From Scandinavia to southern Italy, via Berlin, Belgrade, and Lisbon, the European rail network is on the move—and we couldn’t be more excited. Train travel is gaining momentum across the continent, as more and more travelers seek to reduce their carbon footprint by opting for the train, which—contrary to popular belief—is sometimes more convenient and affordable than flying. In this article, we update you on the most exciting new European train routes—whether high-speed or overnight—to keep an eye on in the coming months and years!
Also read: The trains set to revolutionize our travels in 2025
From summer 2025, TGV Lyria will extend its seasonal service between Marseille and Lausanne via Geneva. The direct summer route between Marseille, Geneva, and Lausanne will operate daily from June 28 to August 24, 2025.
The service is already announced and available for booking!
Starting in 2026, the route will be extended from April to October, with trains running Thursday to Monday and daily round-trips during the peak summer season (June 27 to August 23).
A seasonal night train between Warsaw (Poland) and Rijeka (Croatia) will run from June 27 to August 31, 2025, with four trips per week. Tickets can be booked via PKP Intercity’s official website, as well as on Interrail/Eurail (for pass holders) or third-party platforms like Trainline.
[Book your Warsaw–Rijeka tickets]
The service is confirmed for summer.
The train serves multiple cities in Poland, then travels through the Czech Republic (Ostrava), Austria (Vienna), Slovenia (Ljubljana, Postojna), and Croatia (Opatija, Rijeka).
A direct route is set to launch in summer 2025 thanks to cooperation between ÖBB, SNCF, and Deutsche Bahn! Part of the expanding Nightjet network, this route, inaugurated in December 2023, will continue for summer 2025 with three weekly round-trips: departures from Paris on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and returns from Berlin on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
The connection has been confirmed by the operators.
Notably stops in Strasbourg, Frankfurt (Main) South, Erfurt, Halle (Saale), and Berlin Hbf.
Also read: The return of the Paris–Berlin night train: practical info
Tickets available on Nightjet (ÖBB), Deutsche Bahn (DB), SNCF Connect, or Trainline.
FlixTrain has announced a direct route between Berlin and Warsaw starting December 2025, with an operating license until December 2030! With two daily round-trips between Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Warsaw (Warszawa Wschodnia), this marks FlixTrain’s first international service to the Polish market. The trip will take around 5 hours, faster than current EuroCity trains thanks to fewer stops (skipping places like Frankfurt or Rzepin).
The official announcement has been made. Slot allocations are the next step.
The train will stop in Poznań, western Poland.
The Budapest–Belgrade line, under renovation since 2018, is set to reopen by late 2025. Thanks to a speed of 200 km/h, the trip will connect the two capitals in under 3 hours (previously over 6!).
Work is well advanced. Full modernization on both the Hungarian and Serbian sides is expected by late 2025 or early 2026, with commercial service starting soon after.
A new night train—backed by Swiss Railways (SBB) and Railroad Development Corporation (RDC)—is planned to link Basel to Copenhagen via Hamburg by spring 2026, with a possible extension to Malmö. This is great news, as no direct night link has existed between Scandinavia and Switzerland since the CityNightLine Aurora was discontinued in 2014.
The project is still pending funding and regulatory approvals in Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark. A seasonal launch in spring 2026 is targeted.
The train would run from Basel to Copenhagen via Malmö, covering Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark—with a potential Swedish extension.
Swiss Railways (SBB) and Trenitalia plan to launch direct routes to Florence and Livorno in 2026 as part of strengthened north-south connectivity.
The launch has been confirmed for 2026 (per official SBB communications). This is part of a renewed cooperation between SBB and Trenitalia, who have jointly transported over 30 million passengers between Switzerland and Italy since 2009.
SBB has also announced plans to launch a direct route between Zurich and Rome by 2026, in cooperation with Trenitalia. The goal: to offer a fast, comfortable alternative to flights, connecting both cities in 7–8 hours.
The intention has been announced by both SBB and Trenitalia. However, several technical and logistical challenges remain (lack of suitable rolling stock, rail infrastructure capacity issues in both Switzerland and Italy).
Trenitalia and Deutsche Bahn (DB) plan to launch a high-speed rail connection between Rome and Munich via the Brenner Pass by December 2026. Daily round-trips will operate between both cities, as well as between Milan and Munich.
Announced for December 2026, this partnership between Trenitalia, DB, and ÖBB is supported by the EU as part of a pilot program to boost cross-border rail connections.
The Italian portion (Rome–Verona) will be high-speed, while alpine sections will run at reduced speed. Extensions to Berlin (north) and Naples (south) are being considered for 2028.
By December 2028, travelers should be able to ride directly from Milan or Naples to Berlin via Rome, Florence, Bologna, Verona, Bolzano, Innsbruck, Munich, Nuremberg, and Erfurt. The initiative—led by Trenitalia, DB, and ÖBB—aims to build a more connected European high-speed rail network.
The Milan–Berlin route will merge with the same itinerary from Verona onward.
In April 2025, FS Group (Trenitalia) announced plans to compete with Eurostar by launching its own high-speed service between Paris and London via the Channel Tunnel by 2029. A key hurdle: obtaining Eurotunnel certification.
An agreement has been signed with the Spanish consortium Evolyn, already working on a similar project. The partnership aims to pool technical expertise and funding. However, station slot allocations in Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras, as well as tunnel safety certifications, are still pending.
Possible calls at Lille (Europe) and Ashford (Kent) are under consideration. Long-term extensions to Lyon, Marseille, and Milan are also being discussed but are not part of the initial plan.
Long awaited, the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Lisbon is expected by 2030. It would link both capitals in around 6 hours—or even 3 hours in the long term, once all high-speed sections are completed (currently over 10 hours).
In 2024, the Spanish and Portuguese governments reaffirmed their commitment to completing the line by 2030. Agreements have been signed and construction planning is underway.
In Spain, several segments—especially between Badajoz and Plasencia—are already completed or in advanced stages, with some high-speed trains already in operation.
Other intermediate stops like Mérida (Spain) or Poceirão (Portugal) may be added, but speed will be prioritized.
Also read: Hendaye–Lisbon night train: where do we stand?