International train routes of the world

131 cross-border trains, ranked by how many countries they pass through: the railways that stitch 62 countries together.

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Which trains actually cross borders, and which countries do they connect? This ranks every route in the atlas that passes through two or more countries. 131 of 1562 routes are international; together they touch 62 countries. Most cross a single border, 23 pass through three or more, and a rare few go further still.

Germany is Europe’s rail crossroads

Germany sits on 35 international routes, more than any other country, ahead of Austria (28) and France (24). Central Europe is where the cross-border network knots together, which is why one country can anchor so many journeys.

Only 1 train crosses 5 countries

In a single run, just 1 service touches 5 countries: the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. None in the atlas goes further: border formalities, gauge changes and franchising make longer international runs rare.

Night trains do the heavy lifting

Sleepers are the cross-border workhorse: 26 of the 131 international routes are night trains, far above their share of the atlas. The overnight hop from one capital to the next is the signature of the night-train revival.

The most internationally connected countries

Number of international routes that pass through each country: top 15, most connected first. The full ranking of all 131 routes is below.

Cross-border trains by type

High-speed: 16 routes
Classic: 71 routes
Night train: 26 routes
Scenic: 14 routes
Heritage: 1 route
Luxury: 3 routes

How we measured it

Each route lists the sovereign countries its line passes through, in travel order, from the atlas's open data; a route counts as international when it touches two or more. The ranking covers scheduled and named passenger services in the World Train Map atlas. Every number comes from the open World Train Map Atlas (CC BY 4.0, archived at DOI 10.5281/zenodo.21322030), free to check or reuse.

