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Illegal and systematic non-Schengen compliant border controls at Frankfurt (Oder), 31 August 2022 – every train controlled, every train Poland-Berlin delayed

One of the most unpleasant episodes during my #CrossBorderRail project – where I crossed every internal border of the EU you can cross by train – happened at Frankfurt (Oder) in Germany on 24th June, when arriving from Poland. Already four hours late due to a problem on the Polish[Read More…]

01.09.2022 4 comments

Non-Schengen compliant border control at Buchs SG station, 1 July 2015, 0700

I was a passenger on the EuroNight 60466 D. Budapest-Keleti at 2100 on 30 June 2015, scheduled arrival Zürich HB at 0820 on 1st July 2015. I was a passenger in the Sleeping Car on this service (there are three carriages from Budapest – a carriage with seats, a couchette[Read More…]

01.07.2015 6 comments

Analysis

Non-Schengen (and non-French law?) compliant border control at Perpignan, 31st May, 1106

Three officers of the French Police Nationale boarded TGV 9702 at Perpignan at around 11am on 31st May, reaching my seat at 1106. The TGV was still stationary in Perpignan at this time, due to an obstacle on the tracks further north that held the train in the station approximately 30[Read More…]

31.05.2014 10 comments

Analysis

Non-Schengen compliant border control between Rzepin and Frankfurt (Oder), 11th March 2014, 2156

3 police officers or border guards, 2 Polish and 1 German as far as I could tell (the one who spoke to me was Polish) boarded train EC 40, the Warszawa – Berlin express, at Rzepin on 11th March 2014. I was in the front carriage of the train, where[Read More…]

12.03.2014 9 comments

Analysis

Non-Schengen compliant border control at Puttgarden, 21st January 2013, 1244

Today I’m at least as angry at myself as a blogger (who was not adequately prepared) as I am about yet another breach of EU law and Schengen. My ICE train had just left the ferry, heading into Germany at Puttgarden at 1244, and was stationary at the station when[Read More…]

21.01.2013 4 comments

Analysis

Non-Schengen (or non-Danish law?) compliant border control at Padborg, 16th January 2013, 0651

Back in spring 2011, when Denmark still had a centre right government supported in parliament by the populist Dansk Folkeparti, the country drew sharp criticism from the European Commission with a plan to reintroduce border controls. The centre right lost the election later in 2011, and the borders plan did not[Read More…]

16.01.2013 14 comments

Analysis

Non-Schengen compliant border control between St Jean de Maurienne and Modane, 9th October 2012, 1240

Four French police boarded the front carriage of the 0749 Paris Gare de Lyon – Milano Garibaldi TGV at St Jean de Maurienne on 9th October. The train was running with a delay of around 55 minutes, hence departing from St Jean at around 1230. At 1240 the four police[Read More…]

09.10.2012 14 comments

Autumn press coverage of the #CrossBorderRail project

Guest on #RailNatter with Gareth Dennis – 4 Jan 2023 Han har krydset alle EU’s grænser i tog i 2022. Nu er han mest af alt bare sur Information – 3 Jan 2023 – Mathias Sonne Aktivisten Jon Worth har i 2022 kørt Europa tyndt og krydset alle europæiske[Read More…]

15.12.2022 0 comments

Analysis

More transparency needed – an EU citizen can’t currently know when and where Schengen is suspended

On Thursday 29th October I am taking the train from Berlin to Vienna, via Nürnberg. This means I will cross the German – Austrian border at Passau. But what is the status of that border at the moment? Is Schengen suspended there, or not? This is a valid question to[Read More…]

23.10.2015 2 comments

Analysis

What does it take for the Commission to take a Schengen complaint seriously?

Back in May I was subjected to the most extraordinary border control identity check at Perpignan station. I have blogged the transcript of the encounter here, and sent this to the European Commission, hoping they see this as non-Schengen compliant. The redacted letter of response from the Commission is here:[Read More…]

01.08.2014 4 comments