european rail trips

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Train & Rail Tours & Trips in Europe

• Italy Train & Rail

109 Train & Rail tour packages in Europe with 993 reviews

• Train & Rail

Eco-Comfort - Tour Of Italy By Train

Knowledgeable and friendly guides, best hotels and just an overall fabulous trip.

• €50 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Sightseeing
• Christmas & New Year

Berlin to Venice

Glacier Express & Porsche 911 Rail & Drive Experience

• In-depth Cultural

Berlin to Rome

It's a long trip and designed for those wanting to see much of central Europe in a short amount of time.

Mediterranean Express: Rivieras & Railroads

The Mediterranean Express trip is a great way to get to know fellow travellers before arriving.

Paris to Barcelona: Tapas & Train Rides

Central Europe Group Rail Tour (18-35)

The whole trip was thoroughly planned and so enjoyable! Such a stress free experience.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Whole of Europe Group Rail Tour (18-35)

The whole experience was so easy we just got taken from city to city and got to see so much. It was really hassle free.

European Romance

Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre & Venice in 7 Days

The day trip to pisa and cinque terre was fun. Venice was a short day, basically exploring it by yourself.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

London to Istanbul Rail Adventure + Cappadocia Extension

London to Istanbul Rail Adventure

Italy By Train

The hotels in Florence and La Spezia were hed out as 4 star, but e beieve they were at best 3 star.

Contrasts of Switzerland (8 Days)

Wonderful way to see the beauty of Switzerland but would have liked an additional layover day in Lake Geneva.

ULTIMATE BUCKET LIST

Fantastic itinerary, hassle free booking with easy alterations. Expectations exceeded.

What people love about Train & Rail Tours in Europe

Overall experience was excellent. The support staff was always available to answer any questions, as well as to provide vouchers for ad hoc optional tours that were selected during the excursion. Tour guides were knowledgeable. Hotels were very nice.

Overal a great experience, the guides ensure you have an authentic experience and take care of the difficult parts of traveling. It's a long trip and designed for those wanting to see much of central Europe in a short amount of time. I have taken away many good memories with the people I travelled with, and have formed a deeper understanding of western art, history and culture. Highly recommend.

Hey is anyone going on the Mediterranean Express trip on 8th September, looking to get to know my fellow travellers a little before I arrive! :)

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"Los pueblos son bonitos, viendo el Mar Adriático y a veces el mar Jónico. Mis pueblos favoritos Alberobello, Matera , Capri, Naples y Pompeya. Esas puestas de sol en el Adriático espectaculares

Europamundo is an expert in:

• River Cruise

"Very rigorous schedule, but we saw and did a lot. Hotels were extremely hit or miss. Really need to consider quality control. I wasn’t expecting the Ritz, but hot water is a must. Spending the night an hour outside of the city/town we’re scheduled to visit is also pretty unacceptable. Food was also hit or miss, but that wasn’t as important as the accommodations. Just please be attentive, especially with such a busy schedule. Everyone needed their rest and sometimes the hotels didn’t allow for much of that.

Expat Explore Travel is an expert in:

"One of the best experiences I have had to date. The guide Ri was extremely enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and helpful! She really made her best efforts to make us feel comfortable and feel welcome in the group. She is also always smiling which is a huge positive! Couldn’t rate my experience enough :)

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The best train rides in Europe: 10 amazing journeys for 2024

Jan 16, 2024 • 8 min read

Incredible scenery awaits traveling through the Bernese Alps; Jungfrau, Switzerland © Thomas Barwick / Getty

There’s something magical about a journey by train.

Sometimes the magic is inside – on a train you have room to move and meet people, dine in a restaurant car with white tablecloths, and sleep in a private compartment between crisp, clean sheets with the sound of steel wheels swishing on the rails beneath you. Sometimes the magic is outside, in the landscape the train traverses – an adventure, an experience, an insight into the heart of a nation.

Below are some of the most beautiful train rides in Europe – some well known, some less so, some luxurious and expensive, others true bargains. From countryside views and mountain villages to alpine passes and landmark bridges (with a little wildlife spotting thrown in for good measure), the continent offers up some of the most scenic train rides in the world.

The best European train trips include the fabulous Bernina Express, the most enchanting Swiss Alpine ride of all, and the spectacular railway from Belgrade to Bar through the mountains of Montenegro . The latter is one of the most scenic train rides you’ve probably never heard of, with a bargain fare of just €21. So here they are, the 10 best train journeys in Europe, extracted from Lonely Planet's Amazing Train Journeys .

1. Settle to Carlisle, England

Route: Settle to Carlisle Best bit? Marveling at the Ribblehead Viaduct, one of the great views of northern England , preferably as a steam train thunders over. Distance:  113km (73 miles) Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes

England’s Settle-to-Carlisle line has long been synonymous with the fight to preserve beautiful and historic stretches of railway. But this is no heritage line. Proudly part of the British rail network and served by regular mainline trains, the railway enjoys a double life as a frequent host of steam specials and, even rarer, steam-hauled mainline services.

Whether you have the whiff of steam in your nostrils or the hard-working growl of diesel-hauled regular trains in your ears, the views from the carriages are pretty much unmatched on the English railway network.

Passengers can feast their eyes on mile after mile of magnificent Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines scenery, interrupted only by stations so sweet you would expect to find them pictured on a box of biscuits.

2. Le Petit Train Jaune, France

Route: Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour-de-Carol Best bit? Holding your breath as you cross the gravity-defying Pont Gisclard. Distance:  63km (39 miles) Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

Since 1910, the dinky, sunflower-yellow carriages of the Ligne de Cerdagne have been rattling and clattering their way through the rolling forests and saw-toothed mountains of the Pyrenees , and they have secured a special place in the hearts of many French travelers.

Affectionately known as the Canary, or Le Petit Train Jaune (Little Yellow Train), this mountain railway is frequently cited as the most scenic in France , but it’s definitely not a luxury service – it’s a rollercoaster ride on which you will feel the wind in your hair and the chill of the mountain breeze as you ratchet your way up to the highest train station in France. On y va!

3. Belgrade-to-Bar Railway, Serbia and Montenegro

Route: Belgrade to Bar Best bit? Levitating atop the 499m-long (1637ft), 198m-tall (650ft) Mala Rijeka Viaduct, one of the planet’s highest railway bridges, before the train glides over the Balkans’ largest lake, Skadar. Distance: 476km (296 miles) Duration: 12 hours

Dramatic is the operative word for this route, which rumbles over an unsullied, mountainous landscape from Serbia 's capital, Belgrade , to Montenegro ’s Adriatic Coast . During the 12-hour journey, the train disappears into the Dinaric Alps, charges through canyons, teeters on stilted bridges spanning river gorges and skims atop an ancient, tectonic lake.

Like the region it serves, the railway, which chugs across the heart of the Western Balkans , eludes most tourists’ maps. The reward for treasure-hunting travelers, who are informed (or lucky) enough to know where to dig: an embarrassment of authentic culture and pristine geographic riches at every bend.

4. The Bernina Express, Switzerland

Route: Chur to Tirano Best bit? Marveling at the astonishingly turquoise Lago Bianco from the route’s highest station, Ospizio Bernina (2253m/7392ft). Distance: 156km (96 miles) Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

We can wax lyrical about the glacier-capped mountains, waterfall-draped ravines, jewel-colored lakes and endless spruce forests glimpsed through panoramic windows on Switzerland ’s Bernina Express – but, trust us, seeing is believing.

Rolling from Chur in Graubünden to Tirano in northern Italy in around four hours, this narrow-gauge train often tops polls of the world’s most beautiful rail journeys. It's certainly one of the most scenic train journeys in Switzerland.

Beyond the phenomenal Alpine landscape, the railway itself is a masterpiece of early 20th-century engineering, taking 55 tunnels and 196 bridges in its stride. The line is on the UNESCO World Heritage List – and with good reason.

5. The Heart of Wales Line, Wales and England

Route: Swansea to Shrewsbury Best bit? Disembarking at lonely Sugar Loaf Station for a walk or picnic around the iconic nearby knoll of the same name. Distance: 194km (121 miles) Duration: 4 hours

This is Swansea to Shrewsbury the slow and, frankly, surreal way. This one-carriage train traverses track through Wales and England that might easily have been consigned to a museum or an out-of-print book, but that has somehow defied time and logic to survive as a passenger route.

Expect a spectrum of scenery, alternating from the sand-edged estuaries of South Wales, via bucolic farming towns and tracts of forest and hill country you probably never knew existed, through to one of England’s prettiest medieval cities. This four-hour, 34-station zigzag passes almost no major sights or countryside villages, but a very high concentration of spectacularly zany ones.

6. Munich to Venice on the Brenner Railway, Germany, Austria and Italy

Route: Munich to Venice Best bit? Stretching your legs at 1371m (4498ft) Brenner Pass, the highest point on the trip. Distance:  563km (350 miles) Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes

The Brenner Railway is attractive for two key reasons: mountains and wine. There may be more technically astonishing high-altitude trains, but this was the first to cross the Alps, in the 1860s.

On a surprisingly speedy day trip, you pass through three countries – Germany , Austria and Italy – and descend from the snow line to sea level. You’re rarely far from highways, but the vineyard views are still stunning. Bonus: great European cities with historic architecture – Munich and Venice – are at either end.

7. The Kyle of Lochalsh Line, Scotland

Route: Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh Best bit? Passing under the gentle grassy slopes of Fionn Bheinn – a munro rising high over Achnasheen. Distance:  135km (84 miles) Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Scotland has an abundance of windswept railways – the West Highland Line and the Far North Line to Thurso among them. Though comparatively unsung, perhaps the loneliest of all is the Kyle of Lochalsh Line – with trains rumbling doggedly from Inverness through desolate glens and past snowy munros, connecting the cold shores of the North Sea to the furious whitewater of the Atlantic.

It is a railway line full of poetry and beloved by aficionados – but it’s also a useful way for independent travelers to access remote nooks of the Highlands, and make a journey to the Isle of Skye.

8. Nova Gorica to Jesenice, Slovenia

Route: Nova Gorica to Jesenice Best bit? Catching a glimpse of picture-perfect Lake Bled’s church, castle and bright-blue water. Distance: 89km (55 miles) Duration: 2 hours

Here is a near-perfect railway adventure that most people have never heard of. Then again, you could be forgiven for missing it. The Bohinj Railway, after all, connects two places whose significance can be lost to modern travelers. Europe’s shifting borders and politics may have rather marooned the Nova Gorica–Jesenice line, but that only adds to the appeal.

