All you need to know about the Basel-Malmö night train
Yay, the night train to Sweden is coming (after all)! After years of political back and forth (details see this blog post in German), the Swiss government has spoken out in favour of supporting the new line from Switzerland through Germany and Denmark to Sweden. On 10 July 2025, the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT) announced the details of the support (press release in German). We have summarised the answers to the most important questions below. Not everything is known yet; where we do not (yet) know something, we will indicate this. We plan to update the overview on a regular basis.
Update October 30, 2025: The SBB have officially released the timetable data and additional details about the new night train in a press release (German). We have updated the corresponding sections accordingly.
Find your desired night train connection now!
When does the Basel-Malmö service start?
The night train nicknamed "Aurora" will begin service on April 15, 2026, running year-round three times per week in each direction. This marks the first direct connection between Switzerland and Scandinavia in decades.
Where does the night train stop?
Stops include Freiburg (Breisgau), Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Frankfurt Süd, Hamburg, Padborg, Kolding, Odense, Hoeje Taastrup, and Copenhagen Airport. The train will not stop at Copenhagen Central Station, but the city can be reached by S-Bahn in about 15 minutes from the mentioned stations.
What does the regular timetable look like exactly?
- Basel SBB — Departure 17:35 (EN 472 to Malmö Central)
- Basel Bad Bf — Departure 17:49
- Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf — Arrival 18:22, Departure 18:24, boarding only
- Karlsruhe Hbf — Arrival 19:35, Departure 19:38, boarding only
- Mannheim Hbf — Arrival 20:13, Departure 20:18, boarding only
- Frankfurt (Main) Süd — Arrival 21:05, Departure 21:09, boarding only
- Hamburg Hbf — Arrival 02:36, Departure 02:55
- Padborg st — Arrival 05:15, Departure 05:47
- Kolding st — Arrival 06:33, Departure 06:35, alighting only
- Odense st — Arrival 07:20, Departure 07:22, alighting only
- Høje Taastrup st — Arrival 08:38, Departure 08:40, alighting only
- Copenhagen Airport st — Arrival 09:02, Departure 09:04, alighting only
- Malmö Central — Arrival 09:35
And back:
- Malmö Central — Departure 18:57 (EN 473 to Basel SBB)
- Copenhagen Airport st — Arrival 19:32, Departure 19:34, boarding only
- Høje Taastrup st — Arrival 19:52, Departure 19:59, boarding only
- Odense st — Arrival 21:12, Departure 21:14, boarding only
- Kolding st — Arrival 21:58, Departure 22:00, boarding only
- Padborg st — Arrival 22:50, Departure 23:05
- Hamburg Hbf — Arrival 01:02, Departure 01:17
- Frankfurt (Main) Süd — Arrival 06:32, Departure 06:34, alighting only
- Mannheim Hbf — Arrival 07:52, Departure 07:58, alighting only
- Karlsruhe Hbf — Arrival 08:38, Departure 08:46, alighting only
- Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf — Arrival 10:37, Departure 10:39, alighting only
- Basel Bad Bf — Arrival 11:16
- Basel SBB — Arrival 11:30
Is catering available?
Yes. A bistro car will operate between Basel and Padborg.
Can bicycles be taken onboard?
Currently not. Due to operational reasons, bicycle transport is not planned – more on that in this interview (German).
What facilities are available on board?
The train offers sleeping, couchette, and seated cars with around 350 places in total. There’s also a barrier-free compartment and a bistro. The sleeper cars feature classic compartments with up to three beds and a washbasin, while the couchette cars offer 4- and 6-berth compartments. Toilets and showers will be available in the waggons.
It’s now confirmed: the sleeper car will also include a wood-paneled suite with two double beds. You read that right – it even has a private shower and toilet. Note: there are at most two of these suites on the entire train, and early data show they’re very popular.
Background: The train is operated as a cooperation between SBB and RDC Deutschland (with ÖBB not involved this time). RDC already provides the rolling stock for the Zurich–Amsterdam and Basel–Amsterdam night trains – some of this equipment will now be used on the new Scandinavian route.
How frequently will the train run?
Three times per week: from Basel on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 17:35, arriving in Malmö the next morning at 09:35. In the opposite direction, it departs Malmö on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 18:57, arriving in Basel the next day at 11:30.
When and where can tickets be purchased?
Ticket sales open on November 4, 2025 – about half a year before the first journey. Tickets will be available via SBB Mobile, sbb.ch, or at SBB travel centers (and soon also via nightride.com).
How much will the tickets cost?
It’s now clear how much the trip to or from Malmö will cost. Seats in the seated car start at about €50, couchette places from around €100. The cheapest sleeper compartments with a washbasin range (with the lowest ticket flexibility) between €150 and €350. Interestingly, the suite can sometimes even be cheaper.
How long will the night train to Malmö operate?
Heretical question, yes. But it's a valid one, because the service is financially supported by the Swiss government under the CO₂ Act, with funding planned at least until 2030. So, the train should run for at least five years – provided Parliament approves the budget. Otherwise, the project could still be at risk.