New EuroNight To Link Basel, Copenhagen, And Malmö From April 2026

Published on Nov 2, 2025, 2:42 pm CST

4 min read

Key points

SBB plans a new EuroNight linking Basel, Copenhagen, and Malmö from April 15, 2026
Tri-weekly service each way with departures from Basel at 5:35 p.m. CET and arrivals in Malmö at 9:35 a.m. CET
Tickets are expected to go on sale November 4, subject to Swiss Parliament approving funding
Route covers about 1,400 kilometers with stops in Germany and Denmark including Hamburg and Copenhagen Airport
Service will skip Copenhagen Central due to pathing limits, with fast links via Høje Taastrup and the airport
Funding plan allocates CHF 47 million through 2030 under the CO₂ Act to support international night trains

Impact

Ticket Timing: Aim to book when sales open November 4, seat and sleeper categories are limited
Refund Assurance: If Parliament declines funding, SBB indicates booked tickets will be refunded
Connection Planning: For Copenhagen city center, plan a brief transfer from Høje Taastrup or Copenhagen Airport
Cabin Choice: Pick sleepers or couchettes for privacy on the 16-hour journey
Seasonal Demand: Expect higher spring and summer load factors, book earlier for those periods

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Travelers bound for Scandinavia could soon have a new overnight option. Swiss Federal Railways, SBB, has unveiled plans for a EuroNight sleeper connecting Basel, Switzerland, with Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden, starting April 15, 2026. The train would run three times per week in both directions, with tickets expected to go on sale on November 4. The launch depends on Swiss Parliament approving multi-year financial support under the country's CO₂ Act, which backs international night trains as a lower-emission alternative to flying. If the financing does not pass, SBB says it will cancel the rollout and refund any tickets already issued.

What's planned, and when it runs

Under the current plan, the train departs Basel SBB at 535 p.m. CET on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, arriving in Malmö at 935 a.m. CET after roughly 16 hours. Northbound stops include Freiburg (Breisgau), Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Frankfurt (Main) Süd, and Hamburg in Germany, then Padborg, Kolding, Odense, Høje Taastrup, and Copenhagen Airport in Denmark before Malmö. Southbound, the return leaves Malmö at 657 p.m. CET on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays and arrives in Basel at about 1130 a.m. CET the next day. The full distance is approximately 1,400 kilometers, with capacity around 350 passengers across sleeping cabins, couchettes, and seated coaches.

Copenhagen access without the Central Station stop

Because of pathing and timetable constraints, the EuroNight is not slated to call at Copenhagen Central. Travelers heading to or from the city core should use Høje Taastrup or Copenhagen Airport, which have frequent connections to Central Station, typically around 15 minutes. In practice, this is a short transfer on S-tog or regional rail that preserves the overnight timing without an extra terminal dwell.

Why funding matters for night trains

SBB's proposal is part of a broader push to restore and expand cross-border sleepers in Europe. These trains are popular, but they face high fixed costs for rolling stock, track access, and staffing, which often require public support to be viable across borders. Switzerland has earmarked CHF 47 million through 2030 to bolster international night services under the CO₂ Act, with the Basel-Copenhagen-Malmö link cited among the use cases. Parliament's winter-session vote is the critical gating item before operations begin and before early sales convert into firm travel plans.

Context: Europe's mixed night-train picture

The timing underscores both the momentum and fragility of the night-train revival. Austria's ÖBB, Europe's largest sleeper operator, confirmed that Nightjet services linking Paris with Vienna and Berlin will end with the December 14, 2025 timetable after France withdrew subsidies. Advocates argue the cuts highlight how cross-border sleepers hinge on coordinated public funding to compete with air and high-speed day trains. Against that backdrop, Switzerland's move to underwrite service to Scandinavia signals a different policy direction, one that travelers who value overnight rail should watch closely.

How to book, and what to expect on board

If the vote passes as planned, SBB indicates sales will open on November 4 via SBB's app, website, and staffed counters. Expect the usual night-train product tiers: classic sleeping compartments for maximum privacy, couchette berths for mid-price comfort, and seated cars as a budget option. With only about 350 places per train, early bookings will matter on peak dates, notably late spring and summer. For Copenhagen city access, compare arrival into Høje Taastrup versus the airport based on your hotel location and morning connections.

Background: How night trains work for travelers

Overnighters trade airport transfers and security lines for station-to-station continuity. On a 16-hour run, a sleeper or private couchette improves rest and door-to-door efficiency, especially when arrival aligns with hotel check-in or morning meetings. The main compromises are fewer onboard amenities than day intercity services and the occasional timetable tweak during infrastructure works. For cross-border services like this one, operators coordinate with several infrastructure managers, which is why funding certainty and path approvals are pivotal before launch.

Final thoughts

If approved, the Basel-Copenhagen-Malmö EuroNight would become a practical, lower-emission bridge between Switzerland and Scandinavia, with straightforward last-mile links into Copenhagen. The key dates to watch are Parliament's winter vote and November 4 for early ticket access. Until funding is confirmed, treat plans as provisional and book flexible hotel rates that you can change without fees.