Latest news with #Flix
Time Out
20-06-2025
- Time Out
These are North America's top-searched summer destinations for 2025, says study
This summer, Americans are dreaming big—but traveling smart. According to new data from Flix North America (the folks behind FlixBus and Greyhound), the hottest destinations for summer 2025 are a mix of urban icons, bucket-list landmarks and wallet-friendly hubs. The twist? Budget-conscious travelers are skipping the TSA lines and boarding intercity buses instead. Released just as summer officially kicks off, Flix's ranking of the most-searched destinations gives a real-time snapshot of where the cool kids (and savvy savers) are headed. No surprise, New York City leads the list. But following closely behind are cross-border favorites like Toronto and Niagara Falls —proof that Americans are keeping it (mostly) continental while still chasing big vibes. Other high-ranking picks include Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Orlando, all connected by Flix's expanding bus network. It's essentially a greatest hits of summer travel, without the sticker shock. 'Travelers are looking for convenient, flexible ways to see more this summer without breaking the bank,' said Karina Frayter, head of communications at Flix North America. 'Whether it's visiting family, exploring a new city or checking out a bucket-list destination, we're seeing strong interest across our growing network.' That echoes a new Deloitte survey showing 53-percent of U.S. consumers plan to take a vacation this summer—up from 48-percent last year—even as financial anxieties linger. Instead of canceling entirely, travelers are editing: shorter trips, closer locales and cheaper ways to get there. Flix's data backs it up. Major hubs like Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Atlanta are all high on the list—places that are easy to get to, packed with summer fun and (crucially) well-served by intercity bus routes. This year's top travel takeaway is simple: think big, travel smart and maybe leave the car keys at home. Top 15 Most-Searched Flix Destinations for Summer 2025 New York, NY Toronto, ON Los Angeles, CA Boston, MA Washington, D.C. Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL Philadelphia, PA Las Vegas, NV Houston, TX Dallas, TX Orlando, FL Niagara Falls, ON Miami, FL Montreal, PQ
Malaysia Sun
16-06-2025
- Malaysia Sun
Young Frenchman on trial for drug trafficking in Malaysia
Tom Flix has gone on trial in northern Malaysia, charged with drug possession and trafficking which could carry the death penalty if he is found guilty. Flix, 34, a former executive of French waste management firm Veolia,was arrested in early August 2023 on the island resort of Langkawi, where he was hoping to open a restaurant. Police found several hundred grams of cannabis in a common area of the house he shared with his Malaysian business partner, who was also arrested. Flix's lawyer Collin Andrew said the hearing began Monday at the Alor Setar High Court in northwestern Malaysia and was then ajourned until Tuesday after the first witness had not brought all the necessary documents to court. The trial was scheduled to end on Thursday, but it was not known whether sentencing would take place immediately afterwards. Flix faces the death penalty, or "104 years of cumulative imprisonment, 54 strokes with a cane and a 27,000 euro fine," his mother Sylvie Flix told France's AFP news agency. Drugpossession and trafficking are serious crimes inMalaysiathat can still carry the death sentence if the amounts are above a certain threshold. Death sentences, however, are no longer mandatory and no executions have taken place since 2018. Frenchman on death row in Indonesia leaves jail ahead of transfer home 'Terrible' conditions in prison Felix's parents spoke to French PresidentEmmanuel Macronabout his case during a recent state visit to neighbouringSingapore, where they live. "He heard us and said that this situation is indeed unacceptable and that he would do everything possible to ensure Tom's release," Flix's mother said. His family insists that, during the investigation, Tom was exonerated by his partner, but that the Malaysian police did not take this into account. Since his arrest 22 months ago, Flix has been held in Perlis prison in "terrible" conditions, according to his lawyer and family. In footage taken from adocumentarybroadcast on M6's 66 Minutes in December 2024, the detainee appears emaciated and refers to his total despair. "It's not always easy to keep him fighting," his mother told Le Parisien daily in December 2024. Global executions at highest level in almost a decade, says Amnesty "He also has suicidal thoughts; he told me he felt like swallowing a box of sleeping pills and never waking up again." Serge Atlaoui, aFrenchmanwho was held on death row in Indonesia for drug offences was released in February and returned to France. Jakarta left it to the French government to grant Atlaoui the only Frenchman on death row in Indonesia "clemency, amnesty or a reduced sentence". (with newswires) Originally published on RFI
Metro
12-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
New sleeper train will connect 100 European cities — with private rooms from £67
