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Renfe - Fallas 2025: Your journey to celebration starts with Omio

Get ready to experience Fallas 2025 in Valencia, one of Spain’s most spectacular festivals! Renfe is making it easier than ever to join the celebration with exclusive discounted fares on Omio.

Book between February 12 and February 17, 2025 to secure your trip for the festival period: March 1 to March 19, 2025.

Travel comfortably and affordably on AVE, AVLO, Alvia Intercity, and Euromed trains to/from Valencia.

• Madrid-Valencia: High-speed tickets from just €9!
• Barcelona-Valencia:
• Euromed from €38.35
• Intercity from €30.40

Extra savings for families & groups! Groups of 4 to 9 passengers on AVE enjoy an additional 8% discount.

Don’t miss your chance to witness the magic of Fallas—book your tickets today on Omio and let the festivities begin!

Reopening of the Paris Milan Direct Service: Convenient and Sustainable Train Travel Options

The return of the direct Paris-Milan train service in 2025, provided by SNCF (TGV) and Trenitalia (Frecciarossa) has been highly anticipated, especially for those who value both efficiency and sustainability. As train travel becomes an increasingly popular choice for environmentally-conscious travellers, the reopening of this route provides an opportunity to avoid the complexities of air travel while enjoying a direct, seamless connection between these two iconic cities. Whether you're a returning customer or a first-time traveller, now is the perfect time to book your seat and rediscover the joy of train travel between Paris and Milan.

The route offers exceptional service with direct connections between the heart of Paris and Milan. From comfortable, spacious seating to modern amenities like free Wi-Fi, the TGV and Frecciarossa services provide an unbeatable travel experience. As you speed through the picturesque French countryside and the stunning Alps, you’ll be able to relax, work or simply take in the view. Booking your tickets with Omio ensures you find the best prices and travel options for this beautiful journey.

Omio with SNCF and Deutsche Bahn: Berlin to Paris Direct Train

Omio offers a comprehensive range of train services, including the new direct train from Berlin to Paris and back. Operated jointly by Deutsche Bahn and SNCF, this route covers 878 kilometers in 8 hours, with tickets starting at €60. The train travels through Frankfurt (South), Karlsruhe, and Strasbourg, offering passengers a convenient and sustainable way to travel between these two major European capitals. Booking will be available from mid-October and travel starts in mid-December, as part of a broader strategy to enhance European rail travel.

Trains in Europe

Europe has an extensive, modern network of train routes that can get passengers from tiny rural towns to international cities across the continent. With train tracks stretching the width and breadth of Europe, getting around by train is an enjoyable way to discover the landscapes and hidden corners of each country. All countries have committed to high-speed trains across Europe with many routes, particularly across borders, that can be done within a matter of hours.

With lots of different ticket options allowing for travel in several countries, getting around by train is as easy as a daily commute. Here we have gathered important information about trains in Europe, including how to buy cheap train tickets, getting night trains and some popular train routes for you to discover. Whether you want to get the Milan to Paris train, Madrid to Barcelona train, Berlin to Amsterdam train or Prague to Budapest train, exploring Europe by rail is a cost-effective and easy way to travel the continent.

Discover Europe by Train

Train Companies in Europe

ÖBB: ÖBB or Austrian Federal Railways is Austria's national train company. In addition to numerous cities in Austria, ÖBB also travels to select destinations in Germany, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Westbahn: Westbahn operates one train route between Vienna and Salzburg. Westbahn trains run every hour and stops at Wien Westbahnhof, Wien-Hütteldorf, St. Pölten Hbf, Amstetten, Linz Hbf, Wels Hbf, Attnang-Puchheim and Salzburg Hbf.

SNCB: In addition to servicing domestic destinations, Belgium's national train company also operates 4 high-speed international train routes: from Brussels to Paris Nord or Lille Flandres train stations in cooperation with SNCF; from Leuven to Ans; from Liège to the German border; and from Antwerpen-Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal train stations.

České Dráhy: Often abbreviated ČD, České Dráhy is the Czech Republic's main train company. České Dráhy operates both regional and long-distance train routes throughout the Czech Republic.

SNCF: SNCF operates all of France's national rail services including the high-speed TGV network. More than 800 high-speed SNCF trains depart every day. SNCF’s TGV trains carry over 100 million passengers every year.

Deutsche Bahn: Germany's national train company is the largest in Europe, transporting approximately two billion passengers per year. Deutsche Bahn's high-speed Intercity-Express (ICE) trains connect major cities in Germany as well as some select international destinations in Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, France, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Italo: Italo is a privately-owned high-speed train company that connects 16 train stations in 13 Italian cities. Italo operates 3 high-speed train lines through Italy: from Verona to Naples (via Bologna, Florence, and Rome); from Venice to Salerno (via Padua, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples); and from Turin to Salerno (via Milan, Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples).

Trenitalia: Owned by the Italian government, Trenitalia is Italy's main train company. Trenitalia offers both regional and long-distance routes as well as international connections to select destinations in France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

NS: Nederlandse Spoorwegen or NS is the main train company in the Netherlands. NS runs 4,800 domestic trains in the Netherlands every day, serving approximately 1.1 million passengers.

