Rome introduces Oktoberfest trains
FS Treni Turistici Italiani’s Munich Express will launch a special night train route linking Rome and Munich in September and October for the Oktoberfest.
The trains will depart from Rome’s main station on Friday evenings and return by Monday mornings.
Passengers can also board the train in Verona, Trento, Bolzano, Bressanone, Fortezza, Vipiteno, Colle Isarco and Brennero.
Tickets start at €99 (R2 035) on the RailBook Italy website.
New French rail operators on the cards
French national rail operator SNCF could face more competition with the planned introduction of two new companies by 2028.
Private companies, Le Train and Velvet, delayed their launches to 2028 due to challenges with procurement.
Le Train is expected to launch between late 2027 and early 2028 and will focus on high-speed connections in the west of France, regions poorly served by SNCF, according to Travel Mole. The operator is planning up to 50 daily trains in 11 cities, mainly in the Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions.
Velvet plans to launch its first high-speed trains by 2028, initially focusing on Western routes out of Paris (Angers, Bordeaux, Nantes and Rennes).
New historic train in Pennsylvania
Regional operator Patriot Rail is launching the Gettysburg Excursion Railway, a historic train service between Gettysburg and Mount Holly Springs.
The train features renovated 1950s-era passenger coaches, transformed into first-class coaches, and a café car, which will serve as a venue for onboard events. The Gettysburg Excursion Railway is set to open to the public later this month, according to Travel Mole.
Highlights include:
- Views of the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and Gettysburg’s countryside
- Narration about Adams County history, including Civil War figures and events
- Themed rides and festive holiday excursions
Chiltern Railways gets first class
The UK rail operator, Chiltern Railways, is phasing in new first-class carriages across its network, starting with its London-West Midlands route in spring 2026.
The 13 trains will feature first-class seating with USB ports, free Wi-Fi, fold-down seat-back tables, smart air conditioning, spacious luggage racks, bike storage for up to six bikes, dedicated accessible areas including toilets, and overhead digital customer information screens.
The London-West Midlands route stops at stations including High Wycombe, Leamington Spa, Warwick and Birmingham Moor Street.
Amtrak’s new trains begin operations
Amtrak’s new NextGen Acela high-speed trains will begin operations on August 28, connecting the Northeast Corridor between Washington, New York and Boston.
Five trains will be in service initially, with plans to introduce all 28 new NextGen Acela trains by 2027. The trains provide 27% more seats per departure and expanded weekday and weekend schedules.
The new trains will run at speeds of nearly 260km/h, about 16km/h faster than the current Acela top speed, according to Forbes.
