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

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

The long-teased European Sleeper, a Belgian-Dutch social cooperative, will launch its first route – from Brussels to Berlin by means of Amsterdam – on 25 Might 2023. But it really is probably to be well-liked so never wait around – tickets are on sale now.

With only 1 change, travellers on the European Sleeper will be capable to travel on to Paris, London, Prague and Warsaw. From 2024, the program is to extend the services to Dresden and Prague.

Modifying the way you vacation is just one the most effective methods to decrease your carbon footprint. As an case in point, traveling from London to Paris emits 14 times more CO2 than travelling by practice.

Thankfully, nations across the EU are investing in railways that deliver superior – and faster – connections than at any time prior to.

From funds-savvy night trains to cross-place tracks, right here are all the newest European railway routes.

Austria

Vienna to Paris with Nightjet

Austrian nationwide rail business ÖBB has been trailblazing Europe’s sleeper teach revival with Nightjet considering that 2016. In late 2021, it introduced a new route in between Vienna and Paris through Salzburg and Munich.

The journey usually takes 14 hrs and runs 3 times a 7 days in each instructions, with prices from all over €30 for a seat to €120 and up for a personal compartment.

In summer 2023, Nightjet will start new-gen trains that rival to start with-course flights in ease and comfort. Anticipate wireless charging stations, totally free wifi, bicycle and snow athletics machines storage and personal 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 in this article, you can choose trains on to Monaco, Great and Cinque Terre.

Belgium

Brussels to Berlin with European Sleeper (Might 2023)

Information over.

Czech Republic

Prague to Zurich with ČD

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

The overnight journey, a revival of a company that closed down in 2017, will take a bit fewer than 14 hrs. Travellers will have a selection of distinctive fare options, from 6-mattress couchettes to deluxe sleeper compartments with en-suite toilets and showers. 

Tickets for a berth in a six-mattress couchette begin from €49.90.

France

Paris to Berlin with TGV (starts off 2024)

France and Germany have announced a new TGV prepare route involving Paris and Berlin that is because of to get started working in 2024. 

Now, a trip amongst the two capital towns necessitates travellers to improve at a separate station these as Cologne or Frankfurt. The new large-velocity link would let passengers to make the journey in about seven hours. 

Paris to Venice with Midnight Trains (2025)

French startup Midnight Trains is set to join France and Italy with a new night time prepare support from Paris to Venice via Milan from 2025, backed by the European Fee. This will make it faster and simpler for British isles travellers to get the practice to Italy.

Paris to Madrid with Trenitalia (starts late 2024)

In December 2022, FS Italiane Team – the owner of Italy’s national condition-owned railway Trenitalia – declared strategies for a new high-velocity Frecciarossa educate link between Paris and Madrid.

The new practice will url Paris and Barcelona, where by the existing high-velocity assistance previously runs to the Spanish cash. It is projected to launch in late 2024, with hints that additional providers could connect Madrid with Italy by way of France.

Germany

Berlin to Stockholm with Snälltåget

Swedish railway company Snälltåget has rerouted its Berlin to Malmö educate provider via Hamburg and Denmark, although extending it to Stockholm. The entire journey can take just beneath 17 hours with charges for the direct service from all-around €50.

Munich to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet

Nightjet’s new 2023 timetable saw its Vienna/Munich company to Milan prolonged to Genoa and La Spezia in Italy. From here, onward vacation to Monaco, Great and Cinque Terre is doable.

Stuttgart to Zagreb and Rijeka with Nightjet and EuroNight

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

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

The Nightjet to Venice travels by way 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 substantial-velocity rail enterprise NTV Italo launched a Genoa support linking the beforehand badly linked port city in Italy’s northwest to the south of the state.

The journey from Genoa to Naples usually takes just under seven several hours and costs from all over €80 return.

Milan to Paris with Frecciarossa

Also in late 2021, Frecciarossa – the substantial-pace arm of Italian national prepare operator Trenitalia – introduced a swanky new teach amongst Milan and Paris.

Quicker and much more high-class than previous services on this route, the train can take just under 7 hours. Tickets are as cheap as €29 – even though splash out on an ‘executive’ fare to journey in a comfortable armchair.

