Switzerland's SBB considers launching a night train service to Copenhagen and Malmö
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is planning to launch a new night train service to Malmö, Sweden, starting in April 2026. The service, which will operate three times a week in each direction, totalling six trains, is part of the country's efforts to reduce carbon emissions under the recently enacted CO2 act.
However, the Swiss parliament's approval for the subsidies for this new service is still pending. Initially, the parliament had allocated CHF 30 million per year for international rail connections, but this amount was later reduced to CHF 10 million per year. The government plans to subsidise the Basel-Copenhagen-Malmö line with CHF 47 million between now and 2030, drawing from the CO2 law funds.
Critics, including parties from both the left and right, have voiced concerns over the reduced spending on long-distance rail under the CO2 act, with the allocation decreasing from CHF 30 million to CHF 10 million annually. Thomas Hurter, an MP for the Swiss People's Party, believes the night train service to Malmö is a waste of taxpayers' money.
Despite the controversy, SBB is moving forward with its plans. The company intends to redeploy sleeping carriages currently used on its Zurich-Amsterdam route for the new service, with new rolling stock used on the Amsterdam route. The funds will cover operating costs, including track and energy costs, rolling stock costs, and personnel costs.
This year, the Swiss federal government will provide CHF 1.2 million in subsidies, increasing to CHF 8.9 million in 2026. From 2027 to 2030, a similar amount of subsidies will be earmarked each year.
Meanwhile, SBB has also ordered new rolling stock for night trains to Hamburg and Vienna. Interestingly, Norway is beginning to plan an Oslo-Copenhagen night train, as reported in other news.
Notably, the Malmö route is SBB's only planned new route, with the company focusing primarily on improving the quality of existing night trains. The service's future, however, remains uncertain as the Swiss parliament needs to give final approval to the subsidies for the night train service to Malmö each December when voting on the federal budget.
[1] "Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) to Operate Night Trains to Malmö, Sweden" - SwissInfo, [date] [2] "Swiss Parliament Reduces Subsidies for International Rail Connections" - SwissInfo, [date]
The government aims to subsidize the new night train service to Malmö, Sweden, as part of the CO2 act, with funds drawn from CO2 law funds, despite the reduction in spending on long-distance rail in the recent allocation. This reduction in spending has sparked criticism from various political parties, with some, like Thomas Hurter, viewing the night train service as a waste of taxpayer money.
