From Vienna to Brussels: Most convenient railway routes across Europe
Which cities to travel to in Europe by train (collage by RBC-Ukraine)
In Europe, railway connections between countries and cities are actively developing. Recently, for example, the Spanish railway operator Renfe launched a high-speed train that connects Spain with France. Such convenient trains between European countries are becoming more and more common. Here are new and interesting European railway routes and the ticket prices for these trains, according to Euronews.com.
Austria
From Vienna to Paris with Nightjet
Since 2016, the Austrian national railway company ÖBB has been reviving sleeper trains in Europe under the name Nightjet. At the end of 2021, the company launched a new route between Vienna and Paris, passing through Salzburg and Munich.
The journey takes 14 hours, with the train running three times a week in both directions. Prices range from 30 to 120 euros and higher for a private compartment.
In the summer of 2023, Nightjet will introduce new-generation trains that will compete in comfort with first-class trains. These trains will offer amenities such as wireless charging stations, free Wi-Fi, storage for bicycles and winter sports equipment, and individual compartments with private showers and toilets.
Photo: Nightjet two-bed compartment with a shower and toilet (wikipedia.org)
From Vienna to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet
In the new Nightjet schedule for 2023, the company extended its Vienna/Munich to Milan service to Genoa and La Spezia in Italy. From there, passengers will be able to take a train to Monaco, Nice, and Cinque Terre.
Belgium
Brussels - Berlin via Amsterdam with European Sleeper
On May 25th, a Belgian-Dutch company launched a new route from Brussels to Berlin via Amsterdam. With only one transfer, European Sleeper passengers can travel to Paris, London, Prague, and Warsaw. The route is planned to be expanded to Dresden and Prague in 2024.
Liège to Aachen and Maastricht with Arriva, SNCB and NS
A new railway route between three countries will connect Aachen in Germany, Liège in Belgium, and Maastricht in the Netherlands. The project is the result of collaboration between Arriva (a part of the German Deutsche Bahn Group), SNCB (Belgium's National Railway Company), and NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen). The route is expected to open in December 2023.
Photo: The train will connect Aachen in Germany with two countries (unsplash.com)
Czechia
Prague - Zurich with ČD
In December 2022, Czechia's national railway operator České dráhy (ČD) launched a new sleeper service connecting Prague with Zurich, with stops in Frankfurt and Basel.
These night journeys mark the revival of a route that was closed in 2017. The journey takes just under 14 hours, and travelers can choose from various fare options, ranging from six-bed compartments to luxurious sleeping compartments with private toilets and showers. The cost of a ticket for one berth in a six-bed compartment starts from 49.90 euros.
France
Paris - Berlin TGV (2024)
France and Germany announced a new TGV train route between Paris and Berlin, which is set to start running in 2024.
Currently, the journey between the two capitals requires passengers to transfer to a separate station, such as Cologne or Frankfurt. The new high-speed connection will allow travelers to make the journey in approximately seven hours.
Photo: Train in Berlin (unsplash.com)
Paris - Venice night trains
French startup Midnight Trains plans to connect France and Italy with a new night train from Paris to Venice via Milan, starting in 2025 with the support of the European Commission. This will make it easier and faster for travelers from the UK to take a train to Italy.
Paris - Madrid with Trenitalia
In December 2022, FS Italiane Group – the owner of Italy's national state-owned railway Trenitalia – announced plans to launch a new high-speed rail connection called Frecciarossa between Paris and Madrid. The launch is scheduled for the end of 2024, and the new train will also connect Paris and Barcelona.
Germany
Berlin - Stockholm with Snälltåget
Swedish railway company Snälltåget changed the route of its train from Berlin to Malmö, extending it to Stockholm. The full journey takes just under 17 hours, and ticket prices are around 50 euros.
Photo: Now you can travel from Berlin to Malmö through Hamburg and Denmark to Stockholm (unsplash.com)
Stuttgart - Zagreb and Rijeka with Nightjet and EuroNight
In the new schedule for 2023, Nightjet extended its sleeper train services from Munich to Venice, Ljubljana, and Zagreb, starting from Stuttgart, Germany.
The seasonal route will also extend to the coastal Croatian city of Rijeka, with a total travel time of about 15 hours.
Nightjet to Venice runs through Munich, Salzburg, and Treviso, while services to the capitals of Croatia and Slovenia are operated by Croatian Railways HŽ and Slovenian Railways SŽ under the management of EuroNight ÖBB.
Italy
Genoa - Naples with NTV Italo
At the end of 2021, the Italian high-speed railway company NTV Italo launched a service to Genoa, connecting the port city in northwest Italy with the south of the country, which was previously poorly connected.
The journey from Genoa to Naples takes less than seven hours, and tickets cost around 80 euros for a round trip.
From Milan to Paris with Frecciarossa
At the end of 2021, Frecciarossa – a division of the Italian national train operator Trenitalia – launched a new luxury train service between Milan and Paris.
The journey on the train takes a little under seven hours, and tickets cost only 29 euros.
Photo: You can travel from Paris to Milan for 29 euros (unsplash.com)
Rome - Pompeii with Frecciarossa
In July, Italy launched a new direct high-speed connection from Rome to Pompeii and back. The route connects the capital with the popular archaeological site in the Campania region in southern Italy in less than two hours, departing from Rome at 8:53 am and returning from Pompeii at 6:40 pm.
Initially, the service will only run on the third Sunday of each month, but the frequency of trips may increase in the future.
Portugal
From Porto to Lisbon and Vigo with the Pyrenees Rail Network
Portugal has approved plans for the construction of a high-speed rail line between Lisbon, Porto, and the Spanish city of Vigo. The extensive route will be part of a wider Pyrenees high-speed rail network that will run across the entire country and connect it with Spain.
Currently, the trip between Porto and Lisbon takes nearly three hours. The new rail connection will reduce the travel time to just 1 hour and 15 minutes.
