3 brilliant European train routes launching in 2025
Slow, sustainable and scenic, European train journeys not only offer a respite from bustling airports, but also a way to maximise an overall travel experience – by making the most of the journey as well as the destination.
It’s hardly surprising then that the demand for international travel by train is projected to grow nearly five-fold between 2022 and 2050.
What’s more, exploring Europe by train is becoming even more convenient and sustainable, all thanks to recent EU initiatives working to improve overall rail connectivity and make travel greener.
With this "rail renaissance" in full swing, 2025 is set to be a huge year for train travel in Europe, with new routes making it easier than ever to explore different countries – covering more budget-friendly journeys, as well as luxurious once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Below are three train routes set to transform travel in 2025 and what to expect from each of them…
La Dolce Vita
Offering the ultimate ‘Made in Italy’ experience, this luxurious new sleeper train will offer eight one-to-two-night itineraries with immersive explorations from the north to the south of the country.
The new glossy and elegant La Dolce Vita Orient Express, which is setting off for Italian round trips from spring 2025, will be made up of 12 deluxe cabins and 18 suites, each with their own private bathrooms.
Inspired by 1960s and '70s Italian glamour (think nostalgic patterns in a rich palette of burgundy, ochres, and coppers), the trains will have a capacity for just 62 guests in total, creating an intimate setting that allows for a more comfortable and personal experience.
“The experience on board is the most important,” general manager Samy Ghachem told TTG. “You’ll have amazing volta linens, Broggi silverware and Michelin-star dining.”
But talking points are not limited to internal offerings, as La Dolce Vita Orient Express will journey past some of Italy’s most beautiful natural scenery, including serene lakes, sprawling forests, coasts and Alpine mountains – with breathtaking views to soak up throughout the trip.
Paris to Berlin
A new direct daytime route from Paris to Berlin whisks travellers through enchanting landscapes from vineyards to forests, to connect the two capitals' city centres.
With a run time of 7hrs 59mins in total, the new high-speed daytime train (reaching speeds of 200mph) is the first ever one to directly connect Paris and Berlin, via Frankfurt South, Karlsruhe, and Strasbourg.
This train launched on 15 December, a year after its nighttime counterpart, and the journey is now faster by five hours.
However, the new Paris to Berlin train not only promises faster, direct and daily journeys between the two bustling capital cities, but also a scenic travel experience, as it moves past Champagne vineyards, the Vosges hills, Saverne tunnel and the Rhine.
Brussels to Venice
Launching very soon on February 5, 2025, European Sleeper’s new route will connect Brussels to Venice, via the Austrian Alps.
As a result, this route promises scenic mountainous landscapes, as well as sublime views of the Dolomites and Venice’s canals.
The overnight train will launch just in time for the peak winter sports season and will take about 20 hours in total. Running just twice a week, it will depart from Brussels at 5pm and arrive in Venice at 2pm the following day, stopping in cities like Munich and Innsbruck along the way.
Other European train journeys to explore....
Bernina Express - Discover Lake Como, St Moritz and the Bernina Railway.
Glacier Express - Travel 120 kilometres through breathtaking mountain scenery in the Swiss Alps.
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