Long-distance night trains news cross-border connections arrival of new low-cost operators strengthening services to Italy, Scandinavia or Central Europe... After a year 2025 already full of announcements and new routes, 2026 looks set to be a busy year for European rail. Even if development is sometimes still too slow (particularly for night trains in Europe) and a unfair it looks like the train is continuing to gain ground on the plane!
In this article, we take you on a tour of the new train lines announced for 2026 in Europe, with for each one the project and its context, the announced date (when known), the planned stops and of course a point of vigilance when the info remains uncertain or depends on public funding. Follow the guide.
We're off to a great start with GoVolta, the Dutch start-up that dreams of being a easyJet from the railways. Its challenge: offer long-distance routes at very low prices (from €10 advertised) even if they are a little slower than high-speed trains.
GoVolta has set its sights on three routes for 2026:
© GoVolta
The model is clearly assertive: slower trains, optimized costs and lower prices. An approach that could further democratize international rail travel if the project lives up to its promise.
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GoVolta: Europe's New Low-Cost Trains (Prices, Routes, Dates)
European Sleeper continues to expand. After Brussels-Berlin-Dresden-Prague, the operator recently announced a Paris-Berlin night service. As a reminder, this news follows the delete of the Paris-Berlin night service previously operated by ÖBB and SNCF Voyageurs, due to insufficient subsidies from the French government. Following a huge wave of mobilization (almost 100,000 signatures on the petition the collective Yes to night trains), the Belgian-Dutch company has positioned itself as an alternative.
European Sleeper
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Paris–Berlin night train: European Sleeper relaunches the route (and adds Hamburg)
Even if the Paris-Vienna route is still on hold, this new line is excellent news for night trains in Europe. And for the line to be sustainable, it's essential that passengers keep coming back for more. So if you're interested in Berlin, don't hesitate to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with the European Sleeper promotions we regularly share with you!
Another major announcement from the company: the Amsterdam - Brussels - Milan night service Germany (Cologne) and Switzerland (Berne). In other words, you can fall asleep in Brussels (accessible via the OUIGO Paris-Brussels line from €10 for example), to wake you up in Germany, Switzerland or Italy!
European Sleeper
A strategic link that reconnects Northern Europe to Italy by night and could become a major focus of low-carbon tourism.
And to find out more, take a look at our interview with European Sleeper.
TGV Lyria had already launched a seasonal service in summer 2025 between French-speaking Switzerland and Marseille. Good news: a stronger offering in 2026.
Good news for simplifying the journey Switzerland-Mediterranean by train !
CFF/SBB and Trenitalia have confirmed their intention to launch direct daytime services from Zurich to Florence and Livorno.
A major step forward for transalpine connections without connections.
The same logic applies to Zurich - Rome (direct, daytime service), which had been announced as a target to be achieved by 2026. This project is consistent with the deployment of Frecciarossa services to Austria and Germany.
However, caution is advised: SBB is currently talking about equipment constraints, and the project may not see the light of day before 2027. To be continued, then?
Yes, Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB have announced Frecciarossa high-speed links between Munich and Milan and between Munich and Rome!
A real revolution for transalpine links, and a serious competitor to air travel.
After its success in the summer of 2025, Espresso Riviera, the seasonal Marseille-Rome night train is expected in summer 2026.
But that's not all, as the Espresso Riviera has had a little brother since the end of 2025: l'Espresso Monaco linking Rome and Munich. What's it all about? An overnight tourist train also operated by FS Treni Turistici Italiani, and presented as an extension of the strategy launched with the Espresso Riviera, with intermediate services to Northern Italy and the Brenner Pass. Launched to coincide with Oktoberfest 2025 and Christmas Markets 2025, it is currently an event train. The renewal has not yet announced for 2026but an announcement may be expected in the run-up to the autumn 2026.
Deutsche Bahn has announced a new direct ICE service between Cologne and Antwerp (via Brussels airport) for September 2026. This will be in addition to existing ICE services between Cologne and Brussels (Bruxelles-Midi).
A long-awaited line to strengthen the Rhine-Benelux axis.
A new private player that could shaking up the Polish market RegioJet, which has already launched the Krakow - Warsaw in September 2025. In 2026, the operator plans a full commercial ramp-up with a network including
At the same time, new international and overnight relations involving Poland are announced for 2026.
The Budapest-Belgrade line, which has been under construction for years, should be ready for reopening. early 2026.
However, commercial operation will depend on final Chinese and Hungarian certification of the equipment.
