The dream of a restored network of night trains across Europe is taking small but encouraging steps toward reality, but hurdles remain. Austria’s ÖBB has made a bold move, ordering a fleet of 33 new trains for its Nightjet service. Today, this announcement fuels optimism and possibility, as Europeans are once again sounding the alarm and calling for the return of continent-crossing night trains after the pandemic-induced lockdowns. But the reality on the ground is still very scant, especially in Western Europe, where night trains are still in short supply.
The European Commission has stressed an obligation for Europe-wide compatibility for night trains. This requirement holds great potential to improve efficiency and increase integration across international borders. The new night trains would give their travelers comfortable one and two person sleeping compartments. Double occupancy privacy This design particularly helps address the needs of travelers who desire more privacy while enjoying overnight travel. As you can imagine, the excitement around these developments is understandably high. Yet currently available night train options are often sold out months in advance, an indication of the high demand that is currently going unmet.
In recent years, environmental factors have added fuel to the fire of interest in night trains. And with more people searching for alternatives to flying as a greener way to travel, long-distance train travel is finally getting its due as a more sustainable option. There’s no doubt that the push for environmentally friendly transportation alternatives is a strong wave. It aligns with climate action efforts to reduce carbon footprints and promote sustainable travel behaviors.
Still, the night train market is not without its difficulties. Major rail operators such as France’s SNCF, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, and Spain’s Renfe show little interest in expanding their night train services. This reluctance fuels fears that the night train initiative could end up as little more than a disappointing Hoffnung. A host of operational challenges have conspired thus far to prevent UK passengers from using night trains through the Channel Tunnel.
Nox, a private Berlin-based startup, is positioned to capitalize on that opportunity. They have very recently announced, specifically night train sector. By introducing innovative services and potentially new routes, Nox aims to attract a new generation of travelers to overnight train journeys. How European Sleeper was founded European Sleeper began operations in the fall of 2021. It connects Brussels three times a week through Amsterdam, Berlin and finally to Prague. Today it’s dependent on a hodgepodge of in-need-of-repair, aging carriages. These legacy options simply don’t cut it for today’s travelers.
Fortunately, there’s a lot of efforts to tackle these shortcomings which prevent international trains from working. We are encouraged to see that Brussels is already taking steps to harmonize diverging national regulations that make cross-border train services a headache. These regulatory hurdles need to be addressed in order to ensure that any new night train services will be able to move seamlessly across borders.
Specifically, pilot services for new night trains should begin in 2027. We hope to have full regular operations by the end of this decade. Change is already in the works! It’ll still be a few more years before we see the full benefits of a connected network of night trains, though. Yet the ultimate success of these initiatives will surely depend on the work and coordination among a broad range of actors from across Europe.