Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) will introduce a new EuroNight service from Basel to Copenhagen and Malmö from 15 April 2026, expanding its international night train network in partnership with RDC Germany.
The new connection will offer a direct overnight route from Switzerland to Scandinavia, operating three times a week in each direction throughout the year. It will be financially supported by the Swiss Federal Government under the CO₂ Act as part of its strategy to promote climate-friendly mobility.
Overnight link between Switzerland and Scandinavia
Departing Basel SBB at 17:35 on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, the train will arrive in Malmö at 09:35 the following morning. Southbound services will leave Malmö at 18:57 on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays, arriving in Basel SBB at 11:30.
The EuroNight service will have capacity for around 350 passengers, offering sleeping, couchette, and seated accommodation, as well as an accessible compartment and a bistro car between Basel and Padborg.
Intermediate stops include Freiburg (Breisgau), Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Frankfurt (Main) Süd, Hamburg, Padborg, Kolding, Odense, Høje Taastrup, and Copenhagen Airport.
Due to scheduling constraints, there will be no stop at Copenhagen Central Station, though the city centre can be reached within 15 minutes by S-Bahn from Høje Taastrup or Copenhagen Airport.
Tickets on sale from November 2025
Ticket sales will begin on 4 November 2025 via the SBB Mobile app, sbb.ch, and at SBB Travel Centres. Prices will be comparable to existing international night train services from Switzerland, varying by comfort category, refund conditions, and train occupancy.
A comfortable and sustainable travel option
The new EuroNight aims to offer passengers a convenient, environmentally friendly alternative to short-haul flights. Travellers will be able to “reach Scandinavia in their sleep”, with direct access to Copenhagen and Malmö, and easy onward connections to Stockholm and Gothenburg.
Covering a distance of more than 1,400 km through Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark before entering Sweden, the route will serve as the only direct rail link between Switzerland and Scandinavia, opening up new tourism and business opportunities across northern Europe.
Partnership with RDC Germany
The service will be operated jointly by SBB and RDC Germany, a private railway company with extensive experience in international night train operations. The collaboration builds on SBB’s strategy of expanding its cross-border services while promoting low-emission transport options.
Continued need for federal support
Although night trains remain highly popular with passengers, SBB notes that such services are not yet commercially viable due to high operating costs, including rolling stock, access charges, and staffing.
To bridge this gap, the Swiss Federal Government has earmarked CHF 47 million in support for international night train services until 2030, under the CO₂ Act. However, the funding still requires parliamentary approval.
If the budget is not approved, SBB has stated that the Basel–Copenhagen–Malmö service would not operate, and customers would receive full refunds for any tickets already purchased.
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