5 new sleeper trains in the UK and Europe for 2026

We've found five new sleeper routes linking some of Europe's vibrant cities, as well as tranquil trips through the Highlands, Alps and Scandinavian landscapes.

Sleeper trains can be expensive, and it can be disappointing when the cheapest fare tempting you to the booking page ends up being for an upright seat or a bed in a shared compartment (couchette). 

However, private cabins can be affordable, especially when you factor in that you don't have to pay for a hotel room overnight. 

On routes through Austria and the Netherlands, the launch of solo pods gives you a private sleeping space from just €54.90. Read on to find out about the new routes and sleeping options.

For more expertly researched destination ideas and unbiased travel advice and recommendations, subscribe to Which? Travel

Where to next?

Discover inspiring destinations, recommended by our in-house travel experts. Know the best places to go, who to book with and how to pay less.

Join Which? Travel

1. Birmingham to the Scottish Highlands

Approx. 'from' prices: Seats from £50; private classic rooms from £205 (up to 2 people); private club rooms from £285 (incl. breakfast); Caledonian double rooms from £395 (incl. breakfast).

Select Highland Sleeper services now call at Birmingham International, meaning you don't need to travel down to London Euston to board the train. Overnight, you'll travel to the Scottish Highlands (Inverness, Fort William and Aberdeen).

All rooms are private, ranging from Classic bunkbed rooms with washbasins to Club bunkbed rooms and Caledonian double rooms with private en suites. 

You can head to the Club Car for breakfast and dinner while taking in the views. Just keep in mind that at peak times, those staying in Club rooms, Caledonian doubles and accessible rooms have priority. Other guests may need to order food to their room or wait for a table.

Visit the Caledonian Sleeper website for more information.

2. Przemyśl to Munich or Prague via Kraków

Approx. 'from' prices: Seated cars from €42; shared couchettes from €59; private sleeping compartments from €109 (incl. breakfast).

The recently-launched EuroNight Carpatia service has three routes that connect Poland's coast and cities to Germany, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Options include second-class seats, shared four-to-six-bed couchettes, or private one-to-three-bed sleeping compartments with washbasins.

It serves Kraków and Bohumín, and then the train routes split to travel to Munich, Prague or Budapest. The Munich-bound train has multiple stops in Austria, including Vienna and Salzburg. Waking up around 6-7am on your journey is well worth it for the countryside views.

The service is a joint venture between multiple train providers, so tickets are available from a few websites. You can find out more on the ÖBB Nightjets website.

3. Paris to Berlin via Brussels

Approx. 'from' prices: Budget seats from €49.99; shared 4 or 6-person couchettes from €79.99; private sleeping compartments from €209.99.

This revived sleeper route runs three times a week in each direction. Onboard, your sleeper options range from the cheaper shared couchettes that sleep between four and six people, to more expensive private compartments for one to three people. Private compartments don’t have en suites; all bathroom facilities are shared and accessed in the corridors. 

There's no dining car, but you can order drinks, snacks and a continental breakfast to your room.

Tickets available from European Sleeper. 

Find out our top tips on how to buy cheaper European train tickets. 

4. Amsterdam/ Brussels to Milan via Switzerland: from September-December 2026

Approx. 'from' prices: Seats from €29; shared couchettes from €79; private sleeping compartments from €129 (incl. breakfast).

European Sleeper is about to launch an overnight route connecting Belgium and the Netherlands to Northern Italy. Accommodation options range from budget seats to shared 4-6-person couchettes and private 1-3-person compartments with washbasins. Like on a lot of European Sleepers, all other bathroom facilities are shared. Any food you order is served in your room.

You travel across the Alps non-stop overnight and, from December 2026, stops at Antwerp, Breda and Eindhoven will also be available.

Visit European Sleeper to find out more. 

5. Malmö to Narvik via Stockholm (Northern Lights Night Train): November 2026 only

Approx. 'from' prices: Shared compartment: from 999 SEK (approx. £75); private compartment (up to 6 people): from 3,999 SEK (approx. £298).

Travelling 1,339 miles deep into the Arctic Circle, Swedish operator Snälltåget is running a one-off trip from 23 to 27 November 2026. It passes directly through popular viewing locations for the Northern Lights, and you'll be able to see snow-covered forests and Arctic fjords whilst onboard. Your final destination - Narvik - is on the Norwegian coast, allowing you to then explore the Lofoten Islands. Or stay put and enjoy activities like a dogsledding safari or alpine skiing.

Each compartment sleeps up to six people, with shared and private options. There's a dining car onboard for a hot meal where you can book your table and pre-order to guarantee availability. Breakfast isn't included in any ticket price. 

Learn more about this one-of-a-kind trip here.

Booking train trips as a package saves time on itinerary planning and secures your financial protection under Package Travel Regulations if plans go wrong. Find out more in our guide to the Best rail holiday companies 2026.

New solo sleeping pods on ÖBB's Nightjet

Approx. 'from' prices: Standard seats from €34.90; solo pods from €54.90 (incl. breakfast); shared couchettes from €54.90; private compartments from €89.90.

Traditional private sleeper compartments can come at a high price. However, ÖBB’s Nightjet now lets you book your own private pod, described by ÖBB as a ‘mini cabin’, between Zurich and Vienna (expanding to Amsterdam in December) from just €54.90. You get a cosy single bed (190 x 63.6cm) and useful amenities like a folding breakfast table, wireless/USB phone charging, a reading light and a mirror. Just keep in mind that it’s a pod without floor space, rather than a room, but lockers outside keep your shoes and luggage safe and out of the way, and shared bathroom facilities are down the corridor. 

A light breakfast is included in the ticket and served to your pod before you reach your final destination.

Not sure where to visit next? See our recommendations less than seven hours away from London in The best European cities to visit by train.