Direct train service launched from Karlsruhe to vacation destination
In an exciting development for European travel, a new overnight train connection from Karlsruhe (Germany) to Denmark and southern Sweden is set to commence operation in spring 2026. This service, operated by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and Railroad Development Corporation (RDC), will link Switzerland to Copenhagen and Malmö, offering a unique Scandinavian experience that deviates from the classic Stockholm offerings.
The train will run six nights a week, with three journeys northbound and three southbound. The route will be serviced by rolling stock transferred from the Amsterdam–Zürich night train route. Although the exact stops and complete schedule details have not been fully disclosed, the service is part of a broader initiative to re-establish night train routes through this corridor, ultimately connecting to Copenhagen and Malmö, thereby facilitating onward travel to Sweden.
The overnight train journey from Karlsruhe to the vacation land is considered a relaxed travel option, fitting perfectly into the trend of being climate-friendly, relaxed, and direct. The destination of the new overnight train connection includes Malmö, the third-largest city in Sweden, providing a different Scandinavian experience than classic Stockholm.
Regarding pricing, no specific tickets or fares for the Karlsruhe to Denmark or Sweden overnight trains have been announced yet. However, daytime routes between Copenhagen and Stockholm have prices starting around €34 ($43), suggesting that overnight train pricing might be in a similar or slightly higher range depending on service class.
Further details on exact schedules, stops, and prices will become available closer to the spring 2026 launch. For now, Swiss Railways' app will be the platform for booking when tickets go on sale.
If you are looking for immediate connections between Denmark and Sweden, daytime combined train routes with transfers are available. However, this new overnight service will offer a direct and convenient alternative in the near future. It's worth noting that while there are already overnight trains in Scandinavia, the new route from Basel via Karlsruhe to Copenhagen and Malmö will be a premiere.
The OBB long-distance train chief believes that the overnight train is the most cultivated means of transport, and the new connection from Karlsruhe is set to become a popular choice for vacationers from Karlsruhe, who, according to current ADAC travel analysis 2024, consider Sweden one of the top vacation destinations for Germans in the summer vacation. Overnight trains are in high demand as part of a European comeback, offering travellers a climate-friendly, relaxed, and direct travel option.
- This new overnight train connection from Karlsruhe to Denmark and southern Sweden, set to launch in spring 2026, is not just a transportation option, but also a lifestyle choice, connecting travelers to a unique Scandinavian experience that includes public-transit systems in Malmö, the third-largest city in Sweden.
- As the overnight train journey from Karlsruhe to Malmö is considered a climate-friendly, relaxed, and direct travel option, it aligns well with the trends of the other industry, finance, where investors are increasingly focusing on sustainable solutions.
- For those seeking a different travel experience beyond the classic Stockholm offerings, the new overnight train connection from Karlsruhe to Denmark and Sweden could be an attractive alternative, especially given the potential price range that approximates daytime routes between Copenhagen and Stockholm.
