Switzerland's state-owned railway company, SBB, intends to launch a night train service connecting Zurich to the Scandinavian cities of Copenhagen and Malmö.
The Swiss government has announced plans for a new night train service connecting Malmö and Basel, with stops in Copenhagen, set to commence operations in April 2026. This eco-friendly and sustainable rail service forms part of Switzerland's commitment to enhancing connections within Europe and reducing carbon emissions.
While the project has received government backing, its final approval depends annually on the Swiss Parliament’s budget decisions. The Parliament has provisionally allocated 30 million Swiss francs per year over six years to fund international rail connections, including this night train. However, this funding is not yet guaranteed for the Malmö-Basel service, as the Parliament must approve the necessary budget every December during the federal budget debates.
The proposed funding has faced opposition within Parliament, with some members expressing skepticism or seeking to disrupt the funding for this service. Despite this, the government remains committed to expanding international rail links, and the night train is part of broader plans that also include increasing other night services and route extensions across Switzerland and neighbouring countries.
The Malmö route is the only planned new route by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), with the company focusing primarily on improving existing night trains and ordering new rolling stock for night trains to Hamburg and Vienna. SBB plans to operate three night trains each week in each direction, totaling six trains. To facilitate this, SBB plans to redeploy sleeping carriages from its Zurich-Amsterdam route for the new service, and new rolling stock will be used on the Amsterdam route.
The Swiss government has allocated a total of 47 million Swiss francs for the new night train service between Malmö and Basel. The funds will cover costs such as track, energy, rolling stock, and personnel. Criticism from both political parties on the left and right has been directed towards the reduced level of spending on long-distance rail.
In light of the ongoing debates, the exact status of the service going ahead is still uncertain. However, with the service scheduled to start in April 2026, the Swiss government and SBB remain hopeful that the necessary budget approvals will be secured, making this ambitious eco-friendly rail service a reality.
- Despite the ongoing debates within the Swiss Parliament, the government remains hopeful that the necessary budget approvals will be secured for the new eco-friendly night train service from Malmö to Basel, which forms part of their broader plans to expand international rail links and reduce carbon emissions.
- While the proposed funding for the Malmö-Basel service has faced opposition from certain members of the Parliament, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has allocated a total of 47 million Swiss francs for the new service, covering costs such as track, energy, rolling stock, and personnel.
- The government's commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable travel is reflected in their plans to operate three night trains each week in each direction on the Malmö-Basel route, providing a significant addition to the news and lifestyle sectors, making travel more accessible and sustainable for European citizens.
