As flight-free travel acquires momentum, European train journeys are experiencing a renaissance.
The long-teased European Sleeper, a Belgian-Dutch social cooperative, will launch its very first path – from Brussels to Berlin by means of Amsterdam – on 25 May 2023. But it’s most likely to be popular so do not wait – tickets are on sale now.
With just one modification, guests on the European Sleeper will have the ability to take a trip on to Paris, London, Prague and Warsaw. From 2024, the strategy is to extend the service to Dresden and Prague.
Changing the method you take a trip is one the very best methods to decrease your carbon footprint. As an example, flying from London to Paris produces 14 times more CO2 than taking a trip by train.
Luckily, nations throughout the EU are investing in trains that offer much better – and faster – connections than ever previously.
From budget-savvy night trains to cross-country tracks, here are all the latest European train paths.
Austria
Vienna to Paris with Nightjet
Austrian nationwide rail company ÖBB has actually been conducting Europe’s sleeper train revival with Nightjet because 2016. In late 2021, it released a brand-new path in between Vienna and Paris by means of Salzburg and Munich.
The journey takes 14 hours and runs 3 times a week in both instructions, with costs from around €30 for a seat to €120 and up for a personal compartment.
In summertime 2023, Nightjet will launch new-gen trains that equal top-notch flights in convenience. Expect cordless charging stations, complimentary wifi, bike and snow sports equipment storage and personal compartments with their own showers and toilets.
Vienna to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet
Nightjet’s brand-new 2023 schedule saw its Vienna/Munich service to Milan reached Genoa and La Spezia in Italy. From here, you can take trains on to Monaco, Nice and Cinque Terre.
Belgium
Brussels to Berlin with European Sleeper (May 2023)
Details above.
Czech Republic
Prague to Zurich with ADVERTISEMENT
In December 2022, the Czech Republic’s nationwide rail operator České dráhy (ADVERTISEMENT) released a brand-new sleeper service connecting Prague to Zurich, with stops at Frankfurt and Basel along the method.
The over night journey, a revival of a service that shut down in 2017, will take a little less than 14 hours. Travellers will have a variety of various fare alternatives, from six-bed couchettes to luxurious sleeper compartments with en-suite toilets and showers.
Tickets for a berth in a six-bed couchette start from €49.90.
France
Paris to Berlin with TGV (begins 2024)
France and Germany have actually revealed a brand-new TGV train path in between Paris and Berlin that is because of start running in 2024.
Currently, a journey in between the 2 capital cities needs tourists to alter at a different station such as Cologne or Frankfurt. The brand-new high-speed link would enable guests to make the journey in around 7 hours.
Paris to Venice with Midnight Trains (2025)
French start-up Midnight Trains is set to link France and Italy with a brand-new night train service from Paris to Venice by means of Milan from 2025, backed by the European Commission. This will make it much faster and easier for UK tourists to take the train to Italy.
Paris to Madrid with Trenitalia (begins late 2024)
In December 2022, FS Italiane Group – the owner of Italy’s nationwide state-owned train Trenitalia – revealed prepare for a brand-new high-speed Frecciarossa train connection in between Paris and Madrid.
The brand-new train will connect Paris and Barcelona, where the existing high-speed service already goes to the Spanish capital. It is forecasted to launch in late 2024, with tips that even more services might link Madrid with Italy by means of France.
Germany
Berlin to Stockholm with Snälltåget
Swedish train business Snälltåget has actually rerouted its Berlin to Malmö train service through Hamburg and Denmark, while extending it to Stockholm. The complete journey takes simply under 17 hours with costs for the direct service from around €50.
Munich to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet
Nightjet’s brand-new 2023 schedule saw its Vienna/Munich service to Milan reached Genoa and La Spezia in Italy. From here, onward take a trip to Monaco, Nice and Cinque Terre is possible.
Stuttgart to Zagreb and Rijeka with Nightjet and EuroNight
In its brand-new 2023 schedule, Nightjet extended its sleeper train service from Munich to Venice, Ljubljana and Zagreb to start in Stuttgart, Germany.
Seasonally, the path will likewise go to the seaside Croatian city of Rijeka, with an overall journey time of around 15 hours.
The Nightjet to Venice takes a trip by means of Munich, Salzburg and Treviso, while the service to the Croatian and Slovenian capitals is run by Croatian Railways HŽ and Slovenian Railways SŽ under ÖBB’s EuroNight.
Italy
Genoa to Naples with NTV Italo
In late 2021, Italian high-speed rail business NTV Italo released a Genoa service connecting the formerly badly linked port city in Italy’s northwest to the south of the nation.
The journey from Genoa to Naples takes simply under 7 hours and expenses from around €80 return.
Milan to Paris with Frecciarossa
Also in late 2021, Frecciarossa – the high-speed arm of Italian nationwide train operator Trenitalia – released a trendy brand-new train in between Milan and Paris.
Faster and more glamorous than previous services on this path, the train takes simply under 7 hours. Tickets are as inexpensive as €29 – though splash out on an ‘executive’ fare to take a trip in a comfortable armchair.
