AThinkTrainMakesHeadlines:TrackstotheFutureintheMedia

Tracks to the Future has not even left the station, and it is already making news. In the days before departure, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Handelsblatt, Süddeutsche Zeitung, DIE ZEIT, WELT, WirtschaftsWoche, Stern and FOCUS online all reported on the journey. More than 20 regional newspapers across Germany followed, together with the Salzburger Nachrichten in Austria and media in Spanish and Chinese.

The interest shows that the idea strikes a nerve. Too many international summits are packed with panels, side events and back-to-back meetings, leaving little room for real exchange. Tracks to the Future offers something different: a conference that moves. For 18 days, leaders from politics, business, science and culture travel together from Duisburg to Xi’an, share meals, debate and get to know each other’s perspectives.

Around 80 participants are taking part, but never more than about 30 are on board at once. People join for one section, step off and make room for the next group, so the conversation keeps changing as the landscape does. The reason is simple, as Jovanka Porsche, Founder and Chairwoman of Global Neighbours, explains: “Everyone has to fit into one carriage for dinner and discussions.”

The starting point is no coincidence. Duisburg is home to the world’s largest inland port, and an 11,000-kilometre freight rail line links it directly to China. From there, the journey follows the historic Silk Road through Türkiye, Central Asia and China, with discussions on board and public events in host cities along the way.

Where ideas travel: Tracks to the Future turns the journey itself into the meeting place. Photo: © Golden Eagle Luxury Trains

Or, as Ms Porsche put it to the Salzburger Nachrichten: “No one will return less wise than when they set out.”

On 18 October, the train leaves Duisburg. We look forward to sharing what happens on board, and we thank all the journalists and editors who have helped bring Tracks to the Future to a wide audience.

Read the coverage:

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
https://www.faz.net/agenturmeldungen/dpa/von-duisburg-nach-china-luxuszug-als-konferenzort-201323362.html

Handelsblatt
https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/rollende-denkfabrik-von-duisburg-nach-china-luxuszug-als-konferenzort/100262355.html

Süddeutsche Zeitung
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/rollende-denkfabrik-von-duisburg-nach-china-luxuszug-als-konferenzort-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-261015-930-841445

DIE ZEIT
https://www.zeit.de/news/2026-10/15/von-duisburg-nach-china-luxuszug-als-konferenzort

WELT
https://www.welt.de/newsticker/dpa_nt/infoline_nt/wirtschaft_nt/article6ad0347f02e6083794307268/von-duisburg-nach-china-luxuszug-als-konferenzort.html

WirtschaftsWoche
https://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/rollende-denkfabrik-von-duisburg-nach-china-luxuszug-als-konferenzort/100262359.html

Stern
https://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/news/rollende-denkfabrik--von-duisburg-nach-china--luxuszug-als-konferenzort-38399122.html

FOCUS online
https://www.focus.de/panorama/welt/luxuszug-von-duisburg-nach-china-soll-denkfabrik-werden_62de829a-05d1-4397-98f7-292b6ebbae7d.html

Salzburger Nachrichten
https://www.sn.at/wirtschaft/oesterreich/in-18-tagen-im-zug-nach-china-niemand-wird-duemmer-zurueckkehren-als-er-losgefahren-ist-art-678281

Augsburger Allgemeine
https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/wirtschaft/rollende-denkfabrik-von-duisburg-nach-china-luxuszug-als-konferenzort-115500257

Confirmado (Spanish)
https://confirmado.net/de-alemania-a-china-un-tren-de-lujo-convertido-en-sala-de-conferencias/

China Gate (Chinese)
https://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2026/10/15/126805748.html

…and more than 25 further regional and online outlets.