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After the pandemic, rail transport is finally experiencing a revival: from night trains to comfortable daytime routes between major European capitals. The year 2026 promises a significant expansion of international rail connections across Europe.
After years of stagnation during the pandemic, railway companies and operators have focused on restoring and expanding cross-border train connections that are intended to compete with air travel and road transport.
Comfortable Day and Night Connections
One of the most notable new services is the night train between Paris and Berlin. This connection, operated by the European Sleeper cooperative, reintroduces a route that disappeared in the past after the withdrawal of commercial services. The line will operate several times a week and offer passengers a more environmentally friendly alternative to flights between the two European capitals.
Another ambitious project is the direct train from Prague to Copenhagen, which is scheduled to launch on 1 May 2026. This international connection is being developed in cooperation with Czech Railways (ČD), Deutsche Bahn, and Danish State Railways, allowing travel between three European capitals without transfers.
The route will offer comfortable onboard services, including a restaurant carriage, Wi-Fi, space for bicycles and even a children’s cinema, features particularly attractive for families and long-distance travellers. The total journey time between Prague, Berlin and Copenhagen will take several hours during the day, while night services are expected to be available during the summer season.
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In addition to these two major routes, several other new or restored train services are expected in 2026. These include a night train between Brussels and Milan, scheduled to begin in June, connecting northern and southern Europe. There are also plans for trains between Malmö and Oslo, providing direct cross-border connections in northern Europe.
Further expansion includes direct trains from Frankfurt to Prague and onwards eastward as part of the network growth of the operator Leo Express.
Rail as a Sustainable Alternative
The expansion of international train routes is not only a transport development but part of a broader effort by the European Union and railway operators to strengthen rail as an environmentally friendly and comfortable alternative to planes and cars. Growing passenger preference for rail travel, driven by climate goals and improving service quality, is reinforcing this trend.
Experts and travellers alike welcome the fact that these new international routes are not just strategic plans on paper but concrete services that will be introduced during 2026. Rail travel is thus gaining new momentum and changing the way Europeans explore the continent.
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Sources: Euronews, Falstaff.com, Brusselstimes.com