Every international route, ranked

#	Journey	Countries crossed	#
1	Venice Simplon-Orient-ExpressParis–Venice · luxury · 1,270 km	France → Switzerland → Liechtenstein → Austria → Italy	5
2	European SleeperBrussels–Prague · night train · 1,200 km	Belgium → Netherlands → Germany → Czechia	4
3	RailjetBudapest–Berlin · classic · 992 km	Hungary → Slovakia → Czechia → Germany	4
4	Arlberg RailwayZurich–Vienna · scenic · 811 km	Switzerland → Liechtenstein → Austria → Germany	4
5	NightjetVienna–Zurich · night train · 780 km	Austria → Germany → Liechtenstein → Switzerland	4
6	EurostarLondon–Amsterdam · high-speed · 585 km	United Kingdom → France → Belgium → Netherlands	4
7	Eastern & Oriental ExpressSingapore–Bangkok · luxury · 2,000 km	Singapore → Malaysia → Thailand	3
8	Rovos RailPretoria–Victoria Falls · luxury · 1,600 km	South Africa → Botswana → Zimbabwe	3
9	SnälltågetStockholm–Berlin · night train · 1,290 km	Sweden → Denmark → Germany	3
10	YantarMoscow–Kaliningrad · night train · 1,285 km	Russia → Belarus → Lithuania	3
11	EuroNightStockholm–Hamburg · night train · 1,150 km	Sweden → Denmark → Germany	3
12	European SleeperParis–Berlin · night train · 1,100 km	France → Belgium → Germany	3
13	Nightjet Munich–RomeMunich–Rome · night train · 1,100 km	Germany → Austria → Italy	3
14	EuroNight Praha–ZürichPrague–Zurich · night train · 1,050 km	Czechia → Germany → Switzerland	3
15	Nightjet Zurich–AmsterdamZurich–Amsterdam · night train · 840 km	Switzerland → Germany → Netherlands	3
16	Baku–Tbilisi–KarsBaku–Kars · classic · 826 km	Azerbaijan → Georgia → Türkiye	3
17	EC TransalpinZurich–Graz · scenic · 697 km	Switzerland → Liechtenstein → Austria	3
18	ChopinVienna–Warsaw · night train · 690 km	Austria → Czechia → Poland	3
19	Eurostar (Thalys)Paris–Amsterdam · high-speed · 524 km	France → Belgium → Netherlands	3
20	Brenner RailwayMunich–Verona · classic · 442 km	Germany → Austria → Italy	3
21	EurostarLondon–Brussels · high-speed · 373 km	United Kingdom → France → Belgium	3
22	EuroCity Zürich–MünchenZurich–Munich · classic · 332 km	Switzerland → Austria → Germany	3
23	Riviera LineNice–Ventimiglia · classic · 34 km	France → Monaco → Italy	3
24	Hong Kong–Beijing High-Speed SleeperHong Kong–Beijing · night train · 2,439 km	Hong Kong → China	2
25	TAZARADar es Salaam–Kapiri Mposhi · classic · 1,860 km	Tanzania → Zambia	2
26	Trans-MongolianUlaanbaatar–Beijing · night train · 1,553 km	Mongolia → China	2
27	Arctic Circle TrainStockholm–Narvik · night train · 1,470 km	Sweden → Norway	2
28	Nightjet Vienna–RomeVienna–Rome · night train · 1,180 km	Austria → Italy	2
29	NightjetHamburg–Vienna · night train · 1,100 km	Germany → Austria	2
30	TGV inOuiParis–Barcelona · high-speed · 1,073 km	France → Spain	2
31	Laos–China RailwayKunming–Vientiane · classic · 1,035 km	China → Laos	2
32	Almaty–Tashkent TalgoAlmaty–Tashkent · night train · 1,000 km	Kazakhstan → Uzbekistan	2
33	Maple LeafNew York–Toronto · classic · 875 km	United States → Canada	2
34	EN IsterBudapest–Bucharest · night train · 874 km	Hungary → Romania	2
35	EC WawelBerlin–Przemyśl · classic · 864 km	Germany → Poland	2
36	Frecciarossa Paris–MilanParis–Milan · high-speed · 856 km	France → Italy	2
37	ICEBerlin–Basel · high-speed · 843 km	Germany → Switzerland	2
38	Kyiv–Warsaw SleeperKyiv–Warsaw · night train · 780 km	Ukraine → Poland	2
39	Addis–Djibouti RailwayAddis Ababa–Djibouti · classic · 756 km	Ethiopia → Djibouti	2
40	Amtrak CascadesVancouver–Eugene · classic · 752 km	Canada → United States	2
41	EN Slovakia / ChopinPrague–Warsaw · night train · 747 km	Czechia → Poland	2
42	Intercity+Kyiv–Przemyśl · classic · 719 km	Ukraine → Poland	2
43	RegioJet Night TrainPrague–Košice · night train · 700 km	Czechia → Slovakia	2
44	Railjet Vienna–BregenzVienna–Bregenz · classic · 680 km	Austria → Germany	2
45	Bangkok–Vientiane ExpressBangkok–Vientiane · night train · 647 km	Thailand → Laos	2
