Czechia Links Prague to Copenhagen by Daytime High Speed Rail Redefining Travel Between Central Europe and Scandinavia – You Need to Know

Published on
February 2, 2026

Czech Railways is setting the stage for a quiet but meaningful shift in how Central and Northern Europe move. From May 2026, passengers will be able to board a daytime high-speed train in Prague and step off in Copenhagen the same evening, without juggling connections or rushing through airports. The new service, developed with German and Danish rail partners, will run twice daily in both directions and cut the end-to-end journey to around eleven hours.

What makes this route stand out is not just speed, but simplicity. For the first time, Prague and Scandinavia will be linked by a year-round, same-day rail service. The line stitches together key European hubs—Prague, Berlin, Hamburg, and Copenhagen—into a single, continuous corridor. Until now, rail passengers faced multiple transfers that often made flying the easier choice. This new timetable removes that friction, making trains a realistic option for both work and leisure travel.

The trains themselves are designed to change perceptions of long daytime rail journeys. Modern, energy-efficient rolling stock will feature free Wi-Fi, power sockets at every seat, generous legroom, and large panoramic windows. The idea is clear: turn travel time into usable time. Business travelers can treat the journey as a mobile office, while leisure passengers get a relaxed, scenic ride through the heart of Europe.

There is also a strong sustainability angle driving the project. As European companies face tighter environmental reporting rules, especially around indirect travel emissions, rail is becoming more than a feel-good option. For organizations with teams spread across Prague, northern Germany, and Denmark, the new service offers a lower-carbon alternative to short-haul flights without sacrificing productivity or same-day meetings. Shifting even part of corporate travel onto rail can significantly reduce overall emissions.

Beyond business travel, the route is expected to strengthen labor and education links across borders. Denmark’s research-driven industries and Prague’s fast-growing technology and shared-services sectors depend heavily on international talent. Reliable daytime rail makes regular movement easier for professionals, students, and project teams, while also sidestepping the growing congestion and new entry-exit checks at major airports within the Schengen area.

The tourism impact could be just as important. A direct rail line encourages slower, multi-city journeys, allowing travelers to combine Central Europe and Scandinavia in a single trip. Cities along the route, particularly Berlin and Hamburg, stand to benefit from increased stopover traffic as rail passengers break their journey rather than simply passing through by air.

Practical travel planning remains part of the equation, especially for non-EU visitors combining multiple countries in one itinerary. Digital visa and documentation services are increasingly positioned as quiet enablers of this shift, helping travelers manage Schengen paperwork efficiently so rail becomes as seamless administratively as it is physically.

From an infrastructure perspective, the Prague–Copenhagen service is being watched closely. It is widely seen as a test case for deeper high-speed integration across borders. If passenger numbers reach the projected level of more than one million journeys a year, additional trainsets are expected to follow. Longer-term plans include pushing the corridor further north, potentially extending services to southern Sweden and beyond.

In a region long dominated by short flights, this new rail link signals a broader rethink of distance, time, and comfort. By making long daytime journeys practical, productive, and appealing, the Prague–Copenhagen service could quietly reset travel habits across Europe—one seat, one window view, and one uninterrupted journey at a time.