An unassuming regional train rattling out of a faded-grandeur halt on the Italy– Slovenia border doesn’t even hint at what’s to come. The journey is a spectacular tour of Slovenia’s upland highlights, climbing through mountain towns and villages along the Soča River, passing through superb Alpine scenery close to Lake Bohinj , and past world-famous Lake Bled , offering photo opportunities galore.

9. The Centovalli Express, Switzerland and Italy

Route: Domodossola to Locarno Best bit? Taking in the Isorno viaduct, the site of Switzerland’s first bungee jump. Distance:  52km (32 miles) Duration: 2 hours

Often eclipsed by Switzerland’s more famous rail rides, this two-hour trundle from Locarno on the palm-rimmed shores of Lake Maggiore to Domodossola over the Italian border in Piedmont is something of an unsung beauty.

Brush up your Italiano to swoon in sync with fellow passengers as the dinky train clatters across 83 bridges and burrows its way through 34 tunnels. The views make for spirit-lifting stuff: waterfalls shooting past cliffside views, hillside vineyards, gracefully arched viaducts, slate-roofed hamlets, glacier-carved ravines and mile after mile of chestnut and beech forests, all set against the puckered backdrop of mountains that are snow-capped in winter.

10. Bergensbanen, Norway

Route: Oslo to Bergen Best bit? Gazing over the soul-stirring landscape of Hardangervidda between Geilo and Finse. Distance: 496km (308 miles) Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes

This astonishing train is one of the wonders of 19th-century railway building, and yet outside Norway hardly anyone knows about it. In just over six hours and some 490km (300 miles), it covers the spectrum of Norway ’s natural splendor: climbing canyons, crossing rivers, burrowing through mountainsides, swooping past fjords and traversing barren icescapes. All aboard for the Oslo to Bergen trainline, Bergensbanen: a mainline into Norwegian nature.

This article was first published Aug 20, 2019 and updated Jan 16, 2024.

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• 1 Belmond Grand Hibernian, Ireland
• 2 Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
• 3 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, U.K., France, Italy
• 4 Renfe El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo, Spain
• 5 Glacier Express, Switzerland
• 6 Belmond Royal Scotsman, Scotland
• 7 Golden Eagle Danube Express, Eastern Europe

7 Best European Train Tours

If you care more about the journey than the destination, take the scenic route on a luxe European train tour.

Chelsea is Brooklyn-based travel writer, editor, and photographer. When not home eating her way through NYC, she's gallivanting across the globe, sailing the coast of Croatia or hiking the peaks of Peru. Her superpowers include booking flight deals and sleeping in small plane seats.

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Belmond Grand Hibernian, Ireland

Launched in September 2016, the Belmond Grand Hibernian is the newest—and most luxurious—European train tour. The week-long route visits Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast, stopping at some of Ireland’s most famous landmarks, including the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle. Passengers can also sign up for exclusive expeditions such as afternoon tea at the Curraghmore estate and a private after-hours tour of the Titanic museum in Belfast. But we don’t blame you if you never want to leave the gorgeous carriage, which feels more like an elegant Georgian hotel on wheels, with Celtic knot and tartan-patterned furnishings, marble en-suite bathrooms, and staff sporting Donegal tweed uniforms.

Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy

Starting in Chur, Switzerland and weaving through the southern Alps to Tirano, Italy, the Bernina Express is the best European train tour for sightseers. The track crosses close to 200 bridges, climbs over craggy mountains, and passes through 55 tunnels—with jaw-dropping views at every turn. The line is so impressive, in fact, that it even earned UNESCO World Heritage status.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, U.K., France, Italy

Just because you’re traveling by train, doesn’t mean it isn’t a five-star affair. Take the two-day Venice Simplon-Orient-Express , where you can stay in Art Deco digs—from the etched glass and intricate marquetry down to the original 1920s carriages—as it makes its way from London to Paris and ending in Venice. Make sure to save time for a meal; the chefs select fresh produce at each stop, including lobsters from Brittany and salt marsh lamb from Mont Saint-Michel.

RELATED : 13 Beautiful Train Stations Around the World

Renfe El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo, Spain

To see a secret side of Spain, take the Renfe El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo from San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela, in the country’s northern region. The eight-day trip goes by the Bay of Biscay, Cantabrian mountain range, and major cultural centers like Bilbao; highlights include: the Guggenheim Museum, a prehistoric cave in Altamira, the Picos de Europa National Park and the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. When you’re not out exploring, you can chill out in your spacious deluxe suite, take an on-board cooking class, or listen to live music performances. Plus, foodies will love the area’s delicious cuisine, such as fabada asturiana and cocido montañés (Spanish bean stews), frixuelos (local crepes), tarta de mondoñedo (fig tart), and Galician seafood.

Glacier Express, Switzerland

There’s a reason the Glacier Express was crowned the slowest express train in the world. The eight-hour jaunt only goes a whopping 180 miles, but it’s got enough scenery to last a lifetime. Slowly chugging around the Swiss Alps, from St. Moritz to Zermatt, it crosses nearly 300 bridges, with prime alpine views of vertigo-inducing gorges and snow-capped mountains, including the 15,000-foot Matterhorn, one of the highest peaks in Europe. And you’ll get a front-row spot for the perfect 'gram, thanks to the glass roofs and massive windows on each car.

Belmond Royal Scotsman, Scotland

The Belmond Royal Scotsman may be the world’s most expensive train ride, but trust us when we say it’s worth the splurge. The four-day round-trip itinerary cruises from Edinburgh along the coast to Aberdeen and through the Scottish Highlands, where you’ll visit crumbling castles, glistening lochs and picturesque villages. The best part? The single malt tastings on a whisky tour of local distilleries. If that’s not enough to raise your spirits, the bar onboard is also stocked with more than 50 kinds of whisky and scotch.

RELATED : 11 European Castles You Can Actually Sleep In

Golden Eagle Danube Express, Eastern Europe

For the grand tour of Europe, book a room on the Golden Eagle Danube Express . The two-week excursion is a highlight reel of the continent’s famous cities (Venice, Prague, Berlin, Krakow, Vienna and Budapest) as well as its hidden small-town gems, including Zittau in Germany; Sopot, Gdańsk, Malbork, and Zakopane in Poland; plus Keszthely and Lake Balaton in Hungary. Bonus: this year, Golden Eagle debuts a group of Superior Deluxe Cabins so you can travel in style, with a personal butler to cater to your every whim.

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HappyRail has been the go-to European rail travel specialist for over 20 years. Our unique and custom-made individual rail tours are booked for you by our train travel experts and refined by years of experience. You recieve a comprehensive information package for every travel day, including travel descriptions, maps, all tickets and reservations, and more. Flexibility Our Rail tours are fully flexible in length. Customize your stay at each stop in the tours according to your own wishes. For each tour, a set of stations across Europe are available as selectable starting points from where we book all the train tickets you need. Feel free reach out to our train travel experts for further advice! Swiss rail tours For those who can't get enough of luxury, comfort, and breathtaking views, Switzerland is a dream destination. Every rail tour through Switzerland is unique, and with a wide range of options, there's always a tour that suits you. No panoramic train will be missed during a Switzerland tour. Thanks to the panoramic windows and the leisurely pace of the Glacier Express, you can fully enjoy the most beautiful parts of the Swiss Alps. The Bernina Express takes you through thirteen tunnels, 52 viaducts, and the famous spiral viaduct to the Italian border. Views of mountain passes and lakes will also be part of your tour. In short, a train tour in Switzerland offers endless variety and is highly recommended. We offer three distinct rail tours in Switzerland, each with it's own combination of scenic railways, as well as the  Grand Tour of Europe  and  Heart of Europe  rail tours across multiple countries but also featuring the best of Switzerland's scenic railways. Mediterranean Train Tours The countries around the Mediterranean are suitable for more than just relaxation: they are also fantastic destinations for (active) rail tours. You can discover the authentic villages of Cinque Terre in Italy. Combined with cities like Rome and Florence into one rail tour, you'll explore this beautiful part of Italy in a way that no other mode of transportation allows. Italian high-speed trains are the fastest and most comfortable way to explore the country. In Spain, a tour through the undiscovered north of the country or a trip through breathtaking Andalusia might be the perfect journey for you. Direct local or high-speed trains take you from one fascinating city to another, with hotels and train itineraries booked based on years of experience. For island lovers, train tours are possible in Sicily and Corsica , where our package rail tours also contain tickets with comfortable sea-view cabins on the boats to and from the islands, and where you stay in the most authentic local hotels. Scandinavian rail tours Discover Norway at its best with one of our train tours. Our favorite is the Norway in a Nutshell: no highlight is missed. You'll ride through the diverse landscape between Oslo and Vatnahalsen on the famous Bergen Railway, in the luxury and comfort of Norwegian trains. You can continue the perhaps most beautiful train journey in the world with the world-famous Flåm Railway, followed by a boat and train journey through the impressive Nærøyfjord to Bergen. From Bergen, you can choose to continue traveling with the Hurtigruten to get a view of the beautiful Norwegian fjords, and the Dovre Railway is a train ride that cannot be missed during your train tour of Norway. If, after all these beautiful train rides, you still can't get enough of the stunning Scandinavian landscape, a train tour of Norway can also be perfectly combined with a train tour of Sweden and Finland! The Inlandsbanan is one of the most beautiful train routes in all of Scandinavia. The 1296-kilometer railway runs straight through Sweden with the most beautiful views along the way: endless forests, rivers, bridges, lakes, and even wildlife will pass by during the journey. In addition to a visit to Stockholm, many come to Sweden for Swedish Lapland, known for its wild landscape and the chance to see the Northern Lights in winter. Cross the Arctic Circle in this area with the Arctic Circle train or travel with one of the many other comfortable night trains through the Swedish landscape. Finally, a train tour through Sweden can also be perfectly combined with a tour of Norway and Finland if you're looking for even more variation of unique natural phenomena. Germany, Austria & central Europe Europe's most impressive historical cities can be found in it's heartland. You'll also find some of the most comfortable express trains here, with dining cars and comfortable 1st class or even business class carriages. A best-seller, with good reason is the  Highlights of Austria  rail tour, combining comfortable direct express trains with the prettiest cities in Austria, travelling through landscapes straight out of the Sound of Music movie. Vienna and Salzburg are cities you must have visited at least once. The Romantic Road railtour takes you through fairytale-like landscapes and Germany, where you get to see medieval castles and villages that look like they are stuck in time. The Historic Cities of Eastern Germany and Central Europe tours meanwhile focus on the most historically interesting cities anywhere in Europe. The  Heart of Europe  tour takes you to the most impressive cities of 7 countries, It includes many scenic railways like the Transalpine railway through the Austrian Alps and the famous Swiss Glacier Express. Cruises on the beautiful Danube and over the Bodensee lake complete this unforgettable holiday.

