For the first time in over ten years, Danish passengers could soon board a night train departing directly from Copenhagen. A new international route linking Malmö/København with Basel in Switzerland is currently in the planning stages and could be operational as early as spring 2026. The project is the result of a joint initiative by the Swiss railway company SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen) and Germany’s RDC (Railroad Development Corporation).
According to SBB spokesperson Sabrina Schellenberg, the demand for cross-border night trains is “high,” and there is significant untapped potential on the market. “There are currently no direct connections from Scandinavia to Switzerland and vice versa,” she told Politiken. However, she stressed that the financing and official approvals still need to be secured before the route can launch.
Why night trains are making a comeback
The reintroduction of night trains in Denmark reflects a growing European trend toward sustainable travel. After being largely phased out over the past two decades due to the rise of low-cost airlines, night trains are now experiencing a renaissance driven by climate concerns and passenger demand for comfortable, eco-friendly alternatives.
According to data from the European Environment Agency, train travel emits up to 20 times less CO₂ per passenger kilometre than air travel. This environmental benefit is particularly appealing in countries like Denmark and Sweden, where climate policy plays a central role in public infrastructure planning.
No direct routes between Scandinavia and Switzerland—until now
The planned route from Malmö/København to Basel would be the first direct night train between Scandinavia and Switzerland, potentially serving both tourists and business travellers. It also revives a tradition that many Danes still remember fondly: the overnight European train journeys that once connected Sweden and Denmark to cities like Berlin, Prague and Munich.
The new connection could also link up with existing night train services operated by SBB and other partners in Central and Southern Europe, opening up further travel possibilities without the need for short-haul flights. By extending direct rail access to Switzerland, the route enhances Sweden and Denmark’s connectivity with major rail hubs in Germany, Austria, Italy, and France—marking a significant step toward a more integrated European rail network.
Financing and political support will be key
Although SBB and RDC have announced their intentions, several hurdles remain before the train can leave the station. According to Politiken, the project still requires a clear financial plan and regulatory approval from national authorities in Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
Political support could play a decisive role. Earlier this year, the Danish Transport Minister, Thomas Danielsen, voiced interest in expanding international rail services. While he has not yet commented specifically on the Malmö–Basel project, the broader political climate seems favourable to night train development.
More than a train: the symbolic value of night rail
Beyond its practical implications, the return of the night train to Copenhagen carries strong symbolic weight. It signals a renewed commitment to international cooperation, sustainable mobility, and the cultural ideal of a connected Europe. Night trains evoke a sense of continuity with the past, when rail travel played a central role in how people experienced the continent.
Bringing back this mode of travel not only addresses modern climate and transport needs, but also taps into a shared European nostalgia—reclaiming a slower, more scenic, and communal way of crossing borders. For Denmark, reestablishing overnight rail services could become a milestone in redefining how the country engages with its neighbours to the south, both practically and imaginatively.
