Flight-free travel: The best new European train routes launching in 2023 and 2024

As flight-absolutely free vacation gains momentum, European teach journeys are experiencing a renaissance.

Shifting the way you journey is a single the greatest methods to lower your carbon footprint. As an illustration, traveling from London to Paris emits 14 instances much more CO2 than travelling by practice.

Luckily for us, international locations across the EU are investing in railways that deliver superior – and speedier – connections than ever ahead of.

From funds-savvy evening trains to cross-place tracks, below are all the hottest European railway routes.

Austria

Vienna to Paris with Nightjet

Austrian countrywide rail agency ÖBB has been trailblazing Europe’s sleeper coach revival with Nightjet considering that 2016. In late 2021, it released a new route amongst Vienna and Paris by means of Salzburg and Munich.

The journey takes 14 several hours and operates 3 situations a week in both of those directions, with price ranges from close to €30 for a seat to €120 and up for a non-public compartment.

In summer season 2023, Nightjet will launch new-gen trains that rival initially-class flights in comfort and ease. Count on wireless charging stations, free of charge wifi, bicycle and snow athletics tools storage and private compartments with their possess showers and toilets.

Vienna to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet

Nightjet’s new 2023 timetable observed its Vienna/Munich services to Milan prolonged to Genoa and La Spezia in Italy. From right here, you can acquire trains on to Monaco, Awesome and Cinque Terre.

Belgium

Brussels to Berlin with European Sleeper (starts May 2023)

The long-teased European Sleeper, a Belgian-Dutch social cooperative, will launch its 1st route – from Brussels to Berlin by way of Amsterdam – on 25 May perhaps 2023.

With only one particular change, passengers will be ready to vacation on to Paris, London, Prague and Warsaw. From 2024, the prepare is to lengthen the assistance to Dresden and Prague.

Czech Republic

Prague to Zurich with ČD

In December 2022, the Czech Republic’s countrywide rail operator České dráhy (ČD) launched a new sleeper assistance linking Prague to Zurich, with stops at Frankfurt and Basel alongside the way.

The overnight journey, a revival of a services that closed down in 2017, will take marginally much less than 14 several hours. Travellers will have a number of distinctive fare possibilities, from 6-bed couchettes to deluxe sleeper compartments with en-suite bathrooms and showers. 

Tickets for a berth in a 6-bed couchette start out from €49.90.

France

Paris to Berlin with TGV (starts off 2024)

France and Germany have announced a new TGV practice route concerning Paris and Berlin that is owing to start out working in 2024. 

Currently, a journey concerning the two money metropolitan areas involves travellers to adjust at a individual station such as Cologne or Frankfurt. The new higher-pace backlink would allow passengers to make the journey in around seven several hours. 

Paris to Madrid with Trenitalia (begins late 2024)

In December 2022, FS Italiane Team – the owner of Italy’s national state-owned railway Trenitalia – introduced ideas for a new high-pace Frecciarossa train connection amongst Paris and Madrid.

The new educate will url Paris and Barcelona, the place the present higher-pace company already operates to the Spanish capital. It is projected to start in late 2024, with hints that additional companies could connect Madrid with Italy by way of France.

Germany

Berlin to Stockholm with Snälltåget

Swedish railway corporation Snälltåget has rerouted its Berlin to Malmö educate service through Hamburg and Denmark, though extending it to Stockholm. The complete journey can take just below 17 hours with rates for the direct support from close to €50.

Munich to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet

Nightjet’s new 2023 timetable noticed its Vienna/Munich provider to Milan extended to Genoa and La Spezia in Italy. From in this article, onward vacation to Monaco, Wonderful and Cinque Terre is feasible.

Stuttgart to Zagreb and Rijeka with Nightjet and EuroNight

In its new 2023 timetable, Nightjet prolonged its sleeper educate provider from Munich to Venice, Ljubljana and Zagreb to begin in Stuttgart, Germany.

Seasonally, the route will also operate to the coastal Croatian metropolis of Rijeka, with a total journey time of around 15 hrs.

The Nightjet to Venice travels by means of Munich, Salzburg and Treviso, though the support to the Croatian and Slovenian capitals is operate by Croatian Railways HŽ and Slovenian Railways SŽ below ÖBB’s EuroNight.

Italy

Genoa to Naples with NTV Italo

In late 2021, Italian high-pace rail business NTV Italo launched a Genoa company linking the earlier poorly linked port town in Italy’s northwest to the south of the nation.

The journey from Genoa to Naples can take just under seven hrs and charges from all over €80 return.

