Rail revival: The best new European train journeys to take in 2023

As flight-absolutely free travel gains momentum, European coach journeys are going through a renaissance.

Shifting the way you travel is just one the ideal techniques to lower your carbon footprint. According to Eurostar, traveling from London to Paris emits 14 occasions much more CO2 than travelling by train.

Fortunately, nations throughout the EU are investing in railways that deliver much better – and quicker – connections than ever before.

From budget-savvy night trains to cross-nation tracks, listed here are all the newest European railway routes.

Austria

Vienna to Paris with Nightjet

Austrian countrywide rail firm ÖBB has been trailblazing Europe’s sleeper prepare revival with NightJet given that 2016. In late 2021, it launched a new route concerning Vienna and Paris by way of Salzburg and Munich.

The journey can take 14 several hours and runs three situations a 7 days in the two instructions, with prices from around €30 for a seat to €120 and up for a personal compartment.

In summer time 2023, Nightjet will launch new-gen trains that rival initially-course flights in comfort and ease. Hope wi-fi charging stations, cost-free wifi, bicycle and snow athletics tools storage and non-public compartments with their possess showers and bogs.

Vienna to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet

Nightjet’s new 2023 timetable saw its Vienna/Munich assistance to Milan extended to Genoa and La Spezia in Italy. From right here, passengers can just take trains to Monaco, Good and Cinque Terre.

Belgium

Brussels to Berlin with European Sleeper (coming in 2023)

The lengthy-teased European Sleeper, a Belgian-Dutch social cooperative, is virtually prepared to start its first route, which will join Brussels to Berlin through Amsterdam.

Eventually, it will run by means of to Prague, even though this leg of the journey is not established to be operational until finally 2024.

Czech Republic

Prague to Zurich with ČD

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

The right away journey, a revival of a service that shut down in 2017, will acquire a little significantly less than 14 hours. Travellers will have a amount of unique fare options, from six-bed couchettes to deluxe sleeper compartments with en-suite bogs and showers. 

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

France

Paris to Madrid with Trenitalia (late 2024)

In December 2022, FS Italiane Team – the operator of Italy’s countrywide condition-owned railway Trenitalia – declared plans for a new high-velocity Frecciarossa prepare connection concerning Paris and Madrid.

The new educate will url Paris and Barcelona, where the existing superior-velocity service by now operates to the Spanish cash. It is projected to launch in late 2024, with hints that additional providers could connect Madrid with Italy by using France.

Germany

Berlin to Stockholm with Snälltåget

Swedish railway corporation Snälltåget has rerouted its Berlin to Malmö prepare provider by way of Hamburg and Denmark, although extending it to Stockholm. The comprehensive journey can take just less than 17 hrs with rates for the immediate service from about €50. 

Munich to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet

Nightjet’s new 2023 timetable saw its Vienna/Munich services to Milan extended to Genoa and La Spezia in Italy. From here, onward vacation to Monaco, Wonderful and Cinque Terre is possible.

Stuttgart to Zagreb and Rijeka with Nightjet and EuroNight

In its new 2023 timetable, NightJet extended its sleeper train provider from Munich to Venice, Ljubljana and Zagreb to start in Stuttgart, Germany.

Seasonally, the route will also operate to the coastal Croatian city of Rijeka, with a whole journey time of about 15 hours.

The Nightjet to Venice travels by using Munich, Salzburg and Treviso, whilst the company to the Croatian and Slovenian capitals is operate by Croatian Railways HŽ and Slovenian Railways SŽ beneath ÖBB’s EuroNight.

Italy

Genoa to Naples with NTV Italo

In late 2021, Italian superior-pace rail firm NTV Italo launched a Genoa service linking the beforehand badly connected port metropolis in Italy’s northwest to the south of the region.

The journey from Genoa to Naples takes just under seven hrs and expenditures from all around €80 return.

Milan to Paris with Frecciarossa

Also in late 2021, Frecciarossa – the high-velocity arm of Italian countrywide teach operator Trenitalia – introduced a swanky new educate involving Milan and Paris.