Renfe: Renfe is Spain's national train company. Renfe's high-speed AVE trains travel up to 350 km/h and connect Madrid with other major cities in Spain including Seville, Barcelona, Valencia, Toledo, Cordoba, and Malaga.

SBB: Swiss Federal Railways (or SBB) is Switzerland's national rail company and operates the majority of national and international train traffic. SBB also operates international EuroCity and EuroNight trains in Switzerland.

SJ: SJ is Sweden's main train company, which has been around for over 160 years. Over 130 000 people travel with SJ from over 275 stations in Sweden every day. SJ also travels internationally to other Scandanavian cities including Oslo and Copenhagen.

Train Companies in the United Kingdom

Abellio Greater Anglia: Abellio Greater Anglia Trains succeeded National Express in 2012 as Eastern England's primary train company. Abellio's train network covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and parts of Hertfordshire.

Arriva Trains Wales: Arriva Trains operate on 5 routes: between the Midlands and Northern Wales, between South Wales and Northern Wales/Manchester, along the South Wales Coast Line to Cardiff and Swansea, along the North Wales Coast Line to Crewe and Manchester, while also operating a network of commuter train lines in and around Cardiff.

C2C: The C2C is predominantly a London commuter railway, providing services along the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line, from London Fenchurch Street to East London and along the southern part of Essex. Trains depart along the main route from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness around 8 times each hour during off-peak times.

East Midlands Trains: East Midlands Trains operates two types of trains: long-distance trains connecting London St Pancras train station with destinations throughout the UK and regional trains. East Midlands's regional trains link towns and cities in the East Midlands as well as Central and Northern England. East Midlands trains run between London and Sheffield, York, Derby, Corby, Nottingham, and Leeds.

Great Western Railway: Great Western Railway is the main train company for the west and south-west counties in the UK including Devon, Somerset, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Bedfordshire, Wiltshire, and Bristol. Great Western's trains are also available in Wales, focusing specifically on Southern Wales.

First Hull Trains: First Hull Trains operate just one train from Hull to London, which stops at Brough, Howden, Selby, Doncaster, Retford, Grantham, and Stevenage along the way. First Hull's train schedule has grown every year since 2000, with 7 trains currently departing every day.

TransPennine Express: TransPennine Express operates intercity trains on 3 main routes across Northern England. TransPennine Express trains connect Liverpool and Manchester with Leeds, York, Sheffield and Doncaster with as many as 5 trains departing per hour on some of the popular routes.

Merseyrail: Merseyrail operates trains throughout Liverpool, the surrounding area, and the rest of Merseyside. Over 100,000 passengers utilize Merseyrail's network every week with approximately 800 trains departing every day.

Northern Rail: Northern Rail operates most trains in Northern England between Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Scotrail: Scotrail runs trains throughout Northern England connecting Newcastle and Carlisle with London. The vast majority of Scotrail trains run between major Scottish cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Dundee.

Southern: Southern trains run between London, East and West Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and Hampshire. Popular destinations include Hastings, Lewes, and Southampton. Southern also manages the Gatwick Express which is a 30-minute, non-stop train between London Victoria station and Gatwick International Airport.

South Western Railway: South Western Railway (formerly South West Trains) operates the majority of commuter trains from London Waterloo station to destinations in South West London. Most trains run on an electrified third rail, with diesel engine trains on the West of England line to Salisbury, Exeter, and Bristol.

Avanti West Coast: Avanti Trains (formerly Virgin Trains) operates long-distance trains on the West Coast Main Line between Greater London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland. Avanti West Coast connects London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow.

International Trains in Europe

Eurostar: Journeys from London to other prominent French or Belgian cities will always involve a Eurostar train via the Chunnel under the English Channel. Eurostar took over the train company Thalys, creating more routes across Western Europe, including links betweenLondon and Paris, Lille, Lyon, Brussels and Amsterdam. Traveling by the Eurostar from London to Paris or Brussels takes approximately two and half hours.

European Sleeper Train: the Belgian-Dutch rail company was established as a community-based initiative in 2021 with the aim of putting night trains back on the map. The company began with a route between Berlin to Brussels via Amsterdam, and plans to expand with new routes every year. It currently connects Germany, Brussels, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic with trains via Antwerp, Rotterdam, Dresden and Prague.

Ouigo: offers cheap tickets on its low-cost, high speed train lines. Owned by SNCF, the newly established Ouigo routes aim to make high-speed travel affordable. Ouigo runs trains routes through France and Spain, and connects cities such as Paris to Barcelona. Its double-decker coaches offer greater capacity on its trains, and there are options to pay a little extra for XL seats.

TGV Lyria: TGV Lyria trains, a partnership between SBB and SNCF, transports more than 4 million travelers per year between France and Switzerland. TGV Lyria operates 6 train routes: between Geneva and Lille, between Geneva and Nice (via Marseille), between Lausanne and Paris (via Geneva), between Lausanne and Paris (via Dijon), between Interlaken and Paris (via Bern, Basel, and Dijon), and between Zurich and Paris (via Basel and Mulhouse).