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Luxury Train Vacations, Luxury Rail Tours & Holidays

Luxury train rides conjure up romantic notions of meandering through the snow-capped Swiss Alps, animated storytelling on-route to Vladivostok on the Trans-Siberian Railway, or departing Gare de l’Est station in Paris aboard the Orient Express. Luxury rail holidays are an incredible way to travel, making it as much about the journey as the final destination. The best luxury train vacations are focused on slowing the pace of life so you can take in the scenery.

The Luxury Train Travel Company offers the finest and most opulent luxury rail journeys across Europe, Africa, North and South America, Asia, and Australia. Luxury rail road tours allow you to sit back and unwind on a luxury sleeper train, enjoy fine dining, and soak up spectacular diverse landscapes from the comfort of a suite or observation car. Nothing quite matches the character or charm of luxurious trains, and we provide the best luxury train trips in the world.

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Every traveller that boards luxury trains bound for the distant horizon will have their perception of what to expect from a luxury rail tour. Whether it’s taking a popular route or one less travelled to expectations of service and accommodation and intriguing off-train excursions during luxury train rides. Thankfully, through years of engaging with luxury train holiday companies, we have put together curated itineraries for the most predominantly requested luxury rail tours.

Harking back to the golden age of luxury train travel in the 1930s, luxury rail road vacations have been designed to accommodate the ultimate luxurious experience for each guest aboard these dream train journeys. Whether travelling on the Golden Eagle Danube Express on an adventure, the Rovos Rail through South Africa, or the Glacier Pullman Express in Switzerland. Luxury train packages with The Luxury Train Travel Company have itineraries to please every guest and fulfil their luxury train vacation fantasies.

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Deciding on one of the most luxurious train rides anywhere in the world may be a lifelong ambition, a retirement treat, or a last-minute decision. Whatever the reason behind setting out on any of our luxury rail road tours, you’ll need to be assured that nothing will take away from your relaxation, luxury, or comfort. That is why having The Luxury Train Travel Company take care of booking your luxury rail travel makes perfect sense.

From the moment you contact us to organise any of our luxury rail road vacations, we’ve got your best interests at heart. We want you to immerse yourself in the experience of a luxury rail tour without having a care in the world outside of enjoying yourself. We’ve got your back from luxury train tickets, transfers, and travel times to day trips, excursions, and schedule changes. Luxury scenic train vacations are a chance to kick back, relax, take in the scenery and let us do the heavy lifting.

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Working with the industry’s preeminent luxury rail travel operators allows us to accommodate an outstanding lineup of luxury rail road holidays. You can relax on a journey through four regions in Spain. Begin with a stay in the opulent surroundings of the Parador Santiago de Compostela hotel before disembarking for a 1250km luxury train vacation. Maybe a trip through Montenegro, Italy, Slovenia, Turkey, or Switzerland is a luxury train holiday you’re looking for.

Moving farther afield for luxury train rides and you could head east for Asia. Travel the original Trans-Siberian route from Moscow to Beijing, or travel south and explore central Asia and India. Switch continents and explore Africa by enjoying luxury train journeys from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The exceptional collection of slowly meandering tours and luxury overnight trains afforded you here are sure to provide the best luxury train packages.

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Over the years we have sent many clients on luxury train tours. These luxury train journeys are often important, milestone tours for our clients. Luxury train holidays are ideal for birthdays or anniversaries or perhaps a retirement trip long dreamed of. Consequently, we are acutely aware of how important it is that the right luxury rail tour down to the right cabin is booked and that arrangements proceed as smoothly as possible. We will work with you to recommend the best luxury train vacation options that are available. Below you can see some of the feedback from our luxury rail tour clients.

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Slowly winding your way through the astonishingly rich plains of South African National Parks on luxury rail tours or relaxing with a glass of Champagne on luxury overnight train trips heading toward New Year celebrations in the shimmering city of Vienna. You can recline in comfort in wonderfully decadent train cars, soak up the awe-inspiring scenery and indulge yourself on a luxury train vacation bound for some of the most stunning global destinations.

Passengers aboard these luxury rail holidays can navigate routes across six continents, making stops to absorb many cultural and historical attractions. Enjoy stays in beautiful hotels and ride luxury overnight trains towards cities such as Vancouver, Denver, and Whistler. Take the Rocky Mountaineer train through Jasper National Park in Canada or a luxury rail tour to Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Decide upon your dream destination for a luxury train holiday and get packing for Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Canada, or the USA today!

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Our finely crafted luxury train journeys have been faultlessly curated through years of industry knowledge and experience to ensure that the reality of your luxury train holiday surpasses your expectations. Some passengers have waited a lifetime to go on luxury scenic train vacations, while others book luxury rail road vacations that promise a lifetime of fantastic memories. Whichever of our luxury train packages suits your tastes, we’re sure that the routes you’ll take and the destinations you see with be unforgettable.

Set off on a romantic luxury rail tour through India on board the Deccan Odyssey bound for the majestic Taj Mahal and then take luxury overnight train trips to the holy city of Varanasi. Marvel at the landscapes afforded you on luxury rail road holidays in South America, where you can visit the shores of Lake Titicaca in Peru and the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco. Luxury rail vacations are a splendid way of creating unforgettable memories.

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Setting off on an adventure to discover new places is always tremendously exciting. Many people think only about the destination, but with luxury rail travel, passengers are indulged from the moment they step on board these luxury trains. Luxury train rides ensure that every second of a vacation is an adventure, with stunning scenery, making stops in new cities, enjoying good company, and spoiling yourself with gourmet food in the dining cars. The best luxury train trips in the world are a feast for the senses.

Whether it’s your first luxury train tour or your fiftieth, there are always new destinations, routes, and trains to discover. We are fortunate to work with the leading luxury train holiday companies and can offer the world’s best luxury train vacations. Across six continents and dozens of countries, you’ll always have new luxury train rides to immerse yourself in and unique experiences to unearth and explore with The Luxury Train Travel Company.

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Vacations and time spent with loved ones are about having a wonderful time and creating memories that last a lifetime. Luxury train journeys are an enchanting way of slowing down the pace of life, taking a step back, breathing, and having time to appreciate everything around us. Ride along in the world’s most luxurious trains. Unwind in your cabin, complete with polished wood furnishings and creature comforts. Relax at an onboard spa, in the bar car, and eat great food.

Luxury train rides are about the journey as much as the destinations you see along the way. Luxury rail vacations are, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on an adventure and explore new countries, cultures, and destinations. Luxury rail road holidays ensure you can do all of the above at the height of comfort and style. The best luxury train trips in the world will leave you feeling refreshed and energised at the final stop upon the conclusion of your luxury train tour.

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Luxury train holidays & luxury train vacations faqs, what luxury train tour destinations do you offer.

We offer luxury rail road holidays that include New Year in Vienna, luxury train tours of castles in Transylvania, luxury train packages for Africa, India, Spain, Switzerland, Asia, the Americas and Australian luxury rail journeys.

What is the best luxury train vacation?

What the best luxury train trips in the world would be is a matter of opinion, but here at The Luxury Train Travel Company, we have our favourites. Boarding The Danube Express for Venice to Istanbul is a beautiful luxury train tour. Passengers get to visit nine countries, with breathtaking scenery, including Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey, while enjoying gourmet meals, a champagne bar, and luxury cabins with en suite bathrooms.

What is the most luxurious train journey in the world?

We provide the best luxury train vacations available, and all the trains used for our tours are very opulent. The individual cars are superbly maintained, the food on board is superb, the fixtures and fittings are very high-quality, and the staff are all customer-centric professionals. The feeling of luxury is a combination of all the elements working together. Whether you take a luxury train vacation in Australia or India to Canada or Peru, you’re assured of the height of luxury and the vacation of a lifetime.

How much do you charge for luxury train vacations?

Our luxury train packages start from as little as £2205 for a 9-night trip on the Orient Silk Road Express through Uzbekistan. At the other end of the scale, luxury rail holidays can cost more than £25,000 if you want to stay in the finest suite onboard and go on longer journeys.

Why should I experience luxury rail travel at least once in my lifetime?

The golden age of luxury train travel was the 1930s, and we tend to think of the Oriental Express. Go back 30+ years, and The Blue Train and Royal Scotsman were famous for travellers looking to visit new exciting destinations in luxury. These days we live in such a fast-paced world that it’s nice to take a step back, relax, travel, and once again enjoy luxury rail journeys to some fantastic places. There can’t be anything more therapeutic for the sole than slowly meandering through the Canadian Rockies, winding down the Silk Road, or heading towards the Taj Mahal on a luxury train vacation.

How do I get started if I want to book a luxury train holiday?

If you would like to look further into taking a luxury scenic train vacation, then you can contact our customer-centric team today. You can discuss the details with us, and we’ll ensure you get the luxury train holiday you’ve always dreamt of.

Why is it best to purchase a luxury train tour from a professional operator rather than buy luxury train tickets by myself?

It’s perfectly possible to purchase luxury train tickets yourself, but there are significant advantages to booking luxury train holidays through a professional operator. Professional operators like The Luxury Train Travel Company have many years of experience organising luxury rail vacations. With these expensive holidays, your trip would be financially protected through our ABTA membership, IPP cover, and ATOL bonding.

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11 Exciting European Night trains and How to Use Them like a Pro

Is this you? You’re on a Europe trip. You’ve been up since 4 am to get this plane, having only just caught it because a taxi happened along. You’ve coughed up three times your airfare to take your suitcase with you.

Now it turns out that this airport “Munich West” is very far west of Munich indeed – more than 70 miles.

Thank God there’s a coach service, for which you duly pay twice your airfare. At 2 pm you finally reach your hotel and flop down and go to sleep.

At 6 pm you’re finally on the Marienplatz, waiting to watch the clock dancers twirling. One day almost wasted.

It doesn’t have to be like this, introducing the best night trains in Europe.

Introducing one of America’s Great Inventions – the Night Train

• The classy option

The economic option

The self-defeating option.

