Switzerland to invest millions in new Basel-Copenhagen-Malmö night train

Switzerland’s Federal Office of Transport has allocated 47 million Swiss francs to funding a new night train between the alpine nation and Sweden. The new line could begin operating as soon as April 2026. 

Switzerland invests millions in night trains in Europe

Ever fancied falling asleep in Basel and waking up in Copenhagen or Malmö? From next spring, that could be a reality, after the Swiss Federal Council and parliament threw their weight behind plans to invest millions of francs in night trains across Europe. 

While most of the funding has been allocated to improving the quality of existing night trains, for instance purchasing new carriages for the routes between Switzerland and cities like Hamburg and Vienna, there is an exciting new project in the works: a night train connecting the cities of Basel, Copenhagen and Malmö.

Basel-Copenhagen-Malmö sleeper train to run three times a week

According to a government press release, the new night train, operated by SBB, will run three times a week in each direction and could set off on its maiden voyage as soon as April 2026! The date is so soon because SBB plans to redeploy sleeping cars currently used on the route between Zurich and Amsterdam. New rolling stock will then be purchased for the line between Switzerland and the Netherlands. 

The Swiss government plans to invest 1,2 million francs in the project this year, and then a further 8,9 million francs each year between 2026 and 2030. 

However, don’t start planning your holiday to Sweden just yet, because each year’s funding will need to be approved by the Swiss parliament every December as part of the federal budget, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for plans to get scrapped. The investment in long-distance public transport is already coming under fire from the SVP, which has described it as a “waste of taxpayers’ money”.