In Europe, railway companies assign trains to different categories or train types depending on their role, i.e. based on the used rolling stock, their speed (high-speed, higher-speed, conventional), distance of travel (long, medium, short), stopping frequency (Inter-city, limited express, express, limited-stop, regional, commuter) and other criteria. Train categories/types often have specific abbreviations (e.g. IC). In addition, different lines or individual trains may be numbered. The abbreviations (and numbers) are usually indicated in timetables, passenger information systems and sometimes also on the destination sign of the train. Some services/trains are named. There is no common classification scheme throughout Europe; each country has its own, although categories of internationally operating trains are used across borders (e.g. EC).
A train type is not essentially a trademark name. However, there are trademark names that are also used as train types, such as the VogtlandExpress (VX) or the former CityNightLine (CNL) and Cisalpino (CIS).
This article lists European countries with their respective passenger train categories. Goods trains have their own train types and are not considered here. Passenger trains may be broadly split into long-distance and local trains; the latter having average journey times of under an hour and a range of less than . Often, long-distance trains require different tickets and/or seat reservation.
International trains are commonly classified as EuroCity (EC), while domestic Inter-city rail services frequently run as InterCity (IC). Most night trains operate under the EuroNight (EN) or Nightjet (NJ) category.
Exceptionally, trains are neither publicly classified nor numberered in the United Kingdom, but rather the brand of the operating company is used. In Russia, trains are only numbered and the number's digits defines the train's category.
European long-distance and high-speed rail brands
NameAbbreviationServiceRegion Alvia High-speed rail Spain Alfa Pendular AP High-speed rail Portugal Alta Velocidad Española AVE High-speed rail Spain Avant High-speed rail Spain Avlo High-speed rail Spain Asimenio Velos High-speed rail Greece CrossCountry XC High-speed rail United Kingdom EuroCity EC Long-distance train Various European countries EuroCity-Express ECE Long-distance train Germany–Italy–Switzerland (Only called ECE in Germany, EC in Italy and Switzerland) Euromed High-speed rail Spain EuroNight EN Long-distance night train Various European countries Eurostar EST High-speed rail United Kingdom–France, United Kingdom–Belgium–The Netherlands, France–Belgium–Germany, France-Belgium-The Netherlands Express InterCity Premium EIP High-speed rail Poland Frecce FR, FA, FB High-speed rail Italy, Italy–France Italo NTV High-speed rail Italy Intercity Direct ICD High-speed rail Netherlands, Netherlands–Belgium Intercity-Express ICE High-speed rail Germany, Austria, Germany–Netherlands, Germany–Switzerland, Germany–Austria, Germany–France, Germany–Denmark, Germany–Belgium InterCity Great Western,InterCity East Coast,InterCity West Coast GW, GR, VT High-speed rail United KingdomNightjetNJLong-distance night trainVarious European countries Railjet RJ High-speed rail Austria, Austria–Hungary, Austria–Germany, Austria–Switzerland, Austria–Czech Republic, Czech Republic, Czech Republic–Germany, Czech Republic–Germany–Denmark Railjet xpress RJX High-speed rail Austria, Austria–Switzerland, Austria–Slovakia Southeastern Highspeed SC High-speed rail United Kingdom Train à Grande Vitesse TGV High-speed rail France, France–Switzerland, France–Germany, France–Italy, France–Luxembourg, France–Belgium, France–Spain Venice Simplon-Orient-Express VSOE Luxury train Different routes X 2000 X2 High-speed rail Sweden, Sweden–Denmark
Former NameAbbreviationServiceRegionOperation Allegro AE High-speed rail Finland, Russia 2010–2022 Cisalpino CIS High-speed rail Italy, Germany, Switzerland 1993–2009 CityNightLine CNL Overnight train Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland and the Czech Republic 1995–2016Intercity Tilting TrainICNHigh-speed tilting train, runs under the IC category since 2018Switzerland 2000–2017 Orient Express Luxury train Different routes (Paris–Istanbul) 1883–2009 Trans Europ Express TEE Express train Mainly western Europe 1957–1995 Trenhotel TH Long-distance train Spain, Spain–Portugal, Spain–France, Spain–Switzerland, Spain–Italy 1991–2020
Austria
The table below summarizes train categories in Austria: Name Abbreviation Role Railjet & Railjet Express RJ & RJX Long-distance (), high-speed rail services, national and international to Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and Switzerland. Uses push-pull train sets. Intercity-Express ICE Long-distance (), high-speed rail service to Germany. Eurocity EC Long-distance () to international destinations. Intercity IC Long-distance () D-Zug D Long-distance () Nightjet NJ Long-distance (), mainly international overnight passenger train services.EuronightENInterregioIRLong-distance (Fernverkehr) that also stops at smaller stations.Cityjet ExpressCJX#Local train (Nahverkehr) that stops only at larger stations. Lines are numbered. Regional-Express REX Local train (Nahverkehr) that stops only at larger stations, but at more than CJX. Some lines are numbered. Regionalzug R Regional train services () that usually stops at all stations. S-Bahn S# Local train in urban, suburban and regional transport (). S-Bahn networks exist in Carinthia, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, and Vienna. Lines are numbered. U# Rapid transit in Vienna. A small underground funicular is present in the car-free Tyrolean town of Serfaus. Lines are numbered. There are also international Long-distance (Fernverkehr) services in cooperation with international federal operators.
