BY TIM HEDGLEY, GROUP TRAVEL EDITOR
Europe’s rail renaissance continues to gain momentum, with a wave of new routes set to launch in 2026. Following major milestones such as the Paris–Berlin direct service and the long-awaited return of cross-border links between France and Italy, the continent’s rail network is entering a new phase of expansion.
Against a backdrop of rising demand for train holidays that prioritise journey-led travel, wellbeing and environmental impact, Byway, the slow travel specialists, reveals the most exciting new connections to know about next year.
ČD ComfortJet from Prague to Copenhagen (Via Berlin)
Launching in May 2026, a major new connection, the Prague–Berlin–Copenhagen route, brings together three of Europe’s most searched-for city-break destinations onto one line. The journey links Central Europe to Scandinavia at a time when Copenhagen continues its rise as one of Europe’s most restorative urban escapes. Byway’s new 12-day trip, which incorporates the new train route, finishes in Copenhagen where those arriving by train and staying longer than four days can benefit from the city’s “CopenPay” initiative, including free bike rentals, yoga sessions and guided tours.
Similarly, in Bremen, a return stop on Byway’s journey to Denmark trip, tourists will receive goodie bags filled with small gifts and vouchers from local businesses to support sustainable tourism efforts. Tickets are already available from 1st May onwards.
The Caledonian Sleeper from Birmingham to the Scottish Highlands
The iconic Caledonian Sleeper has announced it will extend its Highlander route to introduce Birmingham as a brand-new departure point in the new year – and tickets are already on sale. Marking the first new stop in over three decades, travellers can drift off in the Midlands and wake up in Scotland’s most beautiful destinations, including Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Fort William and Perth. The first departure is scheduled for 15 January 2026 with journeys running five nights a week. Travellers can already embark on this journey from Birmingham with Byway’s new 8-day Journey to the Highlands & Islands trip.
The new Koralm Railway
From December 2025, Austria’s long-awaited Koralm Railway will transform travel between Vienna and the south of the country. The new line cuts journey times between Vienna and Klagenfurt by 45 minutes and improves onward connections towards Italy, including Venice. For travellers, this opens up smoother, faster access to alpine lakes, hiking regions and wine-growing areas, all without flying. Byway sees the Koralm Railway as a game-changer for slow travel through Austria, enabling more experience-led itineraries that combine cities, countryside and cross-border exploration by train.
Berlin to Hamburg line
From May 2026, full services are set to resume on the Berlin–Hamburg line following major track works, with all Prague–Berlin trains extended north. Two new evening services in each direction will improve flexibility, while journey times will fall to around four hours between Prague and Berlin, and six hours to Hamburg. From historic treasures and contemporary street art in Berlin to the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Prague and urban lifestyle of Hamburg, this improved connectivity is hoped to unlock new multi-country routes ideal for travellers planning longer, slower journeys across Central and Northern Europe.
Adriatic Express Sleeper Train from Warsaw to Rijeka
Predicted to run through July and August 2026, the sleeper train from Poland to Croatia first launched as a temporary service in summer 2024. Travelling through Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, it’s the first rail service to connect an impressive five countries along a single route. What was once a journey requiring three separate trains and an overnight stop could soon be completed in a single night, in the comfort of a private, air-conditioned sleeper cabin, with restaurant-quality meals served in the dining car.
The SOKO Budapest to Belgrade
Few new rail routes have generated as much anticipation as the direct Budapest-Belgrade train, expected to debut in 2026 and run on Serbia’s sleek, air-conditioned SOKO trains. After years of limited connections to the broader European rail network, the Balkans could soon become far more accessible for travellers. The upgrade would reduce the journey from eight hours to just over three.
Originally planned for an October 2025 launch, the project has been repeatedly delayed due to the highly complex engineering involved, so while nothing is guaranteed, optimism remains.
About Byway
Byway is the first 100% flight-free dynamic holiday planning technology. Each multi-stop journey is personalised for the holidaymaker and optimised for quality of experience instead of speed. The company was founded in 2020 by Cat Jones, who’s never owned a car and whose annual family holiday is by train and bike, whatever the weather. Trips are currently available across the UK and Europe for all dates in 2025 and beyond. All bookings include customised transport, handpicked accommodation, on-demand expert advice, and a low-carbon footprint.
About flight-free travel
The carbon impact of rail travel is 14g of CO2 per passenger mile, compared to 285g for air: you could get the train from London to Edinburgh and back five times and your carbon footprint would still be lower than if you flew there. Byway trips are not just about less carbon, but the wider benefits of travelling sustainably, avoiding hotspots, staying in locally run accommodation, getting to know the places you visit and enjoying the freedom and unexpectedness of travelling overland.
Find out more at www.byway.travel.
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