Rail Europe reports growing demand ahead of the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics 

Rail Europe reports that it is seeing growing demand for rail travel across northern Italy as preparations gather pace for the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Milan continues to strengthen its position as the main international gateway, while cities such as Venice and Verona stand out as key rail destinations within Olympics-related itineraries.

Booking patterns point to strong demand on core high-speed routes including Milan–Venice and Milan–Verona, alongside steady cross-border flows into Milan from major European hubs such as Paris and Zurich.

These corridors consistently rank among the most frequently used international rail journeys for long-haul travellers planning multi-city trips across Europe.

Milan plays a central role in this travel landscape. For many visitors attending the Games, it is the closest major international air gateway. At the same time, it functions as a major rail hub linking northern Italy with France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

High-speed services make it possible to reach cities like Venice or Verona in under three hours, enabling efficient, rail-led itineraries that combine multiple host regions with cultural and leisure stops.

With Olympic venues spread across northern Italy, rail is expected to form the backbone of regional mobility throughout the Games. Organizers have highlighted rail enhancements as a core element of the official transport strategy for Milano–Cortina 2026, with additional capacity and extended schedules planned to support the movement of spectators and workforce between different clusters.

Rail also underpins access to Alpine regions hosting Olympic events. Areas such as Valtellina are served via Tirano, with rail connections from Milan as well as from Switzerland through the Chur–St. Moritz corridor. This reinforces the role of cross-border rail in winter sports travel, supported by recent infrastructure upgrades that have improved comfort and service frequency.

Verona, which will host the closing ceremony, is equally well integrated into the northern Italian rail network. Its connectivity allows travel professionals to combine Olympic attendance with cultural discovery across Veneto and the Alpine region, positioning rail as a practical alternative to point-to-point road travel.

For itineraries that include Cortina d’Ampezzo, rail journeys are typically combined with local onward transport from the nearest rail gateways, such as Calalzo di Cadore orDobbiaco. This approach keeps rail at the heart of the journey while accommodating last-mile requirements, with total travel times from Milan generally ranging from five to six and a half hours, depending on connections.

Björn Bender, CEO & Executive Chairman of Rail Europe, observed that: “Major international events put the spotlight on the need for reliable and seamless mobility. Rail plays a key role in connecting cities, regions and Alpine destinations across borders. As the Milano–Cortina Games approach, rail-led itineraries offer a flexible and efficient way to travel across northern Italy, supported by strong international links and a well-developed regional network.”

Photo credits

TOP —  Cortina d’Ampezzo by Ismail Rabbanii via Unsplash

MIDDLE — Cortina d’Ampezzo byBence Balla Schottner via Unsplash