Discover the Best New European Train Journeys to Take in 2023

As flight-free travel gains momentum, European train journeys are experiencing a renaissance. Changing the way you travel is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint, as flying from London to Paris emits 14 times more CO2 than travelling by train, according to Eurostar. Fortunately, countries across the EU are investing in railways that provide better and faster connections than ever before.

In Austria, the Austrian national rail firm ÖBB has been leading the way in Europe’s sleeper train revival with NightJet since 2016. They recently launched a new route between Vienna and Paris via Salzburg and Munich. Nightjet will also introduce new-gen trains in summer 2023, offering first-class flight-like comfort.

Belgium is set to have the Brussels to Berlin route with European Sleeper starting in 2023, connecting the two cities via Amsterdam. The journey will eventually extend to Prague in 2024.

In the Czech Republic, the national rail operator České dráhy (ČD) launched a new sleeper service in December 2022, linking Prague to Zurich with stops at Frankfurt and Basel. The journey takes around 14 hours, and various fare options are available.

FS Italiane Group, the owner of Trenitalia, announced plans for a new high-speed train connection between Paris and Madrid, set to launch in late 2024. Germany has seen rerouted services, such as Snälltåget’s Berlin to Malmö train, which now includes Hamburg and Denmark, with an extension to Stockholm. Nightjet has also extended its service from Munich to Genoa, La Spezia, Zagreb, Rijeka, and Venice.

Italy’s NTV Italo launched a Genoa service linking the port city to Naples, while Frecciarossa introduced a new train between Milan and Paris. Portugal approved plans for a high-speed rail line between Lisbon, Porto, and Vigo, reducing the journey time between Porto and Lisbon to just 1 hour 15 minutes.

Netherlands offers TUI’s Ski Express, an overnight train between Amsterdam and Austrian ski resorts, as well as Nightjet’s route between Amsterdam and Zurich. Spain has seen the launch of a new high-speed route between Madrid and Valencia by Ouigo, with plans to extend the service to other cities in 2023. Iryo also introduced a high-speed rail service between Barcelona and Madrid.

Slovenia has a train from Ljubljana to Budapest operated by Hungarian Railways, passing through Graz in Austria. Sweden’s SJ EuroNight operates the Stockholm to Hamburg-Altona night train, powered by renewable energy and passing through Copenhagen.

Switzerland has seen the introduction of Nightjet’s Zurich to Rome route, and the UK is considering a London to Bordeaux route with Eurostar in the near future. These developments aim to provide sustainable alternatives to air travel and promote environmentally friendly transportation options.