Portugal

Porto to Lisbon and Vigo with the Iberian superior-velocity rail network (construction starting off in 2024)

Portugal has permitted designs for a high-velocity rail line amongst Lisbon, Porto and Vigo. It will be element of the broader Iberian large-pace rail network uniting the region and connecting it with Spain.

Now it can take just about 3 hrs to journey by prepare among Porto and Lisbon. The new rail backlink will slash the journey time to just 1 hour 15 minutes. Ultimately, the new line will link the Portuguese cities with Vigo in Spain.

Netherlands

Amsterdam to Austria with TUI’s Ski Specific

Snow activity fans are bracing for a new overnight practice launching between Amsterdam and some of Austria’s major ski resorts.

TUI’s ‘Ski Categorical’ will depart from Amsterdam just about every Friday evening involving 23 December and 31 March. After leaving the Dutch cash at 5:30pm, the service will cease at Utrecht, then carry on specifically to Austria.

Amsterdam to Zurich with Nightjet

Austrian-led night time coach pioneer Nightjet launched a route amongst Amsterdam and Zurich in late 2021. It leaves at 8.30pm and comes at 8.05am.

Sleeping options range from couchettes (from all-around €60) to sleeper cabins (from around €120).

Amsterdam to Barcelona with European Sleeper (Spring 2025)

Quickly-to-start Dutch-Belgian train operator European Sleeper hopes to start a new night educate assistance from Amsterdam to Barcelona in spring 2025. This would vastly enhance north-south rail connections in Europe.

Spain

Madrid to Alicante and Valencia with Ouigo

In November 2022, SNCF-owned Ouigo introduced a new substantial-speed, low-price route involving Madrid and Valencia. From 27 March, it will also operate to Alicante. Tickets will originally be priced at €9 just one-way with just one suitcase, but will price tag close to €30 following the launch time period.

In 2023, Ouigo options to increase its assistance to access Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and the Costa del Sol.

Barcelona to Madrid with Iryo

Travelling involving Spain’s funds and its major tourist town got more rapidly and cheaper in November 2022 with this new significant-pace rail provider from Iryo.

Iryo – a consortium among Spanish airline Air Nostrum and Italian practice organization Trenitalia – operates 16 return trains day by day concerning Barcelona and Madrid, getting as small as 2.5 hours each and every way and costing just €18.

Madrid to Marseille by way of Barcelona with Renfe (starts off mid 2023)

Spain’s condition owned rail network is established to launch new higher-pace AVE expert services to France in 2023. Trains are anticipated to to begin with operate on alternate days but will later be ramped up to twice a day.

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

Renfe’s plan to lengthen its educate providers into France contains one more new route because of to start later this 12 months among Barcelona and Lyon.

Even further routes to Paris are expected by the stop of the 12 months.

Slovenia

Ljubljana to Budapest with Hungarian Railways

Launched in December 2021, the Hungarian Railways coach from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Budapest, Hungary runs by means of Graz in Austria for a scenic ride. The journey takes 7.5 hours and prices get started as minimal as €16 just about every way.

Sweden

Stockholm to Hamburg with SJ EuroNight

Introduced in September 2022, the Stockholm Central to Hamburg-Altona night time coach is powered by renewable energy. It departs day by day at 5.30pm and comes at 6.30am, passing by means of Copenhagen alongside the way.

The lowest priced selection is a seat in a carriage (from €25). A mattress in a shared compartment commences at €45, even though a personal compartment for two people today with a sink starts at €165. Private compartments for a person-to-a few people today occur with their possess shower, rest room and breakfast beginning from around €205. Pet-pleasant coach compartments are also accessible.

Combined with present Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn solutions, the provider can also be employed to vacation from London to Stockholm in significantly less than 24 hrs.

Switzerland

Zurich to Rome with Nightjet

In a 2020 push convention, Nightjet declared it will launch a new evening train involving Zurich and Rome in winter season 2022. It continues to be to be viewed no matter if the designs will go in advance as scheduled. At present, the operator’s only Rome routes contain Vienna, Salzburg, Villach and Munich.

British isles

London to Bordeaux with HS1 (around 2026)

The UK’s Significant Speed 1 (HS1), which operates the Channel Tunnel railway line, is gearing up to launch a new route from London to Bordeaux. At the moment, travellers ought to go via Paris to get to the French wine location, with a journey time of pretty much 6 several hours. The new line will bypass the capital and slash the travel time to close to five several hours.