46	ICE InternationalBerlin–Amsterdam · high-speed · 641 km	Germany → Netherlands	2
47	LTG LinkVilnius–Warsaw · classic · 620 km	Lithuania → Poland	2
48	AdirondackNew York–Montréal · classic · 613 km	United States → Canada	2
49	Railjet Wien–VeneziaVienna–Venice · classic · 612 km	Austria → Italy	2
50	PrieteniaChișinău–Bucharest · night train · 592 km	Moldova → Romania	2
51	TGV LyriaParis–Zürich · high-speed · 590 km	France → Switzerland	2
52	Bosfor ExpressIstanbul–Sofia · night train · 585 km	Türkiye → Bulgaria	2
53	TGV / ICEParis–Frankfurt · high-speed · 573 km	France → Germany	2
54	Berlin-Warszawa-ExpressBerlin–Warsaw · classic · 570 km	Germany → Poland	2
55	Oslo–StockholmOslo–Stockholm · classic · 562 km	Norway → Sweden	2
56	Baku–Tbilisi Night TrainBaku–Tbilisi · night train · 551 km	Azerbaijan → Georgia	2
57	Bucharest–SofiaBucharest–Sofia · classic · 527 km	Romania → Bulgaria	2
58	TGV LyriaParis–Geneva · high-speed · 500 km	France → Switzerland	2
59	EurostarLondon–Paris · high-speed · 492 km	United Kingdom → France	2
60	Belgrade–Bar RailwayBelgrade–Bar · scenic · 476 km	Serbia → Montenegro	2
61	RailjetMunich–Vienna · high-speed · 460 km	Germany → Austria	2
62	ICE InternationalAmsterdam–Frankfurt · high-speed · 440 km	Netherlands → Germany	2
63	alex München–PrahaMunich–Prague · classic · 430 km	Germany → Czechia	2
64	EC Wien–LjubljanaVienna–Ljubljana · classic · 428 km	Austria → Slovenia	2
65	RailjetPrague–Vienna · classic · 404 km	Czechia → Austria	2
66	Nanning–Hanoi InternationalNanning–Hanoi · night train · 396 km	China → Vietnam	2
67	TGV Paris–LuxembourgParis–Luxembourg · high-speed · 385 km	France → Luxembourg	2
68	Yerevan–Tbilisi Night TrainYerevan–Tbilisi · night train · 370 km	Armenia → Georgia	2
69	LTG LinkVilnius–Riga · classic · 360 km	Lithuania → Latvia	2
70	Tunis–AnnabaTunis–Annaba · classic · 357 km	Tunisia → Algeria	2
71	EuroCity Via RegiaLeipzig–Wrocław · classic · 352 km	Germany → Poland	2
72	Oslo–GöteborgOslo–Gothenburg · classic · 350 km	Norway → Sweden	2
73	EuroCity Budapest–ZagrebBudapest–Zagreb · classic · 340 km	Hungary → Croatia	2
74	ÖresundstågGothenburg–Copenhagen · classic · 336 km	Sweden → Denmark	2
75	Gotthard ExpressZurich–Milan · classic · 280 km	Switzerland → Italy	2
76	EC HornádBudapest–Košice · classic · 270 km	Hungary → Slovakia	2
77	RailjetVienna–Budapest · classic · 243 km	Austria → Hungary	2
78	Gäubahn ICZurich–Stuttgart · classic · 240 km	Switzerland → Germany	2
79	IntercityBrussels–Luxembourg · classic · 219 km	Belgium → Luxembourg	2
80	EuroCity Hungaria corridorBratislava–Budapest · classic · 214 km	Slovakia → Hungary	2
81	ICEBrussels–Cologne · high-speed · 210 km	Belgium → Germany	2
82	Sarajevo–Ploče lineSarajevo–Ploče · scenic · 194 km	Bosnia and Herzegovina → Croatia	2
83	Railjet · Deutsches EckInnsbruck–Salzburg · classic · 190 km	Austria → Germany	2
84	Koleje Dolnośląskie D25Forst (Lausitz)–Wrocław · classic · 189 km	Germany → Poland	2
85	EnterpriseDublin–Belfast · classic · 181 km	Ireland → United Kingdom	2
86	CeltaPorto–Vigo · classic · 180 km	Portugal → Spain	2
87	München–InnsbruckMunich–Innsbruck · classic · 172 km	Germany → Austria	2
88	ViviRiga–Valga · classic · 170 km	Latvia → Estonia	2
89	MittenwaldbahnMunich–Innsbruck · scenic · 165 km	Germany → Austria	2
90	Franz-Josefs-BahnVienna–České Velenice · classic · 163 km	Austria → Czechia	2
91	Rodalies R3Barcelona–Latour-de-Carol · scenic · 160 km	Spain → France	2
92	RE 11 MoselLuxembourg–Koblenz · classic · 159 km	Luxembourg → Germany	2
93	IntercityLuxembourg–Liège · scenic · 156 km	Luxembourg → Belgium	2
94	IntercityNamur–Lille · classic · 149 km	Belgium → France	2
95	Comboio RaianoAbrantes–Badajoz · classic · 146 km	Portugal → Spain	2
96	Bernina ExpressChur–Tirano · scenic · 144 km	Switzerland → Italy	2
97	Guangzhou–Hong Kong XRLGuangzhou–Hong Kong · high-speed · 142 km	China → Hong Kong	2
