New night train will connect Prague, Berlin and Copenhagen from 2026

A new night train is set to connect Prague, Berlin and Copenhagen starting in 2026. The service is part of a European Union pilot project to develop European cross-border train services. Here’s what prospective passengers can expect:

Deutsche Bahn, CD and DSB to launch new night train

Deutsche Bahn has announced that it will run a new night train connecting Prague, Berlin and Copenhagen. The service will be run in partnership with the Czech rail operator CD and the Danish rail operator DSB. Trains owned by CD have already been earmarked for the route. 

Deutsche Bahn said that services can commence once ongoing track renovations on the route between Berlin and Hamburg are completed. As of May 1, 2026, daily services will operate in both directions year-round.

The stretch between Berlin and Copenhagen will take seven hours, while the entire route, from Prague to Copenhagen, will take 11 hours. Dresden is expected to be added as a future stop.

Currently, the Swedish company Snälltåget runs a night train connecting Berlin and Stockholm via Copenhagen. However, the service doesn’t run year-round and only runs between two and five times per week, depending on the season.

New night train is one of 10 EU pilot projects

Responding to Deutsche Bahn’s announcement, Berlin mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) told rbb that the service would “strengthen Berlin as a European [travel] hub” and that it was an “important contribution for the sustainable transport transformation”. 

The Prague-Berlin-Copenhagen night train is just one of many night train services being launched as part of a new EU pilot project “encouraging cross-border train connections” to “develop sustainable mobility in Europe”.