Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is adapting its seasonal tourist services for 2026, highlighting a broader European shift toward rail-based leisure travel and sustainable mobility.
The revised approach follows a joint review with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and feedback received during the earlier request for proposals.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the German federal government have launched an immediate action programme titled “More Comfort on Long-Distance Trains”, backed by an additional EUR 20m in 2026.
Slovenian Railways (SŽ–Potniški promet) transported 20.9 million passengers in 2025, the highest annual total since Slovenia’s independence and 25% more than in 2024.
From Kraków, the service continues internationally via Ostrava, Olomouc and Pardubice to Prague, establishing a through Warsaw–Kraków–Prague connection.
Five direct trains operate daily in each direction between Graz and Munich. The route is complemented by a daily Nightjet service linking Graz with Berlin overnight.
The private operator is deploying Stadler SMILE high-speed multiple units in direct competition with ÖBB services on the same corridor.
Deutsche Bahn and Brussels Airlines will launch a new direct ICE connection from Cologne to Brussels Airport, introducing a codeshare rail–air offer from September 2026.
The process precedes a competitive tender that must be published by 30 June 2026.
The agreement, known as Tåg 2027, consolidates existing services under a single contract.
DB and SBB report a significant improvement in punctuality on the Stuttgart–Zurich IC route and will extend the current operating concept until December 2026.
The contract, valued at EUR 158m, covers 12 bi-mode and 10 electric multiple units for regional services.
The contracts enter into force on 13 December 2026.
The Lithuanian operator plans to add six battery trains to its fleet by the end of 2026 as part of a broader 15-train order.
Deutsche Bahn will equip all customer-facing employees with bodycams from 2026 as part of a nationwide rail safety action plan agreed with federal and state authorities following a fatal attack on a DB employee.
The cross-border service will run daily in both directions along Sweden’s west coast before continuing into Norway.
The project represents a total investment of around EUR 5.3 bn (MXN 100 bn) and enables end-to-end journeys of under 60 minutes.
The final locomotive was delivered at the turn of the year, concluding a fleet renewal programme launched after the termination of several leasing agreements.
The 36-year-old employee, identified as Serkan C., succumbed to his injuries on February 5, two days after the incident.
Passenger satisfaction at České dráhy increased again in 2025, driven mainly by fleet modernisation and service improvements. Data from the operator’s mobile app show a steady upward trend in customer ratings.