Trains from Rome to Florence	duration: 1h12	from €25.00
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona	duration: 2h30	from €50.00
Trains from Barcelona to Madrid	duration: 2h30	from €43.00
Trains from London to Paris	duration: 2h16	from €49.00
Trains from Prague to Vienna	duration: 3h55	from €15.00
Trains from Paris to London	duration: 2h28	from €56.00
Trains from Rome to Venice	duration: 2h35	from €13.00
Trains from Florence to Rome	duration: 2h40	from €25.00
Trains from Paris to Amsterdam	duration: 3h28	from €65.00
Trains from Milan to Venice	duration: 2h25	from €10.00

Traveling by Train in Europe: FAQs

Book your next European train adventure

Looking for top tips about train companies, routes and tickets? Well, you've come to the right place. Omio gathers the latest information on timetables, tickets (plus latest deals), and seasonal routes for each country to make booking much easier. Search and book for any ticket in the language of your choice, and get everything delivered straight to your phone. Download the Omio app today.

New York at dusk. Credit: Unsplash

Discover Train Travel in the USA

Hop on a train from East Coast to West Coast or make your way down from the northern states to the south. The landscape of the USA is spectacularly varied – and there’s no better way to take it all in than by train. The largest train provider in the US is Amtrak which connects over 500 cities in 46 states, and runs over 300 trains a day. Most major cities in the US have regular, daily connections that are easy to navigate for commuters and visitors. Popular train routes include theNew York to Boston train San Jose to Los Angeles train New York to Philadelphia train, and Washington DC to New York train.

Start your travels in bustling New York City and zip to the capital, Washington DC, in just under three hours. Head to Philly and Boston, Chicago, and experience the history of its musical heritage. Cruise through Newark, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Seattle or Portland and head towards the sunnier cities of San Fran and San Jose, Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta to Miami. For those that want a spectacular train experience, be sure to check out the stunning California Zephyr between Chicago and San Francisco. Find more Incredible train routes in the USA and book your ticket with Omio.

Trains in Canada

Canada has a long history of train travel, with over 30,000 miles of track running through its breathtaking scenery. Taking the train in Canada is a fantastic way to see the country and get from one city to another quickly and efficiently. Canada’s national train provider is VIA Rail, an independent, state-owned corporation that runs 500 trains a week and transports more than 4.7 million passengers yearly. Amtrak also runs regular train routes throughout Canada, leaving plenty of options for scenic routes and inter-city train travel across the country.

The most popular Via Rail route is the Montréal–Ottawa–Toronto line, which takes a little more than five hours end-to-end. More popular routes include the Toronto to Vancouver train, Quebec City to Montreal train, and Ottawa to Quebec City train. For scenic routes, why not travel on “The Great Western Way” and discover Canada from Toronto to Vancouver or take “The Maritime Way” and explore the country’s Eastern provinces? Discover more spectacular train routes in Canada and book your tickets today.

Top Routes

Traveling without any trade-offs: These routes in Europe are faster on the ground than by plane.

We have identified 28 routes within Europe where traveling by train or bus is faster than flying. And on top of that: No baggage fees, easy check-ins, and speedy departures and arrivals.

ROUTES

Click here to get access to the full routes included in the research.

How Omio compiled the ranking

This ranking is based on the 100 most popular routes by train, bus and flight booked through Omio in summer 2020 (between June 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020) in Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and France. CO2 emissions in kg per train / bus / flight were calculated using values from Atmosfair.

Sustainability is going mainstream – also in tourism. More and more people make a conscious effort in considering how their everyday choices affect the world. However, when wanderlust grips, most people seem to opt for convenience and comfort over the environment. But you can choose both!

A representative poll by Omio has found that many travelers in Europe are ready to make a compromise between minimizing their impact on climate change: One in four says that they are willing to accept an additional 60 minutes to their overall traveling time, provided that this will have a positive effect on the environment. Eight percent of the respondents say they would take ground transportation even if this meant an additional two hours of traveling. Every other person thinks they would travel by train instead of plane if the connection were faster, while already more than half of the Europeans are choosing the train or bus if it is the more sustainable option instead of flying.

CO2 and time saved by train travel for top routes

With more and more people leaning toward ground travel for sustainability reasons, every tenth person is also switching to train travel due to safety concerns due to the global pandemic, while almost every fourth European is planning on taking more domestic trips this year. And, luckily, travelers have enough options to choose from.

Everyone knows that planes are major gas guzzlers. Traveling on the ground can lower our carbon footprint tremendously. Not only that, traveling by train or bus can be just as fast and comfortable as flying. Think about all those times you have had to wait in long security lines, never mind the traffic to and from the airport. And don’t get us started on baggage and in-flight fees. On the ground, travel gives you all the comforts of a flight but none of the hassle.

Trains vs. Flights Ranking from 2019

Click here to get access to the full routes included in the 2019 research. Omio researched all European routes included in the ranking. This ranking was based on the 100 most popular routes by train, bus and flight booked on Omio during summer 2019 (August 15, 2019 - September 30, 2019).

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