Acitivities

The network brings partners together through conferences, thematic workshops and partner meetings focused on international rail tourism. Partners take part in ex-pert exchanges and joint discussions that shape shared priorities and future initiatives.

Photo: Lukas Bukoven

How the Partnership works

The Partnership for International Train Tourism brings together public and private stakeholders across rail, tourism and cities to promote sustainable cross-border travel. Activities range from communication and marketing initiatives that highlight the benefits of train travel, to joint campaigns and destination promotion aimed at increasing demand.

The partnership also plays an active role in building a shared knowledge base, including data, analysis and insights to support a fact-based public debate. Through collaboration, advocacy and regular meetings, partners work together to address sector challenges, strengthen the industry narrative and support the development of future rail connections.

Key activities include:

Communication and awareness-raising on the benefits of train travel
Joint marketing and destination promotion initiatives
Data collection and knowledge sharing to support a fact-based agenda
Stakeholder collaboration and regular partnership meetings
Stakeholder engagement in the public and political debate
Development of campaigns, projects and new initiatives across markets

Shaping of the Partnership | Conference 17 Nov 2026

The Partnership Conference on 17 November 2026 will bring together leading cities, destinations, rail operators, policymakers and tourism stakeholders from across Northern Europe to shape the future of international rail tourism.

More than a traditional industry conference, the event is designed as a collaborative forum for organisations that want to play an active role in making international rail travel a more attractive, visible and competitive travel option across Europe. Through keynote presentations, discussions and interactive workshops, participants will help define shared priorities, identify opportunities for joint action and contribute to the future direction of the partnership.

Building on the momentum from the partnership’s first online gathering, the conference will focus on demand creation, destination branding and knowledge sharing, while creating valuable opportunities to connect with key decision-makers and practitioners from across the rail, tourism and public sectors.

Partnership Gathering and Networking | 16 Nov 2026
Ahead of the conference, partners are invited to gather in Copenhagen for an afternoon and evening dedicated to networking and relationship-building. The programme includes a partner site visit followed by a hosted dinner, providing an informal setting for participants to connect, exchange perspectives and strengthen collaboration across the partnership. The event offers an opportunity to build momentum for the discussions and activities taking place at the conference the following day.

Photo: Comwell Copenhagen konference

CopenPay

CopenPay rewards visitors who make responsible travel choices, including travelling to Copenhagen by train. The initiative adds value to the visitor experience while supporting Copenhagen’s ambition to promote more sustainable tourism.

Germany is the campaign’s primary market, building on strong awareness of Copenhagen created through previous campaigns and partnerships with DSB and Deutsche Bahn. This provides a solid foundation for encouraging both visits to Copenhagen and the choice of train travel. By focusing on one core market, the campaign can achieve greater visibility and impact.

Photo: COPENPAY

Online Partner Gathering | 2 June 2026

More than 40 partners from across Northern Europe joined the first online gathering of the Partnership for International Rail Tourism on 2 June 2026. The meeting featured insights from representatives of DSB, Deutsche Bahn, the City of Amsterdam and NOX Mobility on customer demand, international rail development, the role of cities and the future of night trains.

Participants also received an update on the emerging direction of the partnership, including its role, ambitions and potential areas of focus. The discussion highlighted both the growing potential of international rail tourism and the need for stronger cooperation across operators, destinations and public authorities.

Partners identified three key priorities for the partnership over the coming years:

- Demand creation for international rail
- Destination branding and joint promotion
- The development of a strong knowledge-sharing community.

These priorities will help shape the partnership’s future activities, including the conference in Copenhagen on 17 November 2026.