Coronavirus Train Disruptions - Western Europe
The second (or is it third) coming of Covid hasn't thrown the trains as badly as the first wave did. However, in England a new strain of Covid has emerged, grinding Eurostar to a halt.
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Great Britain - Coronavirus train travel
Face masks are now mandatory on trains in the whole of the UK. Social distancing distance is 1 metre. Fine for not wearing a mask: up to 6,400 GBP
GB border status
Here you can see which borders you can cross by train. Restrictions apply. Be sure to check these.
Britain is in lockdown. Much is closed again, and this is likely to affect train services. Recently they invented a new, stricter tier for London and the south east.
The British variant of Covid means Britain is top of most other countries' risk lists.
Eurostar
Face-masks are mandatory on Eurostar trains and at Eurostar stations. You won't be let onto the train without something covering your nose and mouth.
- There is one daily Eurostar to Brussels and Amsterdam
- There is one daily Eurostar to Paris
Before arriving in the UK you need to complete the passenger locator form. Here is the link to this British government form:
Returning to England from France, Belgium or the Netherlands, you have to self-isolate for 10 days.
National Services
All franchises have been scrapped, putting the railways under state control.
- Almost all trains are running normally.
- According to National Rail, during peak times more trains are running, to aid social distancing... somehow I doubt that there is much wriggle room for this, but anyway.
Updated: 9th February. Outlook: getting worse
The Netherlands - coronavirus train travel
Face-masks (mondkapjes) are mandatory on all Dutch trains. Social distancing distance is 1.5 metres.
Netherlands border situation
- Germany
- Belgium
- France
- England
International services
Thalys has already laid waste to its timetables.
IC Brussel is running to its normal schedule.
ICEs to Germany are all running to their normal schedule.
The IC to Berlin is running to its normal schedule.
On daily Eurostar to England.
Local cross border services
All local cross border services are running.
National Services
On 13th December the new timetable came into force, in the Netherlands as everywhere else. All trains are running. You are advised to
- Avoid crowds and the rush hour.
- wear your mondkapje on trains, at stations and on the platforms
Many thanks to Thierry and Gerben for writing in with all the details!
You can now register your trip in advance with the Treinwijzer. This helps you to see if your train is likely to be crowded. You can find out more about this here
Updated: 9th February. Outlook: getting worse
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Belgium - coronavirus train travel
Face-masks are mandatory on all trains. Social distancing distance: 1,5 m.
Belgium border situation
- The Netherlands
- France
- Luxembourg
- Germany
- England
Eurostar
Before arriving in the UK you need to complete the passenger locator form. Here is the link to this British government form:
There is one daily Eurostar to England
International services
If you travel to France, make sure you have this form on you.
- Thalys has reduced its service drastically
- ICEs to Germany are running to schedule.
- IC Brussel is running to schedule
- The Nightjet to Vienna is cancelled until spring
National Services
National services are suffering now. SNCB/NMBS have an app dedicated to helping you avoid crowded trains. Various services are reduced in frequency. Click here to have a look.
Here is SNCB/NMBS's corona page.
Updated: 9th February. Outlook: getting worse
France - coronavirus train travel
France has reintroduced a pretty strict lockdown, including curfews. You need a self-declaration with you in writing stating why you are out and about.
Face-masks are mandatory on all French public transport. Social distancing distance is 1 m.
France border situation
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Italy
- Spain
- England
International Services
- TGV and ICE services from Paris to Germany are drastically reduced
- TGV Lyria services to Switzerland are drastically reduced
- There is one daily Eurostar to London
- Here is the link to Eurostar's updates
- Thalys has drastically reduced services to Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne/Essen
- Here is the link to Thalys's timetable updates.
- The Paris-Moscow and Nice-Moscow trains remain cancelled.
- The Thello to Venice remains cancelled.
- Services to Spain continue to run.
National Services
All TGVs and Intercités are running. For TERs, check on SNCF.com after 17:00 for the next day.
If you train goes after 20:00 or before 06:00 you need a cast-iron excuse in writing. Telecharge your form here.
Here is SNCF's covid page. (French. English version is error 404)
Dining car services (such as they were) are all suspended.
RER and Transilien are running, mostly.
Check to see if your train is running up to 3 days in advance by visiting sncf.com and entering your train number.
Those French Covid protection measures in full
Ticket flexibility
Currently you can reserve an optional train and pay later, or change or cancel your tickets and reservations at your discretion. You can mess around with SNCF to your heart's content up until 7th March 2021, as long as you give them 3 days notice.
Those affected by OUIGO cancellations will get their money back automatically within three days.
TER tickets issued on paper can be returned to the SNCF boutiques up to 60 days after curfew has been lifted.
Updated: 9th February. Outlook: getting worse. Fine for not wearing a mask: €135 for first-time offenders.
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Sweden - coronavirus train travel
No face masks necessary, though they are recommended during rush hour. Social distancing distance is not defined.
Sweden border status
- Norway
- Finland
- Germany
- Denmark
Sweden has been getting lots of stick for its relatively low-key handling of the pandemic. Norway and Finland are watching their borders with Sweden closely.
My faithful reader Niklas has written in from Sweden. Thank you, Niklas, for sending me the Swedish situation.
International services
NO TRAINS to
Snälltåget have moved the start of their new Berlin service backwards to May.
There is an hourly service across the Öresund bridge. Denmark has closed its borders to all but Danish residents or people working in Denmark.
Norway quarantines ANYONE arriving in Norway for 14 days. All SJ trains to Norway remain cancelled.
National Services
The whole network is running, though SJ has reduced the frequency of its trains.
Here is SJ's covid page.
As of November 2020, SJ has limited seat reservations yet further, so that if you book a window seat, the aisle seat is definitely empty.
Certain local services are without reservations. Here is a list of trains expected to be crowded, so you can avoid them (or not).
MTRX's Stockholm-Göteborg service continues to run. MTRX guarantee all passengers an empty seat next to them to aid social distancing. MTRX also provide every passenger with a complementary mask.
Snälltåget is running most of its trains again, sells only window seats and offers private compartments. If you want to visit the pub (their restaurant car) you need to reserve in advance.
Ticket flexibility
All operators have relaxed their refund policies. Non-flexible tickets have been made more flexible.
MTRX and Snälltåget refund non-flexible tickets as vouchers.
Updated: 9th February. Outlook: stable
Norway 
Face-masks are not mandatory in Norway. They are only urged if you can't keep the social distancing distance, which is 1 m.
Kristian has written in with the details for Norway and helped me immensely by putting it all in one place for me. Tusen takk!
Norway is coming down hard on all people entering the country. It wants to become the New Zealand of Europe. You need to come to Norway with a fresh (negative) covid test. Anyone not resident then goes for a 10-day covid-sojourn at a government-stipulated hotel at their own expense (5000 NOK, c. €500).
International services
All international services are suspended.
National Services
Refund policies
Refund policies have been relaxed to a certain extent to allow extra flexibility.
Updated: 9th February. Outlook: getting worse