Private operators Name Abbreviation Role Westbahn WB Long-distance (Fernverkehr) between Vienna and Salzburg, some trains continue to Munich (- Stuttgart) / Innsbruck (- Lindau) / Saalfelden (from 14 December 2025)
Belgium
In Belgium, the following train categories exist: Name Abbreviation Role Eurostar and usually accept the same tickets EUR High-speed trains to Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (operated by SNCF, SNCB/NMBS and Eurostar UK Ltd.). EuroCity EC International train meeting certain quality criteria. Train à grande vitesse TGV High-speed trains to France (operated by SNCF). Intercity Express ICE High-speed trains to Germany (operated by DB) International train INT Regular international train. InterCity IC A train connecting Belgium's major cities. These trains stop at the most important stations only, sometimes crossing national borders as well. Rush-hour train P Additional scheduled train service that is limited to times at which the demand for a certain route is at its highest. The number of stops varies between trains. Local train L Local trains usually connect larger cities, but will stop at (nearly) every station along the way. Similar to German . S-trains S# Suburban train connecting towns and cities around Belgium's major cities of Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Ghent and Liege. Stops at (nearly) every station. Each line will have a number (S1–S20 + S81 for Brussels, S1 + S32–S34 for Antwerp, S41–S44 for Liege, S51–S53 for Ghent, and S61–S64 for Charleroi). Tourist train T Additional scheduled train service that is limited to times at which the demand for a certain touristic destination is at its highest. The number of stops varies between trains. Extra train EXT Additional train service, used in case of exceptionally good weather to accommodate more passengers on routes to the coast or in case of special events such as concerts. European Sleeper Couchette train to the Netherlands, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Bulgaria
Train categories in Bulgaria use the simplified model of the previous century. At the beginning of rail transport in Bulgaria there were only three categories of passenger trains: Бърз пътнически влак (БПВ) – Barz patnicheski vlak (Fast passenger train), the equivalent of the current Fast train; Обикновен пътнически влак (ОПВ) – Obiknoven patnicheski vlak (Regular passenger train), the equivalent of the current Passenger train and Смесен пътнически влак (СПВ) – Smesen patnicheski vlak, the equivalent of Mixed train. Using this basis BDŽ now provides extended variety of these simple categories.
ЕВ – Експресен влак [Ekspresen vlak] – Express train EV – Trains for medium and long distances, which stop only at the most major stations (in big cities or for a train connection). They provide higher comfort in the carriages and usually have catering and/or restaurant car. All the express trains used to have names (e.g. "Plovdiv Express", "Yantra Express", "Chaika Express", "Express Slanchev Bryag", "Diana Express" etc.) and sometimes unique livery, different from the other trains. There were also first-class-only trains (Express 100/101 "Plovdiv"). Because of an introduced regulation the average speed of the express trains to be at least 100 km/h, all the express trains became BVZR trains. Tariff: same as BVZR. Reservation: obligatory. Coaches: 1st class, 2nd class, restaurant car (or catering), sometimes luggage and/or mail car. Four of the express trains ("Shipka" and "Sinite kamani") used DMUs. Currently not in service. УБВ – Ускорен бърз влак [Uskoren barz vlak] – literally "Accelerated fast train" UBV – Trains for long distances, which stop only at one or two major stations in-between. They ran seasonally only between the capital and the seaside on Fridays and Sundays. For a short period of time this category was used as a synonym of BVZR trains. Tariff: same as BVZR. Reservation: obligatory. Coaches: 1st class, 2nd class, bistro car. Currently not in service. БВЗР – Бърз влак със задължителна резервация [Barz vlak sas zadalzhitelna rezervatsia] – Fast train with obligatory reservation (also seen as R-БВ or БВ-R) BVZR – Trains for medium and long distances, which stop only at major stations. Usually former Express trains. Their average speed is not more than 100 km/h. Some of these also have names, but with the word "express" removed. Tariff: The tariff for BVZR is the most expensive in Bulgaria. The price for 100 km in 2nd class is 8,70 BGN (4,45 EUR) and 10,90 BGN (5,57 EUR) in 1st class. Reservation costs 0,50 BGN (0,26 EUR). Some trains could be more expensive on partisular dates. Reservation: obligatory. Coaches: 1st class, 2nd class; in the past: restaurant or buffet car (or catering), sometimes luggage and/or mail car. МБВ – Международен бърз влак [Mezhdunaroden barz vlak] – International fast train MBV – International trains have different terms of service. There are regular, seasonal and extra MBV trains as well as trains for only international journeys and ones that could be used as regular BV trains in the country. Tariff: Internal: same as BV; international: according to the contracts with the other countries. Reservation: Internal: optional; international: obligatory. Coaches: international cars + cars for internal journeys (2nd class, sometimes 1st class, in the past: luggage and/or mail car). DMUs are also used between Bulgaria and Romania. БВ – Бърз влак [Barz vlak] – Fast train BV – Trains for medium and long distances, which stop only at major stations but more than express trains. Tariff: According to the tariff for BV the price for 100 km in 2nd class is 5.90 BGN (3.02 EUR) and 7.40 BGN (3.78 EUR) in 1st class. Reservation costs 0.50 BGN (0.26 EUR). Some trains could be more expensive on partisular dates. Reservation: optional. Coaches: 1st class, 2nd class; sleepers and couchette cars during the night; in the past: sometimes restaurant or buffet car, luggage and/or mail car. Sometimes EMUs or DMUs are also used. ПВ – Пътнически влак [Patnicheski vlak] – Passenger train PV – Trains for distances, longer than 100 km, which stop at every station.