Our cover photo this week depicts Berlin Hbf at sunrise - with a DB Regio RE service. Copyright: Deutsche Bahn AG / Volker Emersleben.
Switzerland / Germany / Denmark / Sweden
After months of speculation, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has confirmed that a new EuroNight service linking Basel with København and Malmö will begin operating on April 15, 2026. The service, run in partnership with RDC Deutschland, will re-establish a direct overnight link between Switzerland and Scandinavia – the first in many years.
We have been reporting on the possible introduction of this train over recent months, and SBB has now released full details. The EuroNight train will operate three times a week in each direction throughout the year. Departures from Basel SBB are scheduled for Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 17:35, arriving in Malmö at 09:35 the following morning. Southbound trains will leave Malmö on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 18:57, reaching Basel SBB at 11:30.
Tickets for the new service are expected to go on sale from 4 November 2025 via the SBB Mobile app, sbb.ch and SBB travel centres. Prices will vary depending on comfort class, booking conditions and capacity.
The train will provide sleeper, couchette and seated accommodation for around 350 passengers, including a barrier-free compartment and a bistro car between Basel and Padborg. Intermediate stops include Freiburg (Breisgau), Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Frankfurt (Main) Süd, Hamburg, Kolding, Odense, Høje Taastrup and København Lufthavn. Although it will not serve København H, the city can be reached from Høje Taastrup or the airport in about 15 minutes by S-train.
Financially supported by the Swiss federal government under the CO₂ Act, the service reflects growing demand for sustainable, cross-border travel and SBB’s continuing commitment to climate-friendly mobility across Europe.
Portugal
The Linha do Douro (ERT Table 694) will be closed between Marco de Canaveses and Regua from November 3, 2025, to April 2, 2026, so that engineering work can be carried out. Fast replacement buses will operate between Caide and Regua, with intermediate stations served by stopping buses running between Marco de Canaveses and Regua.
Slovakia
Slovakian national operator ZSSK is preparing to renew part of its ageing sleeping car fleet, aiming to bring night train travel into the 21st century. The company intends to enhance comfort and sustainability on long-distance routes, while also expanding connections – for example, the proposed extension of the Humenné – Bratislava service to Wien.
At present, ZSSK operates 30 sleeping cars, around two-thirds of which were built in the 1980s and which lack air conditioning. These 20 oldest vehicles are to be gradually withdrawn from service. Currently these vehicles operate on the Humenné – Bratislava and Humenné – Praha routes.
The renewal project will proceed through two public tenders – one for sleeping cars and one for couchette cars. A contract to convert day coaches into couchette cars has already been awarded to ŽOS Trnava, who will initially convert 10 such vehicles with an option for a further 10. Negotiations are ongoing with ŽOS Vrútky regarding the sleeping car contract for 10 vehicles, with an option for a further 14.
The first new cars could enter service as early as 2026, marking a key step towards greater comfort, efficiency, and sustainability in Slovakia’s night train network.
Germany
Following several years of engineering work, trains between Berlin and Dresden will return to using the Dresdner Bahn line for their whole journey from the December timetable change. The journey time from Berlin to Dresden will be cut from more than 2 hours to just 95 minutes, whilst a connecting curve to the Berlin outer ring railway will allow Airport Express trains from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Berlin Brandenburg Airport to complete their journey in just 20 minutes. To allow for the final required works, Berlin Südkreuz station is closed to long-distance and regional traffic until December 13, whilst Potsdamer Platz station is temporarily closed to regional trains.
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