Milan to Paris with Frecciarossa

Also in late 2021, Frecciarossa – the large-pace arm of Italian nationwide practice operator Trenitalia – introduced a swanky new coach among Milan and Paris.

Speedier and far more high-class than prior products and services on this route, the teach normally takes just less than seven hrs. Tickets are as low cost as €29 – although splash out on an ‘executive’ fare to journey in a comfortable armchair.

Portugal

Porto to Lisbon and Vigo with the Iberian substantial-pace rail network (design commencing in 2024)

Portugal has authorised ideas for a significant-speed rail line among Lisbon, Porto and Vigo. It will be part of the wider Iberian large-pace rail network uniting the place and connecting it with Spain.

At this time it will take nearly a few several hours to journey by coach involving Porto and Lisbon. The new rail website link will slash the journey time to just 1 hour 15 minutes. Finally, the new line will hook up the Portuguese cities with Vigo in Spain.

Netherlands

Amsterdam to Austria with TUI’s Ski Categorical

Snow activity enthusiasts are bracing for a new right away train launching amongst Amsterdam and some of Austria’s most important ski resorts.

TUI’s ‘Ski Convey’ will depart from Amsterdam each and every Friday evening among 23 December and 31 March. After leaving the Dutch capital at 5:30pm, the service will stop at Utrecht, then carry on immediately to Austria.

Amsterdam to Zurich with Nightjet

Austrian-led night train pioneer Nightjet launched a route involving Amsterdam and Zurich in late 2021. It leaves at 8.30pm and arrives at 8.05am.

Sleeping possibilities range from couchettes (from around €60) to sleeper cabins (from all over €120).

Spain

Madrid to Alicante and Valencia with Ouigo

In November 2022, SNCF-owned Ouigo launched a new superior-speed route in between Madrid and Valencia. It will quickly also run to Alicante. Tickets will initially be priced at €9 a single-way with a person suitcase, but will value close to €30 just after the launch period.

In 2023, Ouigo plans to increase its provider to arrive at Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and the Costa del Sol.

Barcelona to Madrid with Iryo

Travelling concerning Spain’s funds and its top tourist metropolis obtained more rapidly and much less expensive in November 2022 with this new large-speed rail assistance from Iryo.

Iryo – a consortium between Spanish airline Air Nostrum and Italian prepare firm Trenitalia – runs 16 return trains everyday involving Barcelona and Madrid, using as minimal as 2.5 hrs every way and costing just €18.

Madrid to Marseille by using Barcelona with Renfe (commences mid 2023)

Spain’s point out owned rail community is established to launch new substantial-pace AVE products and services to France in 2023. Trains are expected to in the beginning run on alternate days but will later on be ramped up to twice a day.

Barcelona to Lyon by using Montpellier and Nimes with Renfe (mid 2023)

Renfe’s program to prolong its prepare solutions into France features another new route owing to start afterwards this 12 months among Barcelona and Lyon.

Further more routes to Paris are anticipated by the stop of the 12 months.

Slovenia

Ljubljana to Budapest with Hungarian Railways

Released in December 2021, the Hungarian Railways teach from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Budapest, Hungary runs as a result of Graz in Austria for a scenic experience. The journey takes 7.5 hrs and costs start as low as €16 every way.

Sweden

Stockholm to Hamburg with SJ EuroNight

Launched in September 2022, the Stockholm Central to Hamburg-Altona night coach is driven by renewable power. It departs each day at 5.30pm and arrives at 6.30am, passing as a result of Copenhagen alongside the way.

The lowest priced possibility is a seat in a carriage (from €25). A bed in a shared compartment commences at €45, while a private compartment for two people with a sink commences at €165. Private compartments for one particular-to-three people today come with their individual shower, rest room and breakfast commencing from all over €205. Pet-friendly teach compartments are also out there.

Put together with existing Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn expert services, the support can also be employed to travel from London to Stockholm in significantly less than 24 hrs.

Switzerland

Zurich to Rome with Nightjet

In a 2020 press convention, Nightjet introduced it will launch a new night train involving Zurich and Rome in winter season 2022. It stays to be viewed regardless of whether the programs will go forward as scheduled. Currently, the operator’s only Rome routes involve Vienna, Salzburg, Villach and Munich.

Uk

London to Bordeaux with HS1 (roughly 2026)

The UK’s Significant Pace 1 (HS1), which operates the Channel Tunnel railway line, is gearing up to launch a new route from London to Bordeaux. Presently, passengers must pass by way of Paris to attain the French wine area, with a journey time of almost six hrs. The new line will bypass the funds and slash the vacation time to around 5 hours.