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Night train revolution: direct connection from Basel to Malmö from 2026!
New night train connections from Switzerland to Sweden and London planned from 2026 – environmentally friendly travel options in the rail sector.
Night train revolution: direct connection from Basel to Malmö from 2026!
From 2026, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) plans to introduce a new night train between Basel and Malmö. This innovative connection offers an environmentally friendly alternative to flying and travels via Germany and Denmark with a stop in Copenhagen. The estimated travel time is 13 to 14 hours. The night train will be operated by the Railroad Development Corporation (RDC) and SBB and could represent the first direct night train connection between Switzerland and Sweden in over a decade. Loud reisetopia.de However, there are still no approved timetables and booking options, which are expected to be published at the end of 2025. Demand for cross-border night trains is currently high. However, regulatory approvals and financing are still pending.
Meanwhile, SBB has set its sights on the prospect of a direct route to London. On May 8, 2025, a declaration of intent was signed in London to strengthen cross-border rail traffic between Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Due to the fact that Great Britain is not in the Schengen area, special passenger checks are required as well as special terminals at the train stations. An agreement between Switzerland, France and the United Kingdom is also required to realize the connection. The Federal Council plans to make a decision next year, but a fixed start date has not yet been set.
Advanced plans and requirements
SBB has been carrying out a feasibility study since 2022 to advance the realization of the direct connection to London from 2030. CEO Vincent Ducrot emphasizes that while there is demand for longer train journeys, there are also major challenges to overcome. An important prerequisite for the success of these projects remains the necessary infrastructure: check-in terminals for border controls, renovations at train stations, space on tracks and new routes, especially in the Euro Tunnel, are crucial.
| project | status | Estimated start date |
|---|---|---|
| Night train Basel – Malmö | planning | 2026 |
| Direct connection Switzerland – London | Feasibility study | 2030 |
In order to promote cross-border traffic, SBB is planning further direct connections, including destinations such as Rome and Barcelona as well as the already mentioned connection to Copenhagen and Malmö next year. Advances in digitalization should make it possible to conveniently buy international train tickets via the SBB mobile app from 2024. In 2024, the highest number of passengers transported was reached, namely 1.39 million daily in local and long-distance transport, which underlines the growing importance of rail travel. Despite an annual profit of 275 million francs, SBB Cargo Switzerland recorded a loss of 76 million francs.