• 1. Munich-Rome
• 2. Munich-Venice
• 3. Vienna-Rome
• 4. Vienna-Venice
• 5. Paris-Venice
• 6. Nice-Moscow
• 7. Lisbon-Hendaye (-Paris)
• 8. Warsaw-Kraków-Budapest/Vienna/Prague
• 9. Budapest-Bucharest
• 10. London-Scotland
• 11. Vienna-Kiev

In the Evening

During the night, in the morning.

• Is It Safe?

Managing your attendant

• Five tips to help you sleep

Want to move?

When to bribe your attendant, wifi and outlets.

You could have been on a European night train, covering the distance in your sleep, waking up at a civilized hour in the city center.

George Pullman built the first railway coach with sleeping compartments in 1864. His first full hotel train with sleeping and dining cars ran in 1867.

Georges Nagelmackers, a Belgian businessman, got a concession to introduce trains like this in Europe in 1872. The Orient Express was born.

What the Europeans have Done with the Night Train

While long-distance rail travel has plummeted in the USA, in Europe it is still a popular mode of travel, and night trains are a crucial part of the mix. In Western Europe, they have been declining because of ever faster day trains and low-cost airlines subsidized up to the eyeballs, but in Central and Eastern Europe they are a pillar of long-distance transport.  

Day trains generally have just seating, but European night trains have cars in which you can lie down and sleep.

Luxury sleeper trains in Europe

Sleeping cars are the most stylish way to travel. You can book a compartment completely for yourself (a single) or share it with one or two other people (double or triple). In addition to your A to B ticket, the berth will cost you between €30-130, depending on the train. Some sleeping car compartments have en-suite showers and toilets. Breakfast is nearly always included free of charge.

Couchettes (coo-SHETTs, from the French, to lie down) are the minimum level of comfort I recommend. A couchette is a bunk in a compartment occupied by four or six people. Four-berth couchettes cost a bit more, but are well worth the extra money, as six-berth couchettes can get rather cramped and stuffy. A couchette will set you back between €8 and €40. Breakfast is included free of charge on some trains, the Nightjets for instance.

These are normal day train cars used at night. Saving money here will cost you. It will cost you sleep, and possibly your phone, your money or your bag if you nod off with your stuff within reach of strangers. It will definitely cost you the next day at your destination, as you’ll be a wreck. Avoid. Avoid by booking in advance when possible.

11 Europe Night Train Routes

Some of these trains have unique names, e.g. Caledonian Sleeper, Sud Express.  Some are part of a branded network like the  Nightjet and Thello trains. Yet others call themselves Euronights (EN) with an extra name, so EN 446/447 Jan Kiepura   (sadly discontinued) or EN 463/462 Kálmán Imre.  

The numbers are unique for each train. Uneven numbers are southbound services, even numbers are northbound.

Thus Nightjet 295 is the Nightjet service from Munich to Rome, and Nightjet 294 is the Nightjet from Rome to Munich.

1. Night Train from Munich, Germany/Salzburg, Austria to Rome/Florence/Milan, Italy

From Munich to Rome, via Salzburg, Bologna, and Florence. Some carriages split off at Villach and go to Milan. Leaves Munich at 8 PM and reaches Rome at 9 AM. On the return trip, it leaves Rome at 7 PM, reaching Munich at 8 AM the next morning.

Part of the Austrian Railways’ Nightjet network. It comes with seats, couchettes, and sleepers. The sleeper car has some compartments with en-suite bathrooms.  

Usually best booked on nightjet.com or oebb.at – the sites are the same.

Accepts Interrail and Eurail passes, but you need to buy a reservation for a berth. This is possible only at the ticket office or over the phone. Also, the cost of a berth is often higher than a swiftly snaffled advance online ticket.

Ticket prices are dynamic. You can book up to 180 days in advance. Seats start at €29, 6-berth couchettes at €49, 4-berth couchettes are €59. Three berth sleepers start at €69, doubles €89, while a single sleeper all to yourself starts at €129.  This pricing applies to all Nightjet services below.

2. Night Train from Munich, Germany to Venice, Italy

From Munich to Venice via Salzburg, Udine, and Treviso. Leaves Munich at 11 PM, arriving Venice 8 AM. On the return journey it leaves Venice at just before 9 PM, arriving Munich just after 6 AM.

Also a Nightjet train, so everything I said above about the Munich-Rome train applies to this train also.

The descent down the Pontebbana railway line from Tarvisio to Udine (5:30-6:30 AM) is one of the most exhilarating train journeys ever. In May and June, imagine whooshing through a valley of billions of poppies, mountains floating by bathed in the early morning sunlight and the Tagliamento river rushing underneath you.

3. Night Train from Vienna, Austria to Rome, Italy

Another Nightjet. Leaves Vienna at 7:20 PM. Joins the Munich-Rome train in the middle of the night. It also has some coaches to Milan that split off in Villach. Arrives at Vienna from Rome at 8:45 AM.

4. Night Train from Vienna, Austria to Venice, Italy

The last Nightjet on my list of favorites. Leaves Vienna at 9:30 PM and joins the Munich-Venice train during the night. Arrives at Vienna from Venice at 8 AM.

5. Night Train from Paris, France to Venice, Italy

From Paris Gâre de Lyon to Venice via Milan and Verona. Thello 221 leaves Paris at 7:10 PM, arriving Milan at 6 AM and Venice around 9:30 AM. Thello 220 departs Venice at 8:15 PM, Milan at 11:15 PM and reaches Paris the next morning at 9:55 AM

This service is run by the Italian Railways and uses old but refurbished Italian cars. Has couchettes and sleepers only, no seats. It also has a restaurant car, serving microwaved fare on plastic plates.  

Best booked on thello.com. or loco2.com. Eurail and Interrail are „accepted“ in as much as you get a 25% reduction on the standard fare, which is a joke, as the price is still higher than a normal ticket booked in advance.

The Thello gets mixed reviews. It is not a premium service. But what it does really well is get you from Paris to Venice and back at a good price and in more comfort than a plane.

Dynamic pricing applies and you can book up to four months in advance. A 6-berth couchette starts at €35. 4-berth couchette comes in at €55, a 3 berth sleeper is €75, a double will set you back €95 and a single €115.

6. Night Train from Nice, France to Moscow, Russia – EN 409408

Once weekly service from Nice to Moscow, via Genoa, Milan, Verona, Innsbruck, Vienna, Warsaw, and Minsk. Run by the Russian Railways.  

One of the most exciting European night trains. Before World War 1 it transported Russian nobility to the French Riviera. It was re-introduced about five years ago with brand new coaches.

Has four-berth sleepers or two-berth sleepers, plus super-deluxe VIP suites. It also has a Polish restaurant car as far as Brest (and trust me, Polish restaurant cars are the best. They still cook real food).  

Best booked through the Russian Railways at pass.rzd.ru (select the English option) as you have more control over your berth, you have access to the super-deluxe cars, and most importantly: you can book, say, from Nice to Vienna. If you just want to go from Nice all the way to Moscow, it is easiest booked from the French railways’ site, en.oui.sncf .  

Interrail and Eurail are not accepted.

This train doesn’t have dynamic pricing. Nice-Moscow is currently €335 in the second class four-berth sleeper, €505 in the first class two-berth sleeper or €1177 in the business class VIP sleeper – you buy a whole compartment which can fit two people. While this sounds expensive, bear in mind that it includes two nights of classy accommodation, a superb restaurant car and 1880 miles of distance, plus the scenery of riding along the Ligurian coast and through the Alps, sleeping Vienna, the mountains of Czechia and Poland, as well as the UNESCO, listed primeval Bia?owie?a forest.

7. Night Train from Lisbon, Portugal to the French Border city of Hendaye (Paris)

From Lisbon through Spain to the French border, where you can get onto a TGV to Paris.  

This train has 1 and 2 berth sleepers, some with en-suite bathroom, 4 berth tourist-class sleepers and open-plan seated cars. I would opt at least for the tourist-class sleeper, as it is only a little more expensive.

Best booked on loco2.com. Eurail and Interrail are accepted, but you have to buy an obligatory reservation.

The Sud Express is another historic name. In its heyday, it went from Lisbon all the way to Saint Petersburg.

Prices start at €28 for a seat from Lisbon to Hendaye, €38 for one berth in a four-berth couchette. Second-class ( P referente) doubles are €135, singles €185. First-class (G ran  Classe)  with en-suite bathroom are €150 for a double and €201 for a single. A return ticket is cheaper.

8. Night Train from Warsaw/Kraków/Bratislava to Budapest/Vienna/Prague EN 406/407

From Warsaw via Kraków and Bratislava to Budapest. Has cars that split off and go to Prague and to Vienna, so you can also book directly from Warsaw and Kraków to these cities and vice versa.  

Has sleeper cars, couchettes, and seated cars. I recommend going for the sleepers, as this is not an expensive train.

Booking is tricky. From Budapest to Poland, use Hungarian Rail’s website mavcsoport.hu/en .   From Prague to Poland, Czech Rail’s website www.cd.cz/eshop and select the English option. For Vienna to Poland, use nightjet.com .  

Out of Poland, Czech Rail also sells tickets on a Night Train to Prague from Warsaw/Kraków to Prague. This is great. Going to Vienna or Budapest, you can get tickets only at the Polish Rail ticket offices at the station. This is not so cool and something the Polish rail company PKP really should remedy.

Eurail and Interrail are accepted, but the train is so cheap that it is rarely worth sacrificing a travel day on it.

From Prague seats start at €19, couchettes at €29, sleepers are €33 for a triple, €40 for a double, €50 for a single.

9. Night Train from Budapest, Hungary to Bucharest, Romania – EN 472473

Budapest to Bucharest via Sibiu and Brasov in Transylvania.

Has seats, six- and four-berth couchettes, and first and second class sleepers. The first-class sleepers have an en-suite shower and toilet.  

To travel from Budapest to Bucharest you can book on Hungarian Rail’s website www.mavcsoport.hu/en . From Bucharest to Budapest you can only get tickets from real ticket offices at stations in Europe. Eurail/Interrail is accepted, but you need a reservation even for a seat.

Seats start at €29, couchettes at €39, sleepers are from €59 for a triple, €79 for a double. I can’t get the Hungarian online system to give me singles. For singles, one would have to book at a station on the ground. Online-issued tickets have to be picked up from a ticket machine in Hungary.

