The Wise Traveller brings you the latest news on train travel across the globe.
Europe: The EU plans to force railway companies to sell rivals' tickets on their websites and to share data with booking platforms, in a bid to improve train travel and cut carbon emissions from air transport.
The EU Commission has proposed new rules that simplify planning and booking for regional, long-distance and cross-border travel, particularly for rail journeys involving multiple operators, while better protecting passengers.
As it stands, booking multiple-leg train journeys involving tickets from different companies can be complicated. So too can organising a trip combining different transport services. The booking systems are fragmented, and it's hard to find the best deal. Moreover, passenger protection is limited on rail journeys involving multiple tickets by different rail operators.
Proposals from the Commission aim to address these challenges by enabling single-ticket bookings across multiple rail operators, putting in place new, comprehensive rail passenger rights protection, and introducing new obligations for ticketing platforms and operators to ensure fair access to ticket sales.
Saudi Arabia: Developments for a strategic network across the Middle East, anchored by Saudi Arabia, are moving forward at high speed.
A major rail connection with Qatar marked a significant milestone in regional cooperation and infrastructure development across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia approved the agreement for an electric, high-speed passenger railway linking the two countries.
The planned railway will stretch 785 km, connecting the capitals Riyadh and Doha via key stations in Hofuf and Dammam, while also linking King Salman International Airport in Saudi Arabia with Hamad International Airport in Qatar.
Once operational, the train will travel at speeds exceeding 300 km/h, reducing journey times between the two capitals to around two hours.
The high-speed railway aligns with the Gulf Railway Authority's broader regional vision. The authority recently announced plans for a 2,117km freight railway linking all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by 2030, positioning rail as a backbone of regional trade and logistics.
The project also complements Saudi Arabia's domestic rail expansion, including existing lines such as the North-South Railway, the Haramain High-Speed Rail, and the Dammam-Riyadh Eastern line, as well as planned extensions under the country's transport and logistics strategy.
Recently, the Kuwait Municipal Council gave the green light for a high-speed railway linking the country with Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. The approval designates land required for the railway project within Kuwait. This section extends 85km from the country's south-western border with Saudi Arabia to the Shadadiya area near Kuwait's new university campus.
The railway line forms part of a broader 500km Saudi-Kuwait high-speed railway project designed to link Kuwait City and Riyadh. According to Gulf News, the link will reduce journey times between Riyadh and Kuwait to under two hours, with three daily services planned.
Europe: From June 25, a new inter-European train service covering 1,300 kilometres, with seats starting as little as €10.
Prague-based private international train and bus operator Leo Express is launching one of the longest direct train services across Europe. The route will connect urban centres across Germany, Czechia, Poland and onward to the Ukrainian border.
Beginning in the Polish city of Przemyśl, which borders Ukraine, the line will journey through Kraków, Ostrava, Prague, Dresden, Leipzig and Erfurt, before terminating at Frankfurt am Main and Frankfurt Airport.
The westbound route departs Przemyśl at 1:31pm, arriving at its final stop, Frankfurt Airport, the following day at 7:53am. The eastbound return service will depart Frankfurt Airport at 8:27am, arriving in Przemyśl at 02:23am the next day.
Peter Köhler, CEO of Leo Express, said: "With this new route, we are also removing the iron curtains between Western and Eastern Europe, connecting important European centres and providing access to Ukraine."
Guests will be offered Wi-Fi, access to power outlets for device charging, refreshments, and air conditioning.
Malaysia: New legislation has been passed on a rail link connecting the state of Johor with Singapore, establishing the legal framework for operating a cross-border urban rail system.
The move is seen as a strategic solution to ease congestion at the Johor-Singapore Causeway while strengthening bilateral economic connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said with the RTS Link, the journey will take five minutes, with a regular schedule and a capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour.
Europe: Leo Express has also partnered with Rail Europe, making it much easier to book journeys across the heart of Europe from a single platform. The partnership means travellers can sort out tickets for routes connecting major Central European cities without hopping between different booking sites.
It is the latest move from Rail Europe to make cross-border train travel easier for those wanting to explore beyond the usual Western European hotspots this summer.
The new tie-up opens direct bookings for routes linking Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, Ostrava, and Olomouc. It is particularly exciting for travellers looking for flexible itineraries spanning several countries, or for alternatives to the packed tourist corridors of Western Europe.
This partnership marks Rail Europe's third network addition in just three months, following deals with BritRail and European Sleeper earlier this year.
Japan: Kyushu in Kagoshima prefecture has unveiled plans to bolster regional tourism, including allowing foreign tourists free one-way tickets for a scenic journey along the Fukuoka-Kagoshima route.
"With local populations decreasing, the importance of tourism is growing," shared Kagoshima Governor Koichi Shiota, in a report by Japan Today. Shiota added that exploring ways to bring tourists to Kagoshima is needed, with complimentary tickets to visit the city, widely known for its active volcano, Mt. Sakurajima.
However, free one-way Shinkansen tickets from Fukuoka to Kagoshima City are available only to visitors from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, since all four destinations have direct flights to Kagoshima. Other countries may be added in the future.
France: A long-awaited CDG Express rail service connecting central Paris to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is scheduled to open on March 28, 2027, offering a 20-minute non-stop journey between Paris Gare de l'Est and Terminal 2.
Operated by Hello Paris, a joint venture between Keolis and RATP Dev, the service aims to deliver a fast, premium alternative to existing airport transfers.
Hello Paris confirmed key pricing details. A one-way ticket costs €25, while a round-trip fare is €28. Holders of the Île-de-France Navigo pass will benefit from a reduced fare of €16.50 per trip. Children under 16 accompanied by an adult will travel free of charge. Tickets will be available at vending machines, on online platforms, and via a dedicated mobile app.
The CDG Express will operate every 15 minutes from 5:00am until midnight, providing high-frequency service tailored to air travellers. Each train will accommodate up to 420 passengers, with flexible carriage configurations adjusted throughout the day according to demand.
Andy Probert is a freelance journalist whose work about global travel news, aviation, business and human-interest features has appeared internationally in print and digital formats.