A new direct daytime connection Prague - Berlin - Hamburg - Copenhagen, operated jointly by ČD, DB and DSB with ComfortJet trains, has been announced for spring 2026.
In short, true north-south continuity in Central Europe!
And that's not all: in addition to the new routes, the Hamburg-Copenhagen axis, the backbone of the Scandinavian rail network, is also benefiting from major investments in equipment.
A major rail link between continental Europe and Scandinavia, the Hamburg - Copenhagen benefits from a major move upmarket. Since the end of 2025 new EuroCity Talgo 230 trains are gradually being introduced by Danish operator DSB on this route.
These new trains offer enhanced capacity and modern interiors (wifi, sockets, accessibility, luggage/bicycle areas) and a best comfort for international long-distance journeys. Very good news for the attractiveness of day trains to Scandinavia.
This modernization is part of a wider drive to strengthen the Germany-Scandinavia axis, which will be further transformed in the medium term with the opening of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel scheduled for 2029.
The opinion of Marc, our CPO: "Having taken the old 6 o'clock train with no plugs and no club car, this is a really welcome investment!"
Despite nearly 100,000 signatures to contest the night train Paris - Vienna cancelled (discontinued since December 2025), no operator has yet officially committed to taking over the line.
Announced as the first direct night train between Switzerland and Scandinavia The EuroNight Basel - Copenhagen / Malmö project was the talk of the town... before it came up against budgetary realities (47 million in subsidies were required). The date originally announced was April 15, 2026.
However, at the end of October 2025, SBB announced that the service would not be extended after all. not launched for lack of approved funding.
A textbook case of dependence of night trains on public subsidies.
Some routes will not see the light of day in 2026, but they will be will completely reshuffle the cards on Europe's railways in the years to come. These projects are heavy, costly and take a long time to build... but they have a colossal impact on modal shift and the coherence of the continental network.
This is one of Europe's largest infrastructure projects currently underway. The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will link Rødby (Denmark) to Puttgarden (Germany) via an 18 km immersed tunnel, combining rail and road.
Why is it a game changer? Today, part of the Hamburg-Copenhagen link is still by ferry. With the tunnel, travel time between Hamburg and Copenhagen is set to fall from around 4h30 to 2h30, making rail far more competitive than air travel on this route, and paving the way for much smoother long-distance connections between Germany, Scandinavia and Central Europe. In concrete terms, this project is a a key link in the Scandinavia-Mediterranean corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Another titanic project: the Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT) between Innsbruck (Austria) and Fortezza (Italy). With its 64 km It will be one of the longest railway tunnels in the world.
Why is it absolutely central to European rail? Today, the Brenner Pass is: a black spot for road freight, and it's a rail route constrained by gradient and capacity. The base tunnel will therefore enable faster, heavier trains (especially for freight), and a strong increase in capacity This is the key to making the Germany-Italy, Austria-Italy and Northern Europe-Mediterranean routes truly competitive.
It's easy to see why DB, Trenitalia and ÖBB are already preparing the ground for the new Frecciarossa Munich-Milan/Rome in 2026 The Brenner is the centrepiece for the medium term.
A highly controversial project in France: the Lyon-Turin base tunnel. The aim: to cross the Alps at low altitude, with a very gentle gradient.
This is probably one of the most ambitious long-distance projects in Europe. Austrian Railways (ÖBB), together with DB and Trenitalia, have detailed a two-phase rollout:
This would mean: Rome - Berlin in 2027, and Naples - Berlin in 2028 (pending confirmation).
We're talking here about continuous north-south links over 1000 km, with no load breaks, at high speed. A real change for European rail, which would finally be able to cover distances comparable to those of air travel.
While Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany are stepping up their cross-border announcements, on the French side, the focus is mainly on renewing equipment, optimizing existing facilities, and a few symbolic reopenings.... But there are few major international news items.
SNCF continues to deploy TGV M (Avelia Horizon) These are presented as more capable, more energy-efficient and more modular. A good news for the indoor network which we'll tell you more about in this article.
The interior of the new TGV M - © SNCF Voyageurs
Good news on the mountain lines and railway heritage the train des Merveilles is back. If you've never heard of this historic line, the train des merveilles is a panoramic train that links Nice to Tende, between sea views and mountain landscapes. After more than a year's interruption due to construction work, it's back.
The arrival of Ouigo on the Lyon - Bordeaux route is also an interesting signal, both for the strengthening of the transverse offer, the lowering of prices, and for offering a credible alternative to the car and the plane.
We tell you more in this article.
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Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
