New train routes for 2026

As the year draws to a close, attention is already turning to what 2026 has in store for rail travel across Europe. After a year marked by significant developments (including new direct services like Paris to Berlin and the re-establishment of routes between France and Italy), momentum on the continent’s railways shows no sign of slowing.

Next year promises to build on this progress, with a mix of confirmed launches and long-awaited connections finally edging closer to reality. From the first ever line to link Central Europe with Scandinavia, to the imminent Budapest to Belgrade direct train, 2026 could see rail reaching parts of the continent that have long been missing from seamless international networks.

As ever, progress hasn’t come without obstacles. Complex engineering works and funding dependencies continue to impact launch timelines and the schedule of anticipated new services, with many new routes still racing towards final completion. Yet, we remain optimistic and continue to rally support for all the exciting developments 2026 has in store.

From rumoured routes to new lines ripe for the booking, today we’re revelling in all the rail excitement that 2026 has in store. For new routes already on sale, you’ll find ready-to-book itineraries, and for those still unreleased, we’ll be right ready to integrate them into our itineraries as soon as they launch. Watch this space!

ČD ComfortJet from Prague to Copenhagen

New route and swanky new train? Possibly the most exciting rail news of the year is this direct line from Prague to Copenhagen, featuring the high-tech rolling stock that lives up to its name: comfortable and efficient with high-speed WiFi and a restaurant car. Facilities aside, it’s the first train to connect Central Europe with Scandinavia, no stopover required. We love the promise of more reasonable prices, with a standard class ticket coming in at around 1704 CZK (£62).  See example itinerary here.

Launch date:  May 2026. Tickets already available from 1st May onwards. Book on CD (České dráhy). 

The Caledonian Sleeper from Birmingham to Scotland

Not exactly a new route, but this new stop is great news for Brummies looking to experience one of the UK’s only sleeper services. The new addition of Birmingham International as a stop along select Caledonian Sleeper services means you can now go to sleep in the Midlands and wake up to Scotland's Highlands, with all the usual frills of this iconic sleeper service. A great move away from London-centricity. See example itinerary here.

Launch date: January 2026, tickets are also already available to book on the Caledonian Sleeper website.

Adriatic Express sleeper train from Warsaw to Rijeka

This summer saw the temporary introduction of the first sleeper train from Poland to Croatia that’s due to make a reappearance in 2026. Travelling through Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia, it’s also the first service ever to connect up a staggering five countries. What was previously a journey requiring three separate trains and an overnight stay can now be made in a single night, in the comfort of a private air-conditioned sleeper cabin with a restaurant-standard meal in the dining car. 

Launch date:  TBC, but predicted to run through July and August of 2026. Tickets yet to be released. 

The SOKO Budapest to Belgrade

The direct train from Budapest to Belgrade has been one of the most long-awaited and talked about services in recent years, due to launch in 2026 on the modern, air-conditioned Serbian SOKO trains. After many years of being cut off from major European rail networks, the Balkans might finally be back on the agenda for those with less travel time to spare: a journey historically taking 8 hours now slashed down to a mere 3 hours, 17 minutes. Previously set to run in October 2025, the route has faced multiple setbacks due to the complexity of engineering required. So no promises, but we’ve got our fingers crossed for this one. 

Launch date:  No completion date announced...yet. Watch this space!

European Sleeper from Amsterdam/Brussels to Milan

Sleepers from Central Europe to Northern Italy are far and few between, with only a couple of Nightjet routes that have previously fallen victim to mass engineering works. European Sleeper is set to be the first scheduled train to connect Eurostar terminus points to Italy via overnight rail, meaning travellers can now wake up to fresh Italian Espresso after a simple hop on the Eurostar followed by a night on the rails. The best part? There’s now no need for the early Eurostar departure, or to battle Paris’ metro system to reach Italy in record time. 

Launch date:  Unconfirmed launch on the 18th June 2026, dependent on funds. Ticket sales due to open in February 2026. 

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