98	EuroCity “Sava”Zagreb–Ljubljana · classic · 141 km	Croatia → Slovenia	2
99	Wrocław–Międzylesie railwayLichkov–Wrocław · classic · 138 km	Poland → Czechia	2
100	RE 2 Liberec–DresdenLiberec–Dresden · classic · 131 km	Czechia → Germany	2
101	Chișinău–Iași Cross-BorderChișinău–Iași · classic · 130 km	Moldova → Romania	2
102	SummerauerbahnČeské Budějovice–Linz · classic · 125 km	Czechia → Austria	2
103	TER Nancy–LuxembourgNancy–Luxembourg · classic · 119 km	France → Luxembourg	2
104	White Pass & Yukon RouteSkagway–Carcross · heritage · 109 km	United States → Canada	2
105	PustertalbahnFortezza–Lienz · scenic · 105 km	Italy → Austria	2
106	MeråkerbanenTrondheim–Storlien · classic · 103 km	Norway → Sweden	2
107	R ZakarpatiaChop–Košice · classic · 103 km	Ukraine → Slovakia	2
108	Ferrovia delle MeraviglieCuneo–Ventimiglia · scenic · 96 km	Italy → France	2
109	Carinthian LineBleiburg–Maribor · scenic · 87 km	Austria → Slovenia	2
110	Ligne des HorlogersBesançon–La Chaux-de-Fonds · classic · 85 km	France → Switzerland	2
111	RB 1 Zwickau–KrasliceZwickau–Kraslice · classic · 73 km	Germany → Czechia	2
112	REX Wien–SopronVienna–Sopron · classic · 73 km	Austria → Hungary	2
113	Oradea–Püspökladány railwayOradea–Püspökladány · classic · 68 km	Romania → Hungary	2
114	VorarlbergbahnLindau–Bludenz · classic · 67 km	Germany → Austria	2
115	Usedomer BäderbahnZüssow–Świnoujście · classic · 66 km	Germany → Poland	2
116	REX Wien–BratislavaVienna–Bratislava · classic · 65 km	Austria → Slovakia	2
117	InnkreisbahnSimbach am Inn–Neumarkt-Kallham · classic · 60 km	Germany → Austria	2
118	Eurotunnel Le ShuttleFolkestone–Calais · classic · 58 km	United Kingdom → France	2
119	Mont-Blanc ExpressSaint-Gervais–Martigny · scenic · 55 km	France → Switzerland	2
120	Centovalli RailwayDomodossola–Locarno · scenic · 52 km	Italy → Switzerland	2
121	Janakpur RailwayJaynagar–Bijalpura · classic · 52 km	India → Nepal	2
122	Neuchâtel–Pontarlier railwayPontarlier–Neuchâtel · classic · 52 km	France → Switzerland	2
123	Békéscsaba–Salonta railwayBékéscsaba–Salonta · classic · 49 km	Hungary → Romania	2
124	Neusiedler SeebahnNeusiedl am See–Fertőszentmiklós · classic · 49 km	Austria → Hungary	2
125	Brig–Domodossola railwayDomodossola–Brig · classic · 41 km	Italy → Switzerland	2
126	Delémont–Delle railwayDelle–Delémont · classic · 40 km	France → Switzerland	2
127	Maubeuge–Charleroi railwayMaubeuge–Charleroi · classic · 40 km	France → Belgium	2
128	Cadenazzo–Luino railwayCadenazzo–Luino · scenic · 31 km	Switzerland → Italy	2
129	Liège–Maastricht railwayLiège–Maastricht · classic · 31 km	Belgium → Netherlands	2
130	TERLuxembourg–Longwy · classic · 28 km	Luxembourg → France	2
131	Ormož–Čakovec LineOrmož–Čakovec · classic · 20 km	Slovenia → Croatia	2

10 of 131

Which country has the most international train routes?

Germany, on 35 cross-border routes, more than any other country, ahead of Austria with 28 and France with 24. Central Europe is where the cross-border network knots together, so one country ends up anchoring a large share of the journeys.

What is the most countries a single train crosses?

5, and only 1 service does it: the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. No train in this atlas goes further in one run: border formalities, gauge changes and franchising all make longer international workings rare.

How many international train routes are there?

131 cross-border passenger routes in this atlas, linking 62 countries, of which 23 touch three countries or more. The count covers named services you can ride end to end, not every railway that happens to cross a border.

Are most international trains night trains?

A strikingly high share of them: 26 of the 131 cross-border routes are sleepers, far above night trains' share of the atlas overall. An overnight hop between two capitals is the signature of the current night-train revival.