10. Night Train from London, England to Scotland (Edinburgh/Glasgow/Highlands)

A service from London to Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Highlands. Currently operates with single (first class) or double occupancy sleeping cars and extra comfortable seated cars. Also, a lounge car which is only for sleeping car passengers, serving Scottish food.

This service has exciting, brand new coaches coming into service this year, 2018, which will include en-suite bathrooms and double beds. Best booked under sleeper.scot.

The cheapest fares I could find were £50 seated, £90 in a shared sleeper and £140 in a first-class sleeper. It is bookable up to twelve months in advance. This train has dynamic pricing, so what you pay depends on demand.

11. Night Train from Vienna, Austria to Kiev, Ukraine

My favorite. Leaves Vienna about 4:30 PM passes through Budapest at 7 PM.

At the Hungarian-Ukrainian border, your carriage is jacked up with you inside it while cursing Hungarians change the wheels from normal European ones for broader, Russian-style wheels. It then clanks through the Carpathians during the night, arrives at Lviv the following morning and Kiev the following evening.

Has only 1, 2, or 3-berth sleepers. This “train” is actually one or two bright blue Ukrainian carriages that are attached to other trains heading east until they reach Kiev.

There are new coaches in the pipeline, but at the moment it is refurbished, Soviet-era stock running. Nice and warm, very comfortable.

Currently not bookable online. It has to be booked at a ticket office in Austria, Hungary or Ukraine. Doubles cost €70, singles €120. Eurail/Interrail not accepted.

Interrail/Eurail is accepted as far as the Hungarian border. Pass holders pay €47 for a T3 berth to Kiev, €57 for a berth in a double, and €100 for sole occupancy. For L’viv, expect to pay just over half of this.

Editor: Bonus trains

12. Modern Orient Express Bucharest to Istanbul

This Modern Orient Express leaves Bucharest at 1 pm in the afternoon and arrives in Istanbul at 7 am. 

How Night Train Journeys Unfold

• At the station, you will look at your ticket and see the train number, your destination and also which berth in which carriage you have reserved. On night trains there is always a place especially for you.
• Get onto the train and find your berth. On some trains, you need to show your ticket to be let onto the train.
• Your attendant will visit you in your compartment and ask when to wake you up. If breakfast is included, they will ask if you want tea or coffee.
• The attendant may keep your ticket for the night. On certain cross-border routes, they will also offer to keep your passport, so that you are not woken by the border guards. You don’t have to allow this, it is a service, not an obligation.
• Now you are left to yourself. Enjoy the ride, get to know fellow travelers, have a drink, go to the restaurant car if there is one.
• When you go to bed, make sure you lock the door with all the available locks.
• Your attendant will wake you with enough time before you have to get off. I don’t recommend setting an alarm. If the train is late, the attendant will wake you later, whereas an alarm clock will have you up too early.
• At your destination, the train may only stop for a minute or two. Make sure you are ready to get out quickly.

Is it safe?

Yes, it is. Rail is the safest mode of transport by far.

There can be pickpockets and thieves on any train, so take the usual precautions.  If you leave your compartment, be sure to take crucial stuff with you. I tend to have everything I need to get back home on my person, even if I’m only going to the toilet.

Be sure to use all the locks on the door to your compartment. Usually, there are at least two, one that the conductor can open from the outside, one that only can be opened from the inside.

It would be good if your valuables were well stowed away. Under your pillow is a classic that still works well. For added difficulty, try under your pillow but inside your pillow-case.  

People who do get robbed always had their door unlocked, their valuables on the table in front of them or in their coats hanging by the door.

Night Train smarts

Here are a few inside tips that will help you on your journey.

Your attendant. You want them on your side. While it is always wise to be polite to people serving you,  if you are rude to a night train attendant, they have all night and the morning to get back at you.  

And the ways are endless.

Once at Cologne my colleague was insulted by some Rhinelanders because another train had been late. At 4 AM the police came looking for drugs (this was the train from Amsterdam) and asked – “Have you seen anything suspicious?”. He had. He sent the police to frisk the Rhinelanders.

I used to keep yesterday’s coffee in a thermos especially for rude passengers’ breakfasts.

On the other hand, passengers I liked got my best coffee and the nice orange juice.

Five tips to help you sleep on a night train

Here’s what to try if you can’t sleep:

• Some people use ear-plugs. Bring these with you just in case. Me, I can’t sleep with ear-plugs, but some people can’t sleep without them
• Go for a walk up and down the train. Perhaps there is a restaurant car or a minibar and you can get a drink.
• Go to the end of the train and look out of the back windows. Watch the rails behind you writhing in the night. Look at the stars twirling as the line picks its way through the landscape.
• Pour your heart out to the attendant. At night, the sleeping car attendant is like a barman. I’ve often had passengers tell me their stories at 3 AM.
• Find someone else who can’t sleep and have one of those deep conversations one only has with strangers on trains at night.

If you are in a seat or a couchette and realize you want to upgrade, go and speak to one of the attendants. If they have a free berth, they can upgrade you. Be prepared to ask more than one attendant, and also to ask several times, always politely.

If you don’t like the other people in your compartment, you can also ask to move, but it is unlikely you will get your way. When I ran sleeping cars and couchettes, I always tried to keep empty compartments empty for emergencies. Someone not wanting to share with someone else never cut it with me, unless it was a woman not wanting to be with strange men or a woman with a baby.  

If you feel you must have a compartment to yourself, read on.

There is a huge grey area between tipping and bribing. Americans tend to tip at the end of the journey, Italians do it at the beginning. Purely rationally, the Italian way is more sensible.

Nobody tips these days, so you don’t need to overdo it. €10 inside your passport or ticket should get you preferential treatment.

An Italian gentleman, seeing his wife and children off at Roma Termini, would give me €20 and tell me to look after them properly. And I made sure I did.

If your first attempt to move has failed, if you feel you HAVE to move, bribe your attendant. €10-€20 should do the trick.  

Currently, few night trains have WiFi. I can only think of some domestic Russian services and the Astra-Trans-Carpatic in Romania.  

Most night trains do have power outlets in their cars, so even in couchettes, you can expect to be able to charge your devices or connect a CPAP machine. If using a CPAP machine, do bear in mind that on some services, current can be interrupted during shunting or at borders. This is rarely more than half an hour.

Overnight trains are one of the most exciting ways to travel in Europe. They are also economical: they save you a travel day and a hotel stay. Covering distance in your sleep just makes sense, as your precious numbered days in Europe are not eaten up by travel and gruesome airport transfers.

To find out more about rail travel in Europe, come and visit my blog, railguideeurope.com, and sign up for my free newsletter and my free and ever-expanding e-guide library. It includes an extensive resource list, templates for buying tickets, and soon also public transport guides for major European cities.

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by Edward Schofield

29 responses to “11 exciting european night trains and how to use them like a pro”.

Thanks for this great post, Edward! I would like to add some more exciting night trains:

1) Praha to Košice (Czechia/Slovakia) Wake up and enjoy your breakfast while the magnificant Tatra mountains fly – fantastic!

2) Belgrade to Bar (Serbia/Montenegro) The classic. Probably the most stunning scenery in Europe to explore from a train.

3) Stockholm to Narvik (Sweden/Norway) One of Europe’s longest night train journeys. Featuring the crossing of the arctic circle and magnificant Norwegian fjords at the very end

Hi Sebastian,

Thanks for reading.

I totally agree with you. Belgrade to Bar might be something to be savoured during the day.

There are other lines I wanted to include, but I couldn’t go on writing for ever – Paris-Berlin-Moscow had to be left out, and Milan to Siracusa, and Astra Transcarpatic.

Hi Edward, I’ve done the return trip Milan to Syracuse except got off at Taormina, also Budapest to Prague, Zurich to Zagreb and back (quite a few times) plus as a special treat the Orient Express Venice to London. I’d love to do the Moscow- Nice trip. A lot of fun!

Jillian Michelle

This is probably the most detailed train post I’ve ever read! I’ve always wanted to take a night train. Something about trains just feels so thrilling and adventurous to me.

Sometimes adventurous… sometimes a bad night sleep 🙂

Fabulous article, real dedication. My have overnight journeys have been Istanbul to Erzerum, Istanbul to Adana and Batumi to Yerevan. Love your choices!

Thank you. I’m so glad you like my work.

Stephen Crocker

I took the Cologne to Vienna sleeper a few years ago; it was diverted via Munich so I had an extra helping of Alpine scenery!

Hi Edward, My family and I will be travelling Europe for the very first time and have purchased the Global passes through eurail. I want to as much as possible do overnight train between countries. Could you advise the availability of overnight trains (for Sept – Oct 2019) for the following itinerary: Croatia (split/zagreb) to Hungary (budapest) to Czech Rep (Prague) to Poland (warsaw) to Germany (Berlin) to Netherlands (amsterdam) to France (paris, dijon) to Italy (milan, rome). Your help would be greatly appreciated. kind regards Eva

I need to do some research and will get back to you shortly. Thank you for reading and for commenting.

I’ve got the details together for you. Please shoot me an email to edward (at) railguideeurope (dot) com, then I can send them to you.

Thanks for the article Edward. My family (3 teens) and I will be flying into Barcelona for a week in April. We would love to see as much of Europe as possible but on a friendly budget. I was hoping to take overnight trains when possible but can’t find anything from Barcelona. Could you possibly help with this? Thanks so much for your time and help!

Hi Andy, thank you so much for reading. If all you have is a week, I wouldn’t try and see more than three places. Are you flying out of Barcelona as well? When I know this I can come up with something.

What are you interested in? History, art or partying? Or just drifting about, soaking up the atmosphere?

Thanks for your suggestions. Now I’m more convinced to try a train trip and enjoy an unforgettable vacation. Your articles are always useful.

hello Edward, a lot of success with the beautiful Blog. i love all things regarding trains and nighttrain is not exceptional. i have been ctossing europe back and forth with trains. only one ill write here because it was so special. night train from keleti Budapest and Venice. nothing to write about the train old , dated, withing a few hours in the middle of the night the border patrol 3 times wakes us up (you cross 3 borders countries) no sleep at all But, at night you see only ocasionly a street light from time to time, you hear the sound of the train,and when entering to venice in early dawn when than and only than i understood why painters went to venice to paint , the colors of the lagune of venice was superb, it combined ‘smoked and foggy’ a blend of lylach blue and purple.. ill never forget that unique train. great.

