Rail is hands down the best way to see Europe and part of the reason why is that the continent's expansive rail network is constantly evolving. Each year, early December sees new connections and services appear on schedules across the continent for the calendar year ahead. These new train journeys often reflect travel trends or technological advances, offering travelers more direct or frequent connections between European destinations.
Whether your travel plans will see you taking the train from City A to City B during a short trip or setting off on an epic Eurail adventure, the following are the most noteworthy new European rail routes for 2024.
Berlin-Paris
After a ten-year hiatus, there is once again a night train connecting the German and French capitals, and it's the only direct rail connection between the cities, period. Launched in early December by OBB (Austrian Railways) under their Nightjet range, this overnight service will initially run three times a week in both directions, with the expectation of graduating to a nightly service by the end of 2024.
PHOTO: Oviedo Cathedral, Spain. (photo via LucVi/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
Madrid-Oviedo
The result of a massive infrastructure project that took nearly two decades, Spain has launched high-speed trains between the nation's capital and the gorgeous (and relatively undiscovered) Asturias region. The sleek trains will whisk travelers through scores of tunnels between the capital and the lovely cathedral city of Oviedo, a city famed for its atmospheric streets, gastronomic delights and tasty cider.
Pillow with European Sleeper postcard. (Photo Credit: European Sleeper)
Brussels-Prague
Last summer, we wrote about the long-awaited debut of the startup night train company European Sleeper. Now, the brand has announced an extension of its Brussels to Berlin night train to Prague, which will start on March 25, 2024, and run three times a week.
PHOTO: Aerial panoramic cityscape view of the old town of Zurich, Switzerland. (photo via RossHelen/iStock/Getty Images Plus) (Photo Credit: RossHelen / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Zurich-Munich
These two cities are already well connected by smart, speedy trains that take travelers from Bavaria to the heart of Switzerland in just over three and a half hours. From April 2024, there will be added departures on the line on Fridays and Sundays.
Castle Square in Warsaw, Poland. (photo via Marcus Lindstrom/E+)
Munich-Warsaw
Instead of going straight north, this night train will head from Munich into Austria before it curls up towards Poland. Along the way, it will make stops at A-list tourist destinations like Salzburg and Krakow, providing a key transport link for travelers exploring Central Europe.
Traveler at a train station in Europe. (Photo via Eurail)
Amsterdam-Berlin
A rail connection between the Dutch and German capitals has a long history, but the time it takes to get between them will get attention in 2024. That's because a half-hour has been shaved off the journey due to technological advances and creative route management. It will now take you five hours and fifty-two minutes instead of six hours and twenty minutes. When you factor in check-ins and transport from the city center to outlying airports, this compares very favorably to flying indeed.
City Hall Square with House of the Blackheads and Saint Peter church in Old Town of Riga in the evening, Latvia (photo via Lindrik / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Vilnius-Riga
Up north, these two beautiful Baltic capitals will soon be connected by rail for the first time since the pandemic. Scheduled to start in late December, the journey between Lithuania and Latvia will take just over four hours and will make it possible to explore the full length and breadth of this special corner of Europe by rail.
Austrian Nightjet sleeper train on the platform. (Photo via OBB)
Hamburg to Vienna & Innsbruck
Separate night trains have departed the northern port city of Hamburg headed for Austria for a while now (and vice-versa), but they got a glow-up in early December. This route is the first in Europe to see OBB's brand-new Nightjet trains that feature sleek modern interiors, tech comforts (think mood lighting & USD charging stations), mini-cabins for solo travelers and showers & bathrooms in every sleeping compartment. Eventually, they will roll out all over Europe, but in 2024, this route is your only chance to experience the "future" European night trains.
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