Portugal
Porto to Lisbon and Vigo with the Iberian high-speed rail network (building and construction starting in 2024)
Portugal has actually authorized prepare for a high-speed railway in between Lisbon, Porto and Vigo. It will belong to the larger Iberian high-speed rail network joining the nation and linking it with Spain.
Currently it takes almost 3 hours to take a trip by train in between Porto and Lisbon. The brand-new rail link will slash the journey time to simply 1 hour 15 minutes. Ultimately, the brand-new line will link the Portuguese cities with Vigo in Spain.
Netherlands
Amsterdam to Austria with TUI’s Ski Express
Snow sport fans are bracing for a brand-new over night train introducing in between Amsterdam and a few of Austria’s most significant ski resorts.
TUI’s ‘Ski Express’ will leave from Amsterdam every Friday night in between 23 December and 31 March. After leaving the Dutch capital at 5:30pm, the service will stop at Utrecht, then continue straight to Austria.
Amsterdam to Zurich with Nightjet
Austrian-led night train leader Nightjet released a path in between Amsterdam and Zurich in late 2021. It leaves at 8.30pm and comes to 8.05am.
Sleeping alternatives variety from couchettes (from around €60) to sleeper cabins (from around €120).
Amsterdam to Barcelona with European Sleeper (Spring 2025)
Soon-to-launch Dutch-Belgian train operator European Sleeper wishes to launch a brand-new night train service from Amsterdam to Barcelona in spring 2025. This would significantly enhance north-south rail connections in Europe.
Spain
Madrid to Alicante and Valencia with Ouigo, Avlo and Iryo
In November 2022, SNCF-owned Ouigo released a brand-new high-speed, low-cost path in between Madrid and Valencia. From summertime 2023 it will likewise go to Alicante. Tickets will at first be priced at €9 one-way with one travel suitcase, however will cost around €30 after the launch duration.
But Renfe’s Aryo is set to beat it to the punch – the low cost operator will launch its own Madrid to Alicante service on 27 March beginning at simply €7. Iryo will launch a comparable service on 2 June.
In 2023 and 2024, Ouigo prepares to extend its service to reach Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and the Costa del Sol.
Barcelona to Madrid with Iryo
Travelling in between Spain’s capital and its leading traveler city got faster and less expensive in November 2022 with this brand-new high-speed rail service from Iryo.
Iryo – a consortium in between Spanish airline company Air Nostrum and Italian train business Trenitalia – runs 16 return trains day-to-day in between Barcelona and Madrid, taking as low as 2.5 hours each method and costing simply €18.
On 31 March 2023, the low-cost rail company will likewise launch a service in between Malaga, Madrid and Cordoba, with a journey time of 3 hours. From June 2023, Renfe’s Avlo will likewise connect Madrid with Malaga and Seville.
Madrid to Marseille by means of Barcelona with Renfe (begins mid 2023)
Spain’s state owned rail network is set to launch brand-new high-speed AVE services to France in 2023. Trains are anticipated to at first operate on alternate days however will later on be increase to two times a day.
Barcelona to Lyon by means of Montpellier and Nimes with Renfe (mid 2023)
Renfe’s strategy to extend its train services into France consists of another brand-new path due to launch later on this year in between Barcelona and Lyon.
Further paths to Paris are anticipated by the end of the year.
Slovenia
Ljubljana to Budapest with Hungarian Railways
Launched in December 2021, the Hungarian Railways train from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Budapest, Hungary goes through Graz in Austria for a beautiful trip. The journey takes 7.5 hours and costs start as low as €16 each method.
Sweden
Stockholm to Hamburg with SJ EuroNight
Launched in September 2022, the Stockholm Central to Hamburg-Altona night train is powered by renewable resource. It leaves daily at 5.30pm and comes to 6.30am, travelling through Copenhagen along the method.
The most inexpensive choice is a seat in a carriage (from €25). A bed in a shared compartment begins at €45, while a personal compartment for 2 individuals with a sink begins at €165. Private compartments for one-to-three individuals featured their own shower, toilet and breakfast beginning with around €205. Pet-friendly train compartments are likewise available.
Combined with existing Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn services, the service can likewise be utilized to take a trip from London to Stockholm in less than 24 hr.
Switzerland
Zurich to Rome with Nightjet
In a 2020 interview, Nightjet revealed it will launch a brand-new night train in between Zurich and Rome in winter season 2022. It stays to be seen whether the strategies will proceed as scheduled. Currently, the operator’s only Rome paths consist of Vienna, Salzburg, Villach and Munich.
UK
London to Bordeaux with HS1 (roughly 2026)
The UK’s High Speed 1 (HS1), which runs the Channel Tunnel train line, is getting ready to launch a brand-new path from London to Bordeaux. Currently, guests should travel through Paris to reach the French red wine area, with a journey time of almost 6 hours. The brand-new line will bypass the capital and slash the travel time to around 5 hours.