Hi Edward, I so appreciated your post. I never understood the bribe/tip thing for good service and I really appreciated it. (I thought there was very little tipping in Europe.) Could you advise please about the following: 3 American travelers with no prior experience east of Netherlands wish to see Prague and Budapest June 12-20. Departing from Maastricht on June 12. Thought we might enjoy Cologne, Germany for a day but we are totally open to suggestions. We have a window of these 8 days and need to fly to Copenhagen the evening of June 20 from Prague or Budapest. What are your thoughts about this? Thank you so very much.

Hi Edward, Thank you so much for putting this guide together – it is fabulous and easily the best resource I have come across. A friend and I will be travelling in Western Europe for 6 weeks in September & October 2019, broken by a choir tour of Italy for two weeks in the middle. You have given me lots of inspiration to try to plan the 2 weeks both before and after, around a lot of night train travel. Thanks so much!

Thank you very much for the information; this is an excellent resource! Is there a night train from Vienna to Zurich?

Chris Christensen

There seems to be a night train from 11:25 PM from Vienna Central Station

Hi Edward, Thank you so much for your post. This is exactly what I’m looking for! We are traveling from London to Scotland in early Oct. Can you help me with how to book one of these trains? This is a “bucket list” item and will be much appreciated as I want to surprise my companion with something special. Thanks, Holly

Hello Edward! Great article and a very reassuring read with helpful insights. I’m a sixty year old woman who, over the past ten years has done many long distance rail trips across Europe but never on night trains. Very soon, I’ll be travelling from London to Istanbul. I’ve booked for double sleeping carriages most of the way but can only book couchettes between Budapest and Istanbul. I would be happy to share with another woman but would not feel comfortable with a man.

I just took the the Bar – Belgrade train in the daytime. Great scenery… however be ready for 11 big hours. The alleged authorized ticket seller in Ulcinj assured me the 9am was NOT running the next day. It was 🙂 There is an overnight but then you miss the view.

Aethelstan riches

Good Evening Edward, I am planning to get the train from London to Vietnam starting in December, I still have not perfected my route yet but reading this blog has given me more ideas, id rather not just take the Paris – Moscow route if I can help it, but I need as many night trains as I can get as its my hotel for the night, any suggestions would be welcomed. kind regards AEthelstan

Hi Edward, we are going to take night train from Budapest to Prague. We plan to book sleeper (2 berths) as we are 2 girls traveling together. Just wanna ask is it safe to use common toilet in the night? Or we shall book the luxury sleeper that includes toilet?

Dr Douglas B Willingham

I would like a luxury, overnight train journey between Berlin, Prague and Venice, two compartments, three adults, en suite for late December-early January, 2021-22, with New Year’s Eve in Berlin at 5-star hotel. We’d like a few days in each city, 5-star hotels. What company can arrange all this? Thank you.

Kathy Kreusel

Hello, I have a question….Can the Eurail pass be used for night trains? If so, all of them?

Kathryn Kreusel

Hi Edward! We are heading to Europe on Oct 2. Here are our legs of the trip: Brussels to Munich Oct 2nd Munich to Venice Oct 4th Venice to Lucerne Oct 6 Lucerne to Paris Oct 8 Paris to Brussels Oct 10 Are there night trains for all of these? If so, can we use a Eurail pass for them? I am having the hardest time booking trains:(

Yes, but you may have to pay extra for a sleeping compartment

Maria rodman

Hi great blog. I’ve travelled on European trains especially especially back in the old cold war border days but I want to book a night train for first time Vienna to Venice but strangely I can’t find it on various booking sites?! Definitely want our own sleeping berth even if costs a lot more.

Can you help please?

Thank you Maria

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New to riding a sleeper train in Europe? Here’s what to know

More climate-friendly option growing in popularity in Europe

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As more people reconsider how they travel on a warming planet, a small but growing contingent in Europe wants to switch from high-emission, short-haul planes to more climate-friendly sleeper trains.

But for all the climate benefits — plus the enduring romance of overnight train journeys — it’s not always simple building a vacation around them.

Several national railways and private operators have moved in to meet the rising demand, and the result is a patchwork of overnight routes sold at over 30 different websites. Many routes may not run every day, and online ticket aggregators don’t include all countries that have night trains.

“I’ve always gone around on trains and boats and buses, so it was normal for me,” said Cat Jones, founder of the flight-free travel agency Byway. “But friends would say, ‘Oh, that sounds amazing, but no way am I going to plan all that.’”

Sleeper train advocates, however, say the experience and convenience of riding the rails makes them worth any booking difficulty. With patience and a few tips, you’ll never have to deal with airport security lines in the middle of your European holiday.

Start with a little research

First, make sure routes exist between your desired cities. Back on Track, a European rail advocacy group, maintains a night train database (back-on-track.eu/night-train-list) with all current and soon-to-launch routes on the continent. Just be aware that city names are listed with local spellings, such as Praha for Prague.

Then head to the sleeper train section of Man in Seat 61 , a website run by former rail industry worker Mark Smith that exhaustively explains what to expect ( seat61.com/sleepers.htm) . The site has details on dozens of international routes, down to seat and berth numbers on specific trains — even photos of the food and where to find electrical outlets.

Many operators provide perks like breakfast and free water, and some allow female travelers to book shared spaces only with other women.

Once you’ve found the right route, check Trainline (thetrainline.com) and RailEurope ( raileurope.com/en-us ), which sell tickets on most railways. Or go directly to the operator’s website; all will have an option to switch the language to English.

Decide how much privacy you need

Night trains’ configuration varies by operator, line and carriage. Many trains have a car or two with traditional upright seats selling for as little as 19 euros, but they recline and are much more spacious than an airplane seat.

Other carriages have sleeper cabins with anywhere from one to six beds, which likely fold up when not in use. It’s possible to book an entire cabin for a family or group of friends, but you’ll pay extra.

Sarah Marks, a frequent sleeper train traveler from London, said she was nervous the first time sharing a cabin, but ultimately found it was a great way to meet like-minded travelers. “It’s quite an intimate experience,” she said. “But hand over heart, every single one has been really nice and actually enhanced my experience.”

Plan to book in advance — but not too far in advance

Because most rail companies use dynamic pricing, as airlines do, the price of a ticket likely will rise as the date approaches.

But if you search for tickets now for summer travel, chances are you won’t see the routes available. Many railways do not open ticket sales until two or three months in advance. Several factors influence the timing, but it’s mostly because track maintenance usually is scheduled overnight to minimize commuter disruption.

“With sleeper trains that’s tricky to plan around,” Smith said, noting that he often hears concerns from Americans who like to plan their trips several months in advance.

Be flexible

The most popular routes, such as Paris to Berlin, can sell out or become prohibitively expensive for some travelers during peak times.

Rather than be deterred, travelers should think of rail travel as breaking the mold of point-to-point round trips, said Jones.

“If what people want is not available on that day, do a daytime train and we’ll put you on another sleeper somewhere else,” she said. Because Europe’s rail network is so extensive, there are many ways to get from point A to point B and back again, maybe returning through a city you might not have considered visiting.

“By relying on that network effect,” she said, “there’s always an amazing option as long as you’re flexible.”

Stumm is a freelance writer for The Associated Press.

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China Focus: China-Europe freight train trips surpass 90,000, energizing high-quality BRI development

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2024-05-25 16:46:45

Freight train X8157, which is bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, departs from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on May 25, 2024. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

XI'AN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd (China Railway).

From 2016 to 2023, the annual number of China-Europe freight train trips surged from 1,702 to over 17,000. The value of goods transported by this service skyrocketed from 8 billion U.S. dollars in 2016 to 56.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

The types of commodities transported via the China-Europe freight trains have expanded from IT products such as laptops and printers at the beginning to over 50,000 different types, including clothing and footwear, automobiles and parts, daily necessities, food, timber, furniture, chemicals and machinery.

So far, the China-Europe freight trains have reached 223 cities in 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, with the service network covering almost the entire Eurasian continent, it added.

"The China-Europe freight trains represent a new model of international transportation with advantages such as convenience, speed, safety, stability and green economy. They have become widely popular as an international public product," said Huang Xin, deputy director of China Railway's cargo department.

"They have injected new momentum into serving the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and Europe," Huang added.

CONTINUOUS VITALITY

Inside the intelligent workshops of Shaanxi Konka Smart Home Appliance Co., Ltd, production lines hum with activity as workers help assemble dishwashers and washing machines for its overseas orders. Here, a washing machine can be produced within 20 seconds.

"Many of our factories were previously located in the eastern and southern regions of China. We were drawn to establish our operations here in western Xi'an due to its strategic position as a key hub for China-Europe freight trains, along with the supportive government policies and abundant talent pool," said Chen Zhao, the company's general manager.

Starting operations in November 2022, the company has now seen 80 percent of their dishwashers and 20 percent of washing machines destined for international markets, according to Chen.

In late November 2022, a China-Europe freight train carrying the company's home appliance export products embarked on its journey. As of April this year, Shaanxi Konka has exported 135,000 units of home appliance via 30 dedicated China-Europe freight trains.

"Thanks to the China-Europe freight trains, our products now reach various European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Russia, as well as Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan. This mode of transportation not only reduces costs but also significantly shortens delivery time," said Chen, adding that sea shipping typically takes 45 days, while China-Europe freight trains expedite this process, completing deliveries in just 15 to 20 days.

"Our overseas clients appreciate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the China-Europe freight train service, which not only enhances their experience but also reduces their transportation expenses. It's become the preferred and secure choice for them," Chen added.

Since 2023, an increasing number of Chinese-made "tech-intensive green trio" products -- lithium-ion batteries, photovoltaic products, and new energy vehicles (NEVs) -- have been transported through the China-Europe freight trains, reflecting a strong market demand.

Cao Ping, from the Xi'an branch of China Railway Special Cargo Services CO., LTD, a professional transportation enterprise mainly engaged in railway transportation of vehicles, oversized cargo and refrigerated goods, has had some experience with this.

"Since the beginning of this year, this trend has become more pronounced. All the vehicles exported via the China-Europe freight trains from our company are produced by local companies in Shaanxi, and they are all new energy vehicles, which are quite popular abroad," said Cao, adding that the number of monthly exported NEVs handled by her company would exceed 1,300 units, and main destinations are Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The rapid development of the China-Europe freight trains has opened up a new channel for the inland regions of Asia and Europe, enhancing their economic and trade cooperation.

