Train travel in Europe is soaring in popularity. It’s a great way to really see the European countries that you are traveling through, it’s affordable, and it’s environmentally friendly too.
Journeying by train feels like a more intimate way to travel and it’s a great way to meet local people and experience the unique scenery of each destination.
Considering exploring Europe by train?
These are the 8 new train routes launching in Europe for 2024:
Brussels To Prague
European Sleeper already operates a fascinating train route that connects Brussels to Amsterdam and Berlin. But from March 25 this night train route will extend to Prague too.
The journey time from Brussels to Prague is around 15 hours but as this is a sleeper train you can break up your journey with a good night’s sleep.
This train route will run 3 times a week, making it perfect for spending time in the cultural capital of the Czech Republic as well as many of the other cities that this new extended route will stop in. These include Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Dresden.
Paris To Madrid
This new train will make traveling between the Spanish and French cities faster and easier than ever. The journey time for this high-speed route between Paris and Barcelona will take less than 7 hours.
Spain is considered to have the best rail network not only in Europe but in the world. However, this route will be operated by the Italian state-owned railway FS Italiane.
Both Paris and Barcelona rank very highly on the ‘must visit’ city lists for American travelers taking a European tour and the opportunity to visit both cities by rail is likely to be an incredibly popular proposition.
Amsterdam To Austria
If you’re hoping to take advantage of the European ski season then you’ll be excited by the new TUI Ski Express route.
The train will depart from Amsterdam at 5.30 pm on Friday evenings and stop in Utecht, Cologne, and Frankfurt before arriving in the Austrian Alps. You can choose between either the Tyrol or Salzburger Land regions as your final destinations.
This route is noteworthy for its awe-inspiring natural beauty that looks like a winter wonderland. Even if you’re not interested in skiing this route is worth exploring for its snowy scenery alone.
Brussels To Amsterdam
Although it is already possible to travel between Brussels and Amsterdam by train in December 2024, both NS and SNCB train lines will launch upgraded direct high-speed routes between the 2 cities.
This is significant because it means that the travel time between these two European capital cities will be reduced from just over 3 hours to just 2 hours.
The number of services on this route will also double, meaning that if you’re planning a stay in Amsterdam, it would be easy to spend the weekend in Brussels and explore 2 cities in one trip.
Berlin To Brussels
Brussels is a popular hub for new European train routes in 2024 and yet another route being launched will connect Berlin to the Belgian capital.
This route will be operated as a Nightjet service by OBB and will make several stops throughout Germany including in Halle, Erfurt, Cologne, and Aachen. As a sleeper train that means you can go to bed in one country and wake up in another.
This train service will operate 3 days a week and will become an incredibly valuable route for tourists hoping to explore Europe.
Paris To Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Another beautiful train journey that boasts breathtaking scenery and a winter wonderland experience will launch in December 2024.
Operated by Ouigo this route will depart from Paris and arrive in the French city of Bourge-Saint-Maurice which is the popular French Les Arcs skiing region.
The opportunity to travel through the French Alps alone makes this an incredible train journey worth exploring. When you arrive in Bourge-Saint-Maurice you will find some of Europe’s best skiing and a rich, tight knit community.
Rome To Cortina d’Ampezzo
The new overnight express train between Rome and Cortina d’Ampezzo will be operated by Italian State Railways (FS Italiene).
Cortina d’Ampezzo is an iconic and luxurious ski resort in the Italian Alps and it will now be more accessible than ever. This sleeper train journey will take 10 hours and will depart from Rome at 9.40 pm every Friday evening making it a great option for travelers hoping to incorporate a ski weekend into their next trip to Italy.
This is a luxurious train ride with cabins ranging from single beds to six-person sleepers and you will also find a dining car and a bar on board.
Liege to Maastricht
Finally, this exciting tri-country route will connect Belgium to Germany and the Netherlands.
The reason this new route is so important and significant is that it will pass through Liege and Aachen, which are both significant high-speed train homes, opening up a huge range of additional European cities to train travelers.
In their own right, Liege and Maastricht are also both beautiful and lesser-visited cities well worth exploring as part of an epic European train adventure.
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