Changes Since the Summer Edition

Europe's railways are constantly evolving.

New services begin operation, international links are restored, frequencies are improved and long-planned infrastructure projects finally begin to change the way people travel. Even within a few weeks, the railway map can look slightly different.

Since the publication of the Summer edition of the European Rail Timetable, several notable changes have taken place across Europe. Here are some of the most significant developments that arrived too late to be included in the book.

Napoli – Bari – Lecce: A new Frecciarossa across southern Italy

From July 1, Trenitalia introduced a new direct Frecciarossa service linking Napoli, Bari and Lecce, creating the first direct high-speed connection between the regional capitals of Campania and Puglia. The new train calls at Napoli Centrale, Napoli Afragola, Benevento, Foggia, Barletta, Bari Centrale, Brindisi and Lecce, completing the journey between Napoli and Bari in around three and a half hours and reaching Lecce in approximately five hours.

Initially, the service is operated by ETR.600 tilting trains, whose active tilting technology allows higher speeds over the curving Caserta–Foggia route while work continues on the new Napoli–Bari high-speed railway. The service strengthens links between southern Italy and the wider Frecciarossa network, providing easier onward journeys from Napoli towards Roma, Firenze, Bologna, Milano and Torino.

Oulu – Tornio – Haparanda: Finland and Sweden reconnect

International passenger trains return between Finland and Sweden on August 10, when VR launches services linking Oulu, Tornio and Haparanda. The new route will restore passenger trains to central Tornio after an absence of several decades and create a regular cross-border rail link between the two countries. Services operate using VR InterCity stock, calling at Oulu, Kemi, Tornio-Itäinen, Tornio and Haparanda.

Although modest in frequency, with two daily return trains, the new service represents an important milestone for rail travel in northern Scandinavia, improving connections not only between Finland and Sweden but also onwards towards northern Norway.

Direct Roma trains return to Calabria's Ionian coast

A new Intercity service between Roma and Reggio Calabria via the Ionian coast entered service on July 6, restoring a direct long-distance connection between the Italian capital and the Locride area for the first time in more than twenty years. Operated using Trenitalia's new HTR.412 hybrid Intercity trains, the service is worked by a pair of units between Roma Termini and Lamezia Terme Centrale. There, the train divides, with one portion continuing to Reggio Calabria via the traditional Tyrrhenian route while the other takes the much less-served Ionian line.

The Ionian portion calls at stations including Catanzaro Lido, Soverato, Monasterace-Stilo, Roccella Jonica, Locri, Siderno, Brancaleone and Melito di Porto Salvo before reaching Reggio Calabria. The arrangement provides a direct service to two of Calabria's principal railway corridors while making efficient use of a single train over the busiest part of the journey. Although currently introduced on an experimental basis for the summer, it marks a significant improvement for communities along the Ionian coast.

Electric trains transform Portugal's Algarve Line

Electric trains began operating along the entire Algarve Line on July 19, following completion of electrification between Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António. The introduction of electric operation brings a substantial improvement to services across southern Portugal. Regional frequencies have increased by around 18%, new peak-hour trains have been introduced, and passengers now benefit from a new direct service linking Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António without the need to change trains at Faro.

At the same time, new InterRegional services with fewer intermediate stops provide faster journeys across the Algarve, while modern electric multiple units replace the diesel trains that have worked the route for many years. The changes strengthen rail's role as the backbone of public transport across Portugal's southern coast while improving connections with long-distance services to Lisboa and northern Portugal.

Kyiv – Chișinău: Ukraine and Moldova gain a daily connection

From June 28, the Kyiv–Chișinău "Bessarabia" train began operating daily, improving rail links between Ukraine and Moldova. Previously running every other day, the increased frequency makes planning journeys between the two countries easier, while revised timings from June 29 provide better connections for passengers arriving in Chișinău, including those using the airport.

The overnight service continues to use sleeping accommodation, including platskart open-plan sleeping cars with berths and kupe compartment sleeping cars. A new family-friendly children's coach has also been introduced on the route. The train has become an important link between Ukraine and Moldova, particularly as Chișinău provides access to international flights for Ukrainian travellers.

Already in the Summer edition

Not every new railway story is absent from the current timetable. Several services that are only just beginning operation were included in the Summer edition months before they start running.

Among them are:

European Sleeper's new Brussels–Milano overnight service, beginning on September 9 (Table 78A).
New ICE services between Köln and Antwerpen, beginning on September 7 (Table 20).
Leo Express services between Frankfurt, Praha and Przemyśl, shown in the Summer edition on page 68.

One of the advantages of publishing the European Rail Timetable several months ahead is that many future services are already included before they begin operating, allowing journeys to be planned well in advance.

Europe's railways never stand still. While new routes and improvements will always appear after an edition has been published, they also remind us that there is always something new waiting to be discovered on the continent's railways.

Details of these new services can be found in our expanded Summer Supplement which is available to download free of charge here. Unfortunately we haven't been able to obtain information for the new services in Portugal.