Xi'an-based TERRAcont International Logistics Co., Ltd was established two years ago, with only three workers in its earlier days. Over the past two years, the number of workers at this company has increased to more than 20, said Zholbaskanova Nursulu, CEO of the company, who is from Kazakhstan.

"Our containers depart via the China-Europe freight trains every month, some from Xi'an and others from Chongqing and Chengdu," Nursulu said.

"I've witnessed the rapid development of the China-Europe freight trains and received a lot of support from the Chinese government over the years. It has significantly strengthened China's relations with BRI participating countries, fostering closer trade ties between them," she added.

"The spillover effects of the China-Europe freight trains are becoming increasingly prominent, facilitating better integration of related countries and regions into the open world economy, and greatly enhancing the well-being of people from BRI countries," Huang said. ■

An aerial drone photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows freight train X8157, which is bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, departing from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

An aerial drone photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows Xi'an international port station in Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

Trucks transport containers at Xi'an international port station in Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 25, 2024. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

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Russia Starts Tactical Nuclear Drills, in a Warning to Ukraine’s Allies

Moscow has said the exercise is a response to “provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials.”

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By Paul Sonne

Reporting from Berlin

Russia sent a pointed reminder on Tuesday that it could use battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, releasing video of its forces beginning exercises to practice their use, two weeks after President Vladimir V. Putin ordered the provocative drills.

Video released by the Russian Defense Ministry showed a caravan of military vehicles moving down a wooded road, as well as mobile Iskander missile systems — which can deliver conventional or nuclear explosives — getting into position to launch, with their warheads blurred out. The footage also showed a supersonic strategic bomber armed with missiles and an attack aircraft being prepared for takeoff.

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said the exercise, carried out near Ukraine, was aimed at preparing the force for the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons. The goal is to “unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state in response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials,” the ministry said.

Upon announcing the drills earlier this month, the Kremlin suggested the move was a response to comments by President Emmanuel Macron of France , who refused to rule out sending French troops to Ukraine, and David Cameron, Britain’s top diplomat, who said Ukraine could use British weapons to strike inside Russia .

Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, at the time called their comments “unprecedented” and described them as a “completely new round of escalation” that merited a response by Moscow.

The exercises were the clearest warning yet from Russia that it might use nuclear weapons in the course of its war against Ukraine.

“It’s transparently an effort at nuclear coercion,” said Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear nonproliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies. “They’ve even blurred the warhead on the Iskander ballistic missiles, which seems unnecessary but theatrical.”

The possibility of the conflict going nuclear has been there from the start, with Moscow trying to use its nuclear arsenal to deter Western nations from aiding Kyiv. The day he launched his invasion more than two years ago, Mr. Putin warned nations considering intervening to help Ukraine that they would face “consequences such as you have never seen in your entire history.”

Unlike strategic nuclear weapons, launched from great distances and with the power to obliterate whole cities, tactical nuclear warheads are designed for battlefield use. They are made to be used against limited targets, often from relatively short distances, with yields low enough to limit the destruction to a certain area.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday the first stage of the exercise had begun in the Southern Military District, which includes much of southern Russia, in addition to areas of Ukraine that Moscow now occupies.

The drills come amid broader questions about whether Western nations should intervene more forcefully in the conflict to help the beleaguered Ukrainian military, which has struggled with shortages of ammunition and personnel, as well as delayed aid from its biggest backer, the United States.

In an interview with The New York Times published on Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine called for NATO countries to become more directly involved in the war, particularly in helping shoot down Russian missiles. He also said he wanted to be able to use American weapons against Russian forces on Russian territory, which Washington has not allowed.

Mr. Zelensky added that fears of nuclear escalation were overblown, saying that Mr. Putin “may be irrational, but he loves his own life.”

During the drills, Russian forces practiced loading “special” warheads on the Iskander systems, which have a range of a few hundred miles, and moving them covertly into position for launch, the ministry said. The exercise also saw forces practice loading warheads onto aircraft.

U.S. officials for years have been concerned about Russia’s vast arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, but efforts to bring them under control through diplomacy have failed amid a broader fraying of Cold War-era arms-control pacts.

Russian state news also reported on Tuesday that a general, Ivan Popov, who spoke out against Moscow’s military leadership in a viral recording released by a Russian lawmaker last year, had been arrested on suspicion of fraud.

General Popov, the former commander of Russia’s 58th Combined Arms Army, was taken into custody as part of a criminal case involving “fraud on a particularly large scale,” the Russian state news agency Tass reported.

He lashed out at the Russian military leadership last year after being removed from his command, saying that the country’s top officer, Gen. Valery V. Gerasimov, had “treacherously and vilely decapitated our army” at a particularly sensitive moment for Russian forces. At the time, his unit had been holding off a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The recording emerged amid the upheaval caused by a failed uprising by the mercenary chief Yevegeny V. Prigozhin.

Sergei Buinovsky, a lawyer for General Popov, told Russian news outlets that his client denied wrongdoing.

The Russian authorities have also arrested top underlings of former Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu in recent weeks in an anticorruption drive. The Kremlin brought in a new defense minister , the economist Andrei R. Belousov, and moved Mr. Shoigu to run the Russian security council.

Those arrests were seen as a method to deter top Russian officials from pilfering the deluge of state funds flowing into the defense sector, and as a way to boost morale for the troops, who bristle at the idea of top officials getting rich as they fight in the trenches.

But the arrest of General Popov may have the opposite effect for the Russian troops. He was generally seen as popular among the rank and file, and a number of pro-war military bloggers came to his defense on Tuesday.

“General Ivan Popov is not a thief,” Alexander Sladkov, a war correspondent for Russian state media, wrote on Telegram. “He is a soldier.”

Paul Sonne is an international correspondent, focusing on Russia and the varied impacts of President Vladimir V. Putin’s domestic and foreign policies, with a focus on the war against Ukraine. More about Paul Sonne

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China-Europe freight train completes 90,000 trips

Tuesday, 28 May 2024

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The high-profile freight train service between China and Europe, supported by the Belt and Road Initiative, has recently achieved another significant milestone by completing its 90,000th journey as of Saturday. [Photo/Xinhua]

XI’AN: The high-profile freight train service between China and Europe, supported by the Belt and Road Initiative, has recently achieved another significant milestone by completing its 90,000th journey as of last Saturday, underscoring its crucial role in stabilising global supply chains and driving economic development along the route.

Last Saturday morning, a freight train loaded with 55 containers carrying a diverse range of goods, including LCD monitors, auto parts, clothing, and daily essentials, departed from Xi’an in north-west China’s Shaanxi province, marking the 90,000th service, according to the China State Railway Group, the operator of the service.

The train travelled westward, exiting China through the Horgos border port in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, passing through Kazakhstan and Russia before reaching Malaszewicze in Poland in about 15 days.

Begun in 2011, the China-Europe freight train service has transported over 8.7 million containers with goods valued at more than US$380bil between China and Europe, according to the company.

The remarkable growth in the number of services reflects strong market demand. This mode of transportation is more cost-effective than air travel and more reliable than sea transport, serving as a strategic alternative option for international freight.

The annual number of services has surged from a few dozen at the beginning to over 17,000 last year. The growth has become more prominent since 2016.

Between 2016 and 2023, the annual number of China-Europe freight trains increased from 1,702 to over 17,000, representing nearly ten-fold growth with an average annual growth rate of 39.5%.

The progression from the first service to the 10,000th service took 90 months, while the leap from the 80,000th service to the 90,000th service only required seven months.

Since May 2020, the monthly number of China-Europe freight train services has consistently exceeded 1,000.

In 2016, the annual value of goods transported by the service was US$8bil, which soared to US$56.7bil last year.

This rapid development signifies the increasing acceptance and recognition of the service by customers in China and abroad.

Shaanxi Konka Smart Home Appliance, a company based in Xi’an, primarily manufactures home appliances, with dishwashers being one of its main products sold overseas.

Chen Zhao, the company’s general manager, said that about 80% of the company’s dishwashers are exported to European countries such as Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

Initially, the dishwashers were shipped to European destinations by sea from coastal cities like Qingdao in Shandong province, taking around 45 days. However, utilising the China-Europe freight train service has significantly reduced the transportation time to about two to three weeks, he said.

Chen also noted that Xi’an’s strategic location as a hub for the China-Europe freight train service played a crucial role in their decision to establish a new factory in the city.

He highlighted that all dishwashers manufactured in Xi’an are now transported to Europe via railway.

Due to disruptions in sea transportation caused by the Red Sea Crisis, shipping from China to Europe has been delayed, extending the shipping time to up to 60 days, he said. — China Daily/ANN

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General election latest: Tories accuse Labour of 'flip-flopping' on tax - as Abbott row 'blows up' more than Starmer expected

The Tories are going on the attack, aiming punches at Labour's "chaotic" economic policy and tax plans. Meanwhile, the row over whether Diane Abbott will stand for Labour rumbles on, with the veteran MP vowing to remain in parliament "by any means possible".

Thursday 30 May 2024 09:12, UK

• General Election 2024

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Election news

• Tories accuse Labour of 'flip-flopping' on tax and plotting VAT 'raid'
• Labour attacks Tory crime record - pledges to 'rebuild safety on Britain's streets'
• Abbott says she will stand in Hackney 'by any means possible'
• Politics at Jack and Sam's:  The Day... Labour finds a bit taxing
• Live reporting by Ben Bloch

Expert analysis

• Sam Coates: Abbott row blew up more than Starmer expected - and polling suggests trouble
• Matthew Thompson: Why polls don't tell full story for Lib Dems
• Ashish Joshi: Labour's key advantage in NHS battleground

Election essentials

• Trackers: Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more: What happens next? | Which MPs are standing down? | Key seats to watch | How to register to vote | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency's changing | Your essential guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

By  Faye Brown , political reporter

Rishi Sunak has been urged to de-select Liz Truss as a Tory election candidate after she appeared on a platform founded by a YouTuber who made comments about raping a Labour MP.

Labour's Jess Phillips has written to the prime minister saying that Carl Benjamin, founder of the Lotus Eaters, "has despicable views about violence against women".

Mr Benjamin claimed he was being "attacked and misrepresented" and said his previous comments were a "joke".

Mr Benjamin wrote on Twitter in 2016 that he "wouldn't even rape" Ms Phillips, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley.

In 2019, when he was standing to be a UKIP MEP, he refused to apologise and later went on to say: "I've been in a lot of trouble for my hardline stance of not even raping her. I suppose with enough pressure I might cave. But let's be honest, nobody's got that much beer."

