The night train from Schwerin (featured above) survived for decades, as indeed have many other rail services across Europe. Why change schedules if they are fit-for-purpose?

But sometimes there are sound commercial or operational reasons for recasting schedules, and on 9 December this year rail operators will introduce new timetables on many routes. Agreeing a single date for the changeover makes sense on a continent where many journeys are international and operators need to coordinate connections between their services.

Among the new travel opportunities that will start in December are a new direct link from Strasbourg to Moscow, a new direct daytime TGV from Switzerland to Spain (replacing the existing Elipsos overnight service) and a reinstated overnight train from Paris to Rome (operated by Thello).