Night train 2026: Here's what changes in the new timetable
Europe’s new annual railway timetable takes effect on 14 December – here’s a summary of what’s changing for night train services.
The second Sunday in December is a special date for Europe’s railways: timetable change day! Traditionally, it’s the moment when we welcome new train services – and, unfortunately, sometimes have to bid farewell to others. This year, on 14 December, the new 2026 annual timetable comes into effect.
For night train enthusiasts, there has been plenty to celebrate in recent years: new routes have been added, and modern trains have taken to the rails. Now, however, the mood has darkened. After years of boom, services are once again being cut. The most prominent example: the Nightjets to Paris, which are no longer economically viable following the premature end of French government subsidies. Sweden, too, is withdrawing from its financial support.
Is this the end of the great night train dream – or merely a growing pain? There is still hope: the best news comes from Switzerland, which will introduce a new night train to Copenhagen and Malmö in spring 2026. Poland is also continuing to expand its night train network, and established services such as the Caledonian Sleeper in Scotland remain as popular as ever.
In this article, we take a closer look at these and many other changes and updates in the 2026 timetable.
Note: Details may still change before the timetable switch on 14 December 2025, and further updates may be announced. We’ll keep this article regularly updated for you.
Aurora: Night train to Copenhagen and Malmö
Let’s start with some good news: in April 2026, a new night train will begin operating from Basel to Copenhagen and Malmö. The service will be run by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) in cooperation with RDC Deutschland, which will provide the rolling stock.
This follows a long back-and-forth over government support. In July 2025, the Swiss Federal Office of Transport finally gave the green light: the new line from Switzerland through Germany and Denmark to Sweden will receive funding for an initial period of five years.
An overview of connections from Malmö to Basel
The night train, to be named “Aurora”, will run three times per week and offer both couchette and sleeper cars. Its facilities are expected to match those of the Nightjet Zürich–Amsterdam service, whose carriages are also supplied by RDC Deutschland. The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) will not be involved in the Copenhagen–Malmö route.
You’ll find all further information about the new night train in our overview – and in an interview, SBB project manager Robér Bormann provides fascinating insights behind the scenes.
Sad farewell: Nightjets to Paris axed
It’s perhaps the biggest setback for night trains in years: in late September, reports emerged that the ÖBB would discontinue its Nightjet services from Berlin and Vienna to Paris after only two and four years respectively. Shortly afterwards came official confirmation.
The background: the French government, which had subsidised the trains, is pulling out of the scheme ahead of schedule. Officially, this was justified by the fact that ÖBB and SNCF operated the Nightjets only three times a week rather than daily. In reality, France’s acute budget crisis is likely the real reason.
The announcement prompted a wave of protest – among others, from the European network Back-on-Track and the French campaign Oui au train de nuit. But in vain: the popular night trains will cease in December 2025, ending the last international night train links in France. Only the domestic Intercités de Nuit services to southern destinations will remain.
Still, the Paris night trains may not be gone for good. Hope bears a name: Jean Castex. The former prime minister takes over as head of the French state railway SNCF in November and has declared that reinstating the services will be one of his “first priorities”. Castex is regarded as a railway expert and an outspoken night train enthusiast.
Nightjets to La Spezia also discontinued
There’s another cut in ÖBB’s Nightjet network: from the 2026 timetable, the services from Munich and Vienna to La Spezia will no longer run. Until now, these trains travelled via Milan and Genoa to the Ligurian port city, serving the famous Cinque Terre villages along the way.
The trains won’t disappear entirely, but will terminate in Milan from now on. Passengers heading for the coast will need to change to Italian daytime trains.
The last journeys to La Spezia took place in September. Since then, services have been suspended due to engineering works – and will now be permanently discontinued at the timetable change, as confirmed on the ÖBB website.
Sweden: Euronight to Stockholm saved
Two night trains currently connect Berlin and Stockholm via Hamburg: the private Snälltåget and the state-owned SJ Euronight. The latter launched in September 2022 with support from the Swedish government. When these subsidies expire in summer 2026, SJ announced that it would withdraw from operating the Berlin service.
For a few days it looked as if the convenient connection – unlike Snälltåget, the Euronight includes sleeper compartments – would end after only three years. But then private operator RDC Deutschland, which provides coaches and staff on behalf of SJ, announced it would continue the service independently from August 2026.
There is, however, a downside: since the route is only profitable at times of high demand, RDC Deutschland will reduce the number of operating days. Exact dates have not yet been confirmed, but roughly half of the previous services may be cut.
Snälltåget expands to Norway
Snälltåget remains pleased with its Germany connection: in the 2026 timetable, its Berlin–Hamburg–Stockholm night train will again run on over 200 days per year, with some services starting as far south as Dresden.
The company also plans to expand within Scandinavia, launching its first night trains to Norway in 2026. Timetable data show two seasonal routes from Malmö to Oslo and Trondheim, with a possible long-distance service from Malmö via Stockholm to Narvik under discussion – crossing Sweden from south to north.
Poland: New routes and more comfort
Poland has long been a paradise for night train fans – and the offer will grow further in the 2026 timetable. The “Baltic Express” between Gdynia and Prague, introduced last year, will have a permanent sleeper car from December 2025 (previously seasonal only). The route will also change, now running via Bydgoszcz, Toruń and Iława.
In addition, PKP Intercity has announced new night services between Germany and Poland: one from Berlin to Przemyśl (on the Ukrainian border) and another from Berlin to Chełm via Łódź and Warsaw. There’s a catch, though: both trains will initially offer only seated coaches, with couchettes and sleepers not yet planned.
Night train to the Baltics
Rail travel to and within the Baltic States has improved considerably in recent years. With the new timetable comes another upgrade that will particularly benefit night train passengers: the Warsaw–Vilnius journey will be cut by around an hour, and a second daily service will be introduced.
This creates, for the first time, a sensible connection in Warsaw between the Euronight “Chopin” (406/407) from Munich and Vienna and onward travel to Vilnius. The night train is scheduled to arrive in Warsaw at 08:15, with the departure to Vilnius at 09:04 – a comfortable transfer time of about an hour. Should there be delays, a midday service to Vilnius provides a backup.
In the reverse direction, the midday train from Vilnius arrives in Warsaw at 18:55, connecting neatly with the Euronight to Vienna and Munich, which departs at 19:41.
Caledonian Sleeper via Birmingham
From early 2026, the Caledonian Sleeper, which links London with Scotland, will see a change to its route: some trains will run via Birmingham, connecting another major English city to the night train network.
The Highland Sleeper portions to Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William will gain an additional stop at Birmingham International. The reason is growing demand from the region and a desire to boost tourism in the Highlands and the West Midlands. Departure times and overall journey duration will remain unchanged. The Lowland Sleeper to Glasgow and Edinburgh will continue on its traditional route.
Find your night train connection now!
The Caledonian Sleeper is one of only two night trains in the United Kingdom. Since being brought back into public ownership by the Scottish Government in 2023, passenger numbers have risen steadily.
About the author: Sebastian Wilken is a passionate (night) train traveller who writes about European rail journeys in his newsletter Zugpost. For Night Ride, he follows developments in the night train market and shares the best tips and stories – complete with his own stunning photos.
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