. “European Night Trains and a Green Deal.” (Just before the UK left the EU) |
| 2020 | B-o-T issued a 10-point response to KCW/STEER report. |
| March 2020 | Lockdowns! During the pandemic, B-o-T had teleconferences and zoom calls. In various countries, national organisations produced reports, held seminars etc. (Notably PRO BAHN, Umverkehr, Ouiautraindenuit, FNAUT.) |
| March 2020 | Lines stopped during the Corona Pandemic; many will not come back in the case of Spain, also affecting Portugal. Number of night train services is at an all-time low. |
| May 2021 | Positive steps – Night train enhancement in France – notably Paris – Nice is back. |
| Autumn 2021 | Back-on-Track Belgium poster competition. Annual Conference postponed to 2022 |
| September 2021 | Study by Oui au train de nuit “One of every two air passengers will benefit from night trains, if Europe invests” |
| March 2022 | Back-on-Track Germany formed |
| March 2022 | Face-to-face B-o-T conference “Night train of the past, present and future” with approx 60 participants in Brussels, organised by Back-on-Track Belgium. |
| September 2022 | B-o-T study on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and role of night trains, based on the Oui au train de nuit study from 2021 B-o-T and “Prellbock Altona” give a welcome to first night train Hamburg-Stockholm (joint venture by SJ and private RDC); joint actions in Brussels, Copenhagen and Malmö, demanding the night train Brussels-Malmo to come. |
| January 2023 | “Connecting Europe” EU project for supporting ten cross-border projects (incl. two night trains.) |
| May 2023 | Launch of the European Sleeper Brussels – Amsterdam – Berlin, welcomed by B-o-T Activists. |
| June 2023 | B-o-T study on the effect of Track Access Charges and VAT on night train pricing in collaboration with Transport & Environment. After collecting some 60-80 membership applications for a to-be-formed group in Spain & Portugal first meeting of the Back-on-Track Iberia Group, however without decision on further steps. |
| September 2023 | Similar number of applications for a Back-on-Track Italy group – however due to Italian association law it might be better to cooperate with an existing association “Assoutenti” offers to host a B-o-T Italy Group, not yet concluded by B-o-T. |
| October 2023 | Back-on-Track Switzerland formed |
| November 2023 | B-o-T Hybrid Conference in Brussels, agreeing on the future strategy of the network. |
| January 2024 | The night train map goes interactive and confirms it position as a major active for Back-on-Track |
| March 2024 | First CO2-law in Europe specifies support to development and support to night trains. It is in Switzerland. However it is not followed by results. First result comes in late 2025 with support to a night train Basel-Malmö (which became a failure in the budget law, and did not happen). |
| April 2024 | The Belgian presidency outlines the future of European mobility in a Brussels Declaration to support rail mobility. 10 good headlines – but it looked better than it became. Transport & Environment establishes a rail group allowing new pro-rail alliances. Back-on-Track Europe transformed into an international non-profit organisation under Belgian law (a.i.s.b.l./i.v.z.w.). An interim Board was elected. |
| May 2024 | Back-on-Track Netherlands formed. A Position Paper is established to make the B-o-T policy more clear. |
| July 2024 | First contacts made to the new members of European Paliament after the election. Most of the contacts B-o-T had in the previous Parliament were replaced with new persons. |
| September 2024 | Dark clouds over Swedish Night Trains show that public funding to well established routes can be shaken, when a new government takes over. |
| October 2024 | Some optimism about the EU Working Program on rail. Von der Leyen mentioned in her inauguration speak a network of day- and night trains. Pyjamas Party 25.10. Took place at 11 places. |
| November 2024 | A Back-on-Track conference is held in Gävle, Sweden. B-o-T start to prepare an advocacy document including cross border PSO to establish new night train routes. |
| January 2025 | Various ressource persons helps us to establish the B-o-T advocacy campaign paper. Includes an EU initiated target network for night trains, which ties up with a Working Group establishing a database of which 300 routes should be established next to already running night trains. Back-on-Track country groups are more and more established and working. |
| April 2025 | It is announced in Switzerland that the CO2 Law at least will support a night train from Basel to Copenhagen and Basel. |
| May 2025 | The advocacy work related to the newly elected European Parliament influences the Position Paper, which is revised. A plicy paper on high-speed rail is presented in a draft, B-o-T is reacting, calling for more attention to night trains, and not only confidence in high-speed development. Preparations for a B-o-T conference in Berlin is well on tracks. The registration process for the new AISBL of Back-on-Track moves slowly ahead, by the end of the year it should be possible to conclude the process. |
| September 2025 | EC launches a call for evidence on a revision to Rail Passenger Rights. Succesful Back-on-Track conference in Berlin with both many physical participants and also on-line participants. French government withdraw after only two years its subsidy for night trains to Wienna and Berlin. Large protests are established. |
| October 2025 | Advocacy working group delegation met with DG MOVE and members of European Parliament in Brussels. |
| November 2025 | The first Annual General Meeting of AISBL Back-on-Track, Europe, takes place on. 4.11. 2025 |
| December 2025 | Election of Board to Back-on-Track Europe, 4.12. Pyjamas Party mobilises activists all over Europe. Dancing in 12 cities at the same time. |