Rail travel across Europe is gearing up for a busy year of launches in 2026, with a wave of new international, overnight and luxury services set to reshape continental travel. From revived night trains between major capitals to lavish scenic journeys, travellers can look forward to a transformative year for rail mobility. Ready to plan your next getaway? Here are the 10 most anticipated rail routes set to depart in 2026.
1. Brussels/Amsterdam to Milan night train (June 2026)
A new overnight service will connect Brussels and Amsterdam with Milan via Switzerland, offering a scenic north-south link three times a week starting 18 June 2026. The Belgian-Dutch operator European Sleeper plans departures on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with returns from Milan on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The route crosses Germany and Switzerland, calling at Cologne, Bern and Brig before reaching Milan.
2. Paris – Berlin night train (March 2026)
European Sleeper will revive the Paris–Berlin overnight connection in March 2026, running three services weekly. This route, which diverges from the former Nightjet service by routing through Brussels, aims to provide a greener alternative to short-haul flights with fares starting from €59.99 one-way in a shared compartment.
3. Amsterdam – Barcelona night train (2026)
Long-anticipated plans for a direct night train between Amsterdam and Barcelona are now set to move forward in 2026, following delays caused by French regulatory hurdles. European Sleeper is targeting a launch later this year, which would establish a new cross-continental rail connection between the Netherlands and Spain.
4. Switzerland – Germany – Denmark – Sweden sleeper train (15 April 2026)
A new sleeper train service linking Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden is set to launch in 2026, expanding Europe’s growing network of night trains. The first departure is scheduled for 15 April 2026, with trains leaving Basel at 5:35 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The northbound journey will take around 16 hours, arriving in Malmö at 9:35 am the following morning. Run by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) in partnership with Germany’s RDC, the service will operate three return journeys a week and carry up to 350 passengers along the 1,400-kilometre route.
5. Paris to Amalfi Coast luxury train (May 2026)
From 4 May 2026, a new luxury rail journey will carry travellers from Paris to Italy’s Amalfi Coast as part of Belmond’s Villeggiatura by Train series, blending overnight travel with carefully curated experiences at some of the Italian Riviera’s most iconic destinations.
6. Spain vintage luxury train (April to October 2026)
Spain’s celebrated Al Ándalus vintage train will expand its offerings in 2026, combining scenic sightseeing and gastronomy across regions, including Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura. The luxury service is scheduled to run seasonally from April to October 2026, with multiple departures throughout the year. Although not a point-to-point commuter route, it positions rail travel as an immersive cultural experience.
7. Belgium – Slovakia night train (December 2026)
Czech operator Leo Express has formally applied to launch a night train linking Belgium’s Ostend with Bratislava, Slovakia, with a proposed start-date of 13 December 2026. Service would traverse Germany and the Czech Republic, with more than 50 stops that might take up to 19 hours of travelling around various scenic panoramas.
8. Prague – Berlin – Copenhagen direct train (May 2026)
A new direct train route connecting Prague, Berlin and Copenhagen will begin operations in May 2026. Run jointly by Czech, German and Danish railways, it will offer passengers one-seat journeys between these capitals and key intermediate cities, including Dresden and Hamburg.
9. Groningen – Paris (summer 2026)
From June 2026, Arriva plans a new connection linking Groningen in the northern Netherlands with Paris, via Brussels. The route will enhance accessibility between northern Dutch regions and Paris, boosting cross-border mobility, supporting sustainable travel, and aligning with the European Commission’s ambition to expand international rail connections and promote a shift from air to rail transport.
10. Scotland – London direct service (mid-2026)
Rail travellers between Scotland and London will benefit from a new direct train service in mid-2026. The route is expected to feature 10 stops: Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet (serving Coatbridge), Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld) and Larbert. While details are forthcoming, the service will be run by Lumo and is poised to offer faster and more convenient travel between Scotland’s major cities and the English capital.
@LumoTravel were in parliament last week talking about their plan for a new London route from Stirling next year, stopping at several stations in Central Scotland. This would be a massive boost for people along the route and I can’t wait to see it happen. pic.twitter.com/iiquQdSPVo
— Graham Simpson (@GrahamSMSP) June 1, 2025
Europe’s rail network is entering a new era. In 2026, a wave of long-distance and night-train routes will make cross-border travel faster, greener, and more diverse than ever, from practical overnight connections to luxury journeys along iconic coastlines. And the momentum doesn’t stop there. The legendary Orient Express is set to return in 2027, a high-speed Lisbon–Madrid link is planned for 2030, Eurostar will add direct services to Germany and Switzerland in the early 2030s, and a sweeping sleeper network run by Berlin-based startup Nox aims to connect over 100 cities by 2035, promising a true continental alternative to flying. For travellers, it’s more than just transport, it’s a chance to rediscover Europe at a pace that’s sustainable, scenic, and unforgettable.
