Rail Recollections
A Pan-European online collecting action on formative rail experiences across the continent
In 2021 we celebrate the European Year of Rail. The EUROPALIA programme “Trains & Tracks” will explore the impact of the train from artistic and societal perspectives. To contribute to the EUROPALIA Trains & Tracks programme, the House of European History is creating a pan-European online collection of personal stories about train travels across national borders as a common formative European experience. These will connect and compare shared experiences from across the continent, highlight a multiplicity of perspectives on movement, mobility and the European dimension in the debate on the historical and contemporary role of trains in Europe.
Would you be able to provide a short video recording on this topic? Read the background, questions and technical specifications.
Interview series by the museum team
In this interview, the Sicilian-born artist Beddru recounts his memories of train journeys across Italy, and how travel-related themes influence his work today.
In this interview, former train conductor turned poet Jan Ducheyne explains his experience of life ‘on the tracks’. He also previews his project “The Last Train” for the Europalia Trains & Tracks programme.
In this interview, Marita Hebisch-Niemsch provides the backstory to an object she kindly lent to the House of European History's collection - a photo album from a Franco-German Youth exchange, where she met her French pen-pal following a long journey from Berlin to Évreux, France.
Laia, a cultural management professional from Barcelona, Spain shares her memories of train travel in Europe, and the lasting impression trips from across the continent have made on her.
In this interview, Belgian poet Carl Norac describes the way trains deeply influence him, personally and professionally. He also talks about his residency on the Ostend-Eupen line, the only train line that crosses the entire country, as part of the Europalia Trains & Tracks programme.
Interview series by the museum team II
Marli Huijer is Emeritus Professor of Public Philosophy at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands. In this interview she discusses how meaningful train travels are for her life, and the extent to which they can foster a European sense of belonging. She also outlines her role in society as a public philosopher, and previews her lecture on trains as a meeting space between Europeans, as part of the EUROPALIA Trains & Tracks programme.
Thomas, a project manager from the Netherlands discusses his favourite journey by train, and how travelling by train connects him with Europeans from a bygone era.