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.<\/p>\n
1. Brussels\/Amsterdam to Milan night train (June 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2. Paris \u2013 Berlin night train (March 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n European Sleeper will revive the Paris\u2013Berlin 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 \u20ac59.99 one-way in a shared compartment.\u00a0<\/p>\n 3. Amsterdam \u2013 Barcelona night train (2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 4. Switzerland \u2013 Germany \u2013 Denmark \u2013 Sweden sleeper train<\/strong> (15 April 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n A new sleeper train service linking Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden is set to launch in 2026, expanding Europe\u2019s 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 Malm\u00f6 at 9:35 am the following morning. Run by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) in partnership with Germany\u2019s RDC, the service will operate three return journeys a week and carry up to 350 passengers along the 1,400-kilometre route.<\/p>\n 5. Paris to Amalfi Coast luxury train (May 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n From 4 May 2026, a new luxury rail journey will carry travellers from Paris to Italy\u2019s Amalfi Coast as part of Belmond\u2019s Villeggiatura by Train series, blending overnight travel with carefully curated experiences at some of the Italian Riviera\u2019s most iconic destinations.<\/p>\n 6. Spain vintage luxury train<\/strong> (April to October 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n Spain\u2019s celebrated Al \u00c1ndalus 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.<\/p>\n 7. Belgium \u2013 Slovakia night train (December 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n Czech operator Leo Express has formally applied to launch a night train linking Belgium\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 8. Prague \u2013 Berlin \u2013 Copenhagen direct train (May 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 9. Groningen \u2013 Paris (summer 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019s ambition to expand international rail connections and promote a shift from air to rail transport.<\/p>\n 10. Scotland \u2013 London direct service (mid-2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019s major cities and the English capital.<\/p>\n @LumoTravel<\/a> 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\u2019t wait to see it happen. pic.twitter.com\/iiquQdSPVo<\/a><\/p>\n\n