In her letter, Ms Phillips said: "The impact men like Benjamin have on politics cannot be understated. Men like Benjamin make female MPs live in fear, while discouraging women from standing in future, weakening our democracy in the process."

Mr Benjamin hit back on X: "It's hard to believe that parliamentarians live in fear of YouTubers making jokes, when the apparently real threat of terrorism looms over their head."

Read more here:

Rishi Sunak has been urged to de-select Liz Truss as a Tory election candidate after she appeared on a platform founded by YouTuber Carl Benjamin who wrote on Twitter in 2016 that he "wouldn't even rape" Jess Phillips, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley.

Mr Benjamin, founder of the Lotus Eaters, has claimed he was being "attacked and misrepresented" and said his previous comments were a "joke".

After Ms Phillips called for his deselection, Mr Benjamin hit back on X: "It's hard to believe that parliamentarians live in fear of YouTubers making jokes, when the apparently real threat of terrorism looms over their head." ( read his full statement here ).

Sky's Kay Burley asks Chancellor Jeremy Hunt about Ms Truss appearing on the platform, and he replies that the comments were "pretty despicable" and the party "would certainly not condone them".

But he goes on: "I can't speak for Liz Truss. She makes her own decisions."

He then pivots back to the economy, saying: "What I did as chancellor was I reversed most of the big decisions that she had taken in a very short period of time in order to restore stability in the markets."

Mr Hunt does not respond to Ms Phillips' call for Ms Truss to be de-selected.

Rishi Sunak has done an interview this morning in which he said interest rates would fall under a government led by him.

But Sky's Kay Burley puts to the chancellor that it's the Bank of England's job to reduce interest rates, not the government's, which the chancellor agrees with.

"They decide the level of interest rates independently," Jeremy Hunt says.

But explaining why the PM said that, he says: "Labour have a not funded about £38bn of spending commitments, and if they had to fund that through borrowing more, then that puts pressure on the Bank of England to increase interest rates.

"And so what we're saying is that, you know, since Rishi Sunak and I have taken on the reins, we've taken very difficult decisions to put the public finances back on an even keel.

"That has made it possible to bring down inflation and for the Bank of England to bring down interest rates. And we don't want that to change."

The Tories have unveiled plans to unfreeze tax thresholds for retirees to ensure they never pay income tax on the state pension.

But analysis from the i newspaper suggests the move will save retirees relying on the state pension just £14.60 a year by 2028 - or around 28p per week.

We ask Chancellor Jeremy Hunt how 28p per week will help pensioners, and he replies that the number "is a nonsense".

He says the policy will "save the average pensioner £100 next year, or £1,000 over the course of the next parliament".

Sky's Kay Burley puts to the chancellor that the Institute for Fiscal Studies says pensioners used to have a higher tax-free allowance until it was scrapped in 2010/11 - and the allowance is now 10% lower than it was.

But Mr Hunt defends the government, saying that due to the triple lock, the state pension "has gone up by £3,700 since 2010".

The triple lock is a government promise to raise state pensions every year by the level of average earnings, inflation or 2.5% - whichever is the highest.

Mr Hunt says the government has "looked after pensioners, and we will continue to look after pensioners because we recognise that they are different from everyone else" because they cannot work more to earn extra money.

We are speaking now with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, and we start with the cost of living.

Sky's Kay Burley puts to him that 33% of households in the UK have a dog, and the price of dog food has gone up by 58% this year.

We ask if a Tory government would reduce the cost of pet food, and he replies: "We want to stop the cost of pet food going up."

But he added: "I can't make a commitment about reducing prices - they're decided in a market economy by lots of different actors."

But Kay Burley points out that there is VAT on dog food - something he could scrap.

He replies: "There are lots of taxes I'd like to bring down. The most important thing I can do for families at home is to stop prices going up by supporting the Bank of England to reduce inflation."

Mr Hunt notes that the International Monetary Fund upgraded its forecast for the UK economy last week - but also says wages have been going up faster than prices for the last 10 months, which eases the cost of living.

Pushed on if he would remove VAT from dog food, he declines to do so - but does commit to not increasing VAT, income tax, or national insurance, saying the Tories want to reduce taxes.

He attacks Labour, saying they have "no plan to bring down the tax burden".

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is taking questions from Sky's Kay Burley as he attacks Labour over tax and spending.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream above, and follow updates here in the Politics Hub.

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard with their daily guide to the election day ahead.

This is day 8 of the campaign. Jack and Sam discuss Labour trying to settle its position on taxation, the claims that Sir Keir Starmer is purging the left of his party and a day which has a double dose of Nigel Farage.

👉  Listen above then tap here to follow Politics at Jack at Sam's wherever you get your podcasts   👈

Email Jack and Sam: [email protected]

Confusion still swirls around whether veteran MP Diane Abbott will be able to stand for Labour - and senior party frontbencher Darren Jones was unable to provide clarity.

He told Sky News: "I don't think a decision has been made."

He said, as with any potential candidate, there will be need to be "a conversation with the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party if they wish to be endorsed and stand".

He went on: "As far as I'm aware, she's not been barred from standing. I mean, she had the whip given back to her, she's back in the Labour Party as a Labour MP.

"And as far as I'm aware, no decision has been taken about whether she's going to be the candidate or not. And presumably a conversation will therefore take place between Diane and the Labour Party."

He added that it will be resolved "pretty quickly".

Sky's Kay Burley also asked about Faiza Shaheen, who was not endorsed last night as Labour's candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green, despite local members choosing her, after being accused of liking antisemitic posts.

Asked if Labour is clearing house ahead of an election, Mr Jones said there is "always an accelerated process when a snap election is called because you've got to make sure that the candidates are sorted".

One of the big questions at this election is the future funding of public services, that are currently under heavy strain.

Amid spending constraints, we asked shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones if Labour will make any cuts.

He explains that some public services "have a kind of protected status", such as defence, where the budget moves depending on the size of the GDP, and healthcare, where the government is committed to the long-term workforce place.

But he went on: "We're going to have to do a spending review if we win an election on July the 4th, and it's going to be really hard because of the state of the economy and what we would inherit from the Conservatives - the worst fiscal inheritance since the Second World War."

Pushed on whether Labour is planning cuts, Mr Jones replied: "We're not planning to cut public services."

He pointed to Labour's "first steps" for government with some spending pledges around more teachers, police, and NHS appointments.

Mr Jones invited the Tories to publish the government's books so he can plan Labour's exact spending plans during this election campaign.

The Tories have pledged to unfreeze tax thresholds for those receiving the state pension to avoid them having to pay taxes.

We asked shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones what Labour's plans are around taxes on pensioners, and he replied that they are "in a bit of a tricky spot".

"The Conservatives have said they're going to make certain changes to their own policy on taxation that might affect pensioners with higher levels of income.

"But it's entirely unfunded - and Rachel Reeves has been very clear that we're not just going to kind of keep matching their unfunded, unsustainable policy offers in this election."

He accused the Tories of have "announced over £70bn of unfunded spending commitments in the first week of the general election alone".

He defended his use of big figures like £70bn, saying they come from Treasury analysis, and "people know what that means for their mortgages and their rent because they've had to do it because of Liz Truss not long ago, that's been a painful experience for people".

Mr Jones added: "There is a direct connection between unfunded Conservative policies and family finances."

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Blinken will head to eastern Europe as concerns mount about Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia

W ASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to eastern Europe next week as concerns mount about Russia’s advances in Ukraine , potential Russian interference in neighboring Moldova and pro-Moscow legislation being promoted in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, the State Department said Friday.

Blinken will visit the Moldovan capital of Chişinau on Wednesday before attending a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Prague on Thursday and Friday. That meeting will be the military alliance's last major diplomatic get-together before leaders meet at a summit to celebrate NATO's 80th anniversary in Washington in July.

The trip comes just two weeks after Blinken made an unannounced trip to Ukraine to reassure Kyiv of Washington’s support in the face of intensified Russian attacks in its north. There are also signs Russia may be considering new actions in Moldova and is behind anti-Western moves in Georgia that the U.S. believes run counter to Moldovan and Georgian aspirations to integrate with Europe.

At his first stop in Chişinau, Blinken will meet Moldovan President Maia Sandu to reaffirm U.S. backing for Moldova's progress on joining the European Union, the State Department said. The top U.S. diplomat for Europe, James O'Brien, said Blinken would announce a “robust” support package for Moldova, where there are 1,500 Russian troops stationed in the disputed territory of Transnistria .

“There’s not a direct military threat that we see at this time, but there’s ongoing Russian influence operations, and that is of concern,” O'Brien told reporters. He did not give details of the support package.

Moldova, like Ukraine, is a candidate member for EU membership and has repeatedly accused Russia of conducting a “hybrid war” against the country, meddling in local elections and running vast disinformation campaigns to try to topple the government and derail its path toward joining the 27-nation EU.

Russia has denied the accusations, but the Moldovan government is wary of Moscow's intentions, particularly after Transnistrian authorities appealed to Moscow in February for “protection” due to what they said was increased pressure from Chişinau.

In Prague, Blinken will meet Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský and other officials to discuss support for Ukraine, including a Czech initiative to supply more munitions to Kyiv, before attending the NATO gathering.

With Ukraine as the top agenda item, NATO ministers also will be looking at developments in Georgia, which like Ukraine, aspires to join NATO and is embroiled in controversy over legislation that many believe is driven by Moscow and intended to thwart Georgia's Western aspirations.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the “Russian law” targeting media that has sparked weeks of mass protests , but the ruling party has a parliamentary majority sufficient to override her veto and is widely expected to do so.

The legislation would require media and nongovernmental organizations to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. Critics say it closely resembles legislation the Kremlin used to silence opponents and that it will obstruct Georgia’s bid to join the EU.

Late Thursday, Blinken announced that the U.S. would impose travel bans on Georgian officials “who are responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia, as well as their family members. This includes individuals responsible for suppressing civil society and freedom of peaceful assembly in Georgia through a campaign of violence or intimidation."

Blinken's announcement did not identify anyone who has already been targeted, but it also said the U.S. would undertake a comprehensive review of U.S.-Georgia cooperation.

“It remains our hope that Georgia’s leaders will reconsider the draft law and take steps to move forward with their nation’s democratic and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” he said. “As we review the relationship between our two countries, we will take into account Georgia’s actions in deciding our own.”