Faster and more lavish than former products and services on this route, the coach takes just beneath seven hrs. Tickets are as low-priced as €29 – although splash out on an ‘executive’ fare to journey in a cozy armchair.

Portugal

Porto to Lisbon and Vigo with the Iberian high-velocity rail community (construction starting in 2024)

Portugal has authorized strategies for a significant-pace rail line involving Lisbon, Porto and Vigo. It will be element of the wider Iberian large-speed rail network uniting the nation and connecting it with Spain.

At present it normally takes nearly three hours to vacation by practice concerning Porto and Lisbon. The new rail url will slash the journey time to just 1 hour 15 minutes. Ultimately, the new line will connect the Portuguese towns with Vigo in Spain.

Netherlands

Amsterdam to Austria with TUI’s Ski Convey (December 2022)

Snow activity lovers are bracing for a new overnight coach launching concerning Amsterdam and some of Austria’s biggest ski resorts.

TUI’s ‘Ski Specific’ will depart from Amsterdam every single Friday night in between 23 December and 31 March. After leaving the Dutch funds at 5:30pm, the assistance will quit at Utrecht, then continue on specifically to Austria.

Amsterdam to Zurich with Nightjet

Austrian-led night teach pioneer NightJet released a route among Amsterdam and Zurich in late 2021. It leaves at 8.30pm and comes at 8.05am.

Sleeping solutions assortment from couchettes (from close to €60) to sleeper cabins (from close to €120).

Spain

Madrid to Alicante and Valencia with Ouigo

In November 2022, SNCF-owned Ouigo released a new substantial-pace route concerning Madrid and Valencia. It will soon also operate to Alicante. Tickets will initially be priced at €9 a person-way with a person suitcase, but will price all-around €30 after the launch time period.

In 2023, Ouigo programs to prolong its provider to attain Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and the Costa del Sol.

Barcelona to Madrid with Iryo

Travelling in between Spain’s funds and its major vacationer town got quicker and less costly in November 2022 with this new substantial-pace rail support from Iryo.

Iryo – a consortium concerning Spanish airline Air Nostrum and Italian coach corporation Trenitalia – runs 16 return trains daily between Barcelona and Madrid, having as minimal as 2.5 hrs every way and costing just €18.

Slovenia

Ljubljana to Budapest with Hungarian Railways

Introduced in December 2021, the Hungarian Railways train from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Budapest, Hungary runs through Graz in Austria for a scenic ride. The journey will take 7.5 hrs and trains depart at 5:05am and 9:35am, starting as lower as €16 every single way.

Sweden

Stockholm to Hamburg with SJ EuroNight

Launched in September 2022, the Stockholm Central to Hamburg-Altona evening educate is driven by renewable strength. It departs daily at 5.30pm and comes at 6.30am, passing by way of Copenhagen alongside the way.

The least expensive possibility is a seat in a carriage (from €25). A bed in a shared compartment starts off at €45, whilst a personal compartment for two people with a sink commences at €165. Private compartments for one-to-3 persons occur with their own shower, rest room and breakfast starting up from all-around €205. Pet-helpful train compartments are also obtainable.

Put together with present Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn expert services, the assistance can also be applied to vacation from London to Stockholm in fewer than 24 several hours.

Switzerland

Zurich to Rome with Nightjet (December 2022)

In a 2020 press meeting, Nightjet declared it will start a new night practice concerning Zurich and Rome in winter season 2022. It continues to be to be seen whether the strategies will go ahead as scheduled. At the moment, the operator’s only Rome routes involve Vienna, Salzburg, Villach and Munich.

British isles

London to Bordeaux with Eurostar (2027, probably)

Eurotunnel execs have hinted at plans for a London to Bordeaux route, which they purpose to launch in just the following 5 a long time. They hope the new infrastructure will stimulate private jet buyers to pay a visit to the Côte d’Azur a lot more sustainably.