Travelling by train can often be more expensive than hopping on a short-haul flight, but a new company is hoping to change that. Nox, a Berlin-based startup, is working to create an alternative travel option in Europe, with plans for overnight sleeper trains that cost the same price as a plane ticket. They're hopeful the first route will launch in 2027, with a goal of connecting more than 100 European cities by 2035. Destinations will include Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, Warsaw, Frankfurt and Brussels. And the best part? If successful, the overnight trains will have private rooms for passengers, with prices starting from £67 (€79) for a single room and £127 (€149) for a double. The plan is for the rooms to feature 2m long beds, as well as armchairs and tables at which people can work, eat, or relax, plus windows where you can enjoy the views outside as you travel. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. There will be three different types of room available – a single or double loft room and vista rooms. The loft rooms have upper beds which you have to climb a ladder to get to, while the vista rooms, the beds are low to the floor or at chest-height for easy access and can be converted into seats. According to Nox, their trains will differ from other sleeper trains as they 'focus on privacy, good sleep and affordable prices'. They continue: 'You will not need to share your room with strangers and can lock it from in and outside. On top, we aim to offer ticket prices as low as air fares.' The idea behind the private rooms was born from personal experience, as co-founder Thibault Constant has taken more than 400 night train trips. He's been sharing his journeys on social media as Simply Railway. His co-founder Janek Smalla brings experience from the operational side of things, having previously worked at Flix, leading the operational launch of FlixTrain. He also led the German ridesharing market for Bolt until 2024. Janek adds: 'Our room design allows us to fit more people into our trains than traditional operators can. This, paired with a strict focus on standardisation and operational excellence will allow us to offer affordable fares on over 35 European routes.' On X (formerly Twitter) people are already excited about the prospect of the new overnight trains, although some have branded Nox's plans as 'ambitious' and 'optimistic'. More Trending Mark Smith, who runs travel site said: 'Ambitious plans for all-private-room sleeper trains, first route to be launched in 2027. I like the look of those comparments, the demand is there, and these guys know their market: It'll be tough, but can they do it? We'll see!' Doug Smart was keen, saying: 'Shut up and take my money!' And Jakub Krupa commented: 'That's brilliant, particularly now that the OBB NightJet Brussels to Berlin remains suspended.' @JB500125 said they 'love it' in response to the Nox designs, while @trainficionado felt similarly, adding: 'I love it, though I have my doubts on feasibility. But all the best for the endeavor. And fingers crossed!' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Northern Powerhouse Rail set for comeback after Rachel Reeves announces £3,500,000,000 upgrade MORE: On holiday in Albania, I discovered the price of paradise MORE: Adult throws tantrum at airport gate after being told her hand luggage was too heavy
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FlixTrain buys Talgo high-speed trains for $2.72bn
FlixTrain has arranged to buy Talgo high-speed trains worth €2.4bn ($2.72bn). The agreement includes an initial firm order for 30 units for €1.06bn ($1.20bn). The contract also includes a 15-year maintenance plan for the entire fleet. The selection of Talgo followed a competitive bidding process. A collaborative task force from both Talgo and FlixTrain companies conducted preliminary work over several months to establish the final specifications for the project. CEO and co-founder of Flix, FlixTrain's parent company, André Schwämmlein said: 'We are pursuing a long-term strategy with FlixTrain and we will significantly expand our services in the coming years. 'With the tremendous expansion of our train fleet we will start a new era of train travel in Germany and Europe.' The new trains are intended for operation across western European countries, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. The Talgo 230 push-pull trains are lightweight trainsets that can be equipped with natural tilting and automatic gauge-changing systems. All the trainsets will be supplied without locomotives. FlixTrain will lease Siemens Mobility Vectron locomotives to pull the Talgo 230 carriages. The trains will feature advanced digital systems. Talgo stated that it has developed a range of technologies that can enhance the maintenance of the FlixTrain fleet, including thousands of live sensors that transmit data to the cloud and enable the remote monitoring of each train carriage. Using AI models, Talgo's remote-operated service desk is expected to reduce turnaround times at depots. Talgo president Carlos Palacio said: 'Talgo 230 is the best solution to improve passenger mobility across Europe in the intercity rail passenger market and we are delighted that our company is contributing with this new product iteration to the common goal of shifting traffic from the road and air modes and to a fair and rapid energy transition. No date was given for the expected delivery of the units. In April 2024, Talgo delivered the first of its Avril "very high speed" trains to Spain's national rail provider Renfe. "FlixTrain buys Talgo high-speed trains for $2.72bn" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Reuters
27-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Flix orders trains worth €2.4 bln from Talgo, Siemens
FRANKFURT, May 27 (Reuters) - Flix on Tuesday awarded a 2.4 billion euro ($2.72 billion) train order to Siemens ( opens new tab and Spain's Talgo ( opens new tab, as the German bus and train operator banks on growing demand for high-speed services in Europe. Talgo said in a statement that, under the order, it agreed in principle to supply 65 high-speed Talgo 230 train models without locomotives, including maintenance, with an initial firm order of 30 units worth 1.06 billion euros. Flix, whose rivals include state-owned Deutsche Bahn, said in a separate statement that Siemens would supply the locomotives. It added that European demand for high-speed train services was expected to grow by 4% to 5% per year. "With the tremendous expansion of our train fleet, we will start a new era of train travel in Germany and Europe," said Flix CEO and co-founder Andre Schwaemmlein. ($1 = 0.8818 euros)
