Since our last big update at the beginning of the year, there have been a number of exciting improvements and additions to  rail travel across Europe.

Read our roundup👇

January — new links and restored services

In Slovenia, passenger services resumed on the Nova Gorica–Ajdovščina line, restoring a regional connection through the Vipava Valley as part of the wider Nova Gorica–Ajdovščina–Sežana route.

In Poland, Koleje Śląskie joined the Interrail network. This expanded Interrail coverage across the Silesia region, improving regional travel around Katowice and towards the Czech and Slovak borders.

In the UK, the Caledonian Sleeper added a stop in Birmingham from 15 January, creating a direct overnight link between the Midlands and destinations in the Scottish Highlands, including Inverness, Fort William, and Aberdeen.

The first direct train between Tallinn and Riga began running without a transfer in Valga. Journey times were reduced to around 5 hours and 48 minutes.

March — major international expansions

Westbahn introduced a new southern Austria route connecting Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt, and Villach. The service runs up to five times per day in each direction and uses new Stadler SMILE trains.

Leo Express launched direct trains between Prague, Kraków, and Warsaw, operating twice daily, with additional services planned on the Prague–Kraków section. The company also introduced a domestic Kraków–Warsaw connection.

European Sleeper launched a new overnight service between Paris, Brussels, and Berlin, restoring a direct night train option on this route. Interrail Passes are valid with a required reservation.

April — fleet updates and new operations

In April, Leo Express introduced refurbished Talgo trains with a new livery. These were deployed on services between Prague, Bratislava, and Prešov, extending operations further into Slovakia.

May — new long-distance routes

A direct service started between Prague and Copenhagen, running via Dresden, Berlin, and Hamburg. The route operates twice daily year-round, with an additional seasonal night service.

Snälltåget launched a daytime Hamburg–Copenhagen–Stockholm service. The route runs daily and provides a direct connection between Germany, Denmark, and Sweden with stops including Malmö, Odense, and Kolding. A restaurant car is available onboard.

June — more direct international routes

June has brought a couple more additions for travellers heading across Northern Europe.

Deutsche Bahn introduced a new direct ICE service between Cologne and Ostend, extending high-speed trains beyond Brussels and on to Belgium’s North Sea coast. The route includes stops in Leuven, Ghent, and Bruges, making some of Belgium’s most popular cities and seaside destinations easier to reach by rail. The service operates on selected weekends during the summer using the new ICE 3neo trains.

Snälltåget launched a direct daytime service between Malmö, Gothenburg, and Oslo. Following Sweden’s west coast before crossing into Norway, the route provides another straightforward rail link between the two countries. Daily departures and an onboard restaurant carriage make it an attractive option for travellers exploring Scandinavia or connecting to the wider European rail network.

We hope these updates help you reach further into Europe and make more in-depth rail travel a little easier to piece together. Which of these changes do you think makes the biggest difference for rail travel in Europe? We’re curious to hear your take.