The Rise of Night Trains: A Game-Changer for Air Travel?

Night trains are experiencing a revival throughout Europe, marking a departure from their decline over the past few decades. This resurgence offers hope for more environmentally friendly options for traveling across the continent, as individuals seek alternatives to air travel.

There is a unique charm associated with overnight train journeys. The anticipation that builds before an evening departure, the thrill of embarking on an adventure, and the vibrant mix of international travelers all contribute to the enchantment of these rides. They embody a timeless cultural appeal that has inspired works of art like "Murder on the Orient Express" and "From Russia With Love," as well as legendary songs by iconic artists such as James Brown, David Bowie, and Ray Charles.

The journey itself is another aspect to consider. Going to sleep in a bustling city and waking up in a different city, or even a different country, can result in unforgettable memories. This is the idea behind the new trend of night trains, which are being embraced as a potential alternative to short or medium-haul flights within Europe and the US.

So hows that going?

Even before their renaissance, night trains could be a pleasant, memorable and sometimes economic way to cover long distances - but luck has always been a big factor.

Fares, when at their prime, can offer great affordability, encompassing the expense of overnight accommodation along with extensive travel distances. However, on frequently traveled routes, prices swiftly escalate, making them unaffordable for the majority of travelers.

Night trains, irrespective of their location, are intricate, demanding in terms of labor, and carry substantial operational costs. These factors played a significant role in their initial decline.

Delays often extend into hours instead of minutes due to overnight diversions, resulting in varying levels of accommodation quality, ranging from contemporary and comfortable to rudimentary and outdated. Furthermore, the excitement quickly diminishes if one attempts to rest in a coach occupied by energetic teenagers or a group of partygoers. Nobody desires to arrive in a new city at 7 a.m. feeling as if they've spent the night on a park bench.

Accommodation on board night trains is being upgraded.

Christian Charisius/dpa/picture alliance/Getty Images

The comeback trail

Their recent revival, particularly in mainland Europe, is attributed as much to increasing environmental concerns as it is to the influence of Agatha Christie or James Bond.

Originating from Scandinavia, the flygskam (flight shame) trend is rapidly gaining traction, urging eco-conscious travelers to explore alternatives to short-distance air travel.

Long-distance travel between major cities is experiencing a resurgence after the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in places with well-established rail connections. For extended journeys, overnight trains are emerging as a favorable option compared to early morning flights, offering a more pleasant experience.

Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has led the way with their highly regarded "Nightjet" network, revitalizing and expanding overnight connections among major European cities. This marks a significant reversal, as these services had been on a decline for several decades.

Revolutionizing European train travel, December will mark the introduction of luxurious new trains between Vienna and Hamburg. These 33 state-of-the-art trains come equipped with comfortable sleeper cabins, offering a discreet "pod" option for solo travelers instead of the conventional shared couchette cabins. Furthermore, all cabins are fully accessible, making these trains a highly noticeable symbol of the return of night rail trips.

Rail travel expert Mark Smith, the operator of the popular website The Man in Seat 61, expresses his admiration for these new advancements. According to him, the new trains are incredibly elegant. In his opinion, ÖBB has struck the right balance by providing a shower and toilet in each individual or double-bed cabin, while also offering budget-friendly beds in small cabins where passengers no longer have to share their space with unfamiliar individuals.

Smith believes that the introduction of mini-cabins, which resemble Japanese-style capsule hotels on trains, is the most significant innovation. He predicts that these accommodations will be immensely popular among environmentally conscious young travelers.

ÖBB has partnered with Swiss Federal Railways and Germany's Deutsche Bahn to revitalize overnight routes that connect major hubs in Vienna and Zürich with cities in Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and, more recently, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. This achievement has inspired other countries, particularly France, Italy, and Sweden, to reconsider their overnight operations, revive discontinued routes, and even suggest new carriages to enhance their services.

Trenitalia, the Italian State Railways, recently announced its intention to purchase 70 new carriages for night trains. These carriages will offer passengers high-quality cabins with en suite toilet and shower facilities, including some cabins with double beds.

The initial deployment of these new carriages will be on the Milan to Sicily long-distance route, which is notable for crossing the Strait of Messina on the only remaining passenger train ferry in Europe. This purchase, valued at $770 million, has the potential to eventually update Italy's entire overnight train fleet with up to 370 new carriages.

In the United States, Amtrak, the national passenger operator, has initiated the replacement of over 800 veteran "Superliner" and "Amfleet" cars across 14 overnight routes, which include renowned routes such as the California Zephyr and Coast Starlight.

A passenger heads to her cabin on the Good Night Train service, operated by European Sleeper, as it departs Amsterdam. The outcome of a new, budget-friendly night train service from Brussels to Berlin could establish a standard for future startup routes.

Bumpy journeys

In Europe, the market has attracted the interest of various private startups, each offering unique advantages such as new routes, affordable fares, or enhanced accommodations tailored to specific segments of the travel industry.

Currently, only a few have succeeded in establishing rail connections. Sweden's Snälltåget connects Stockholm with Denmark and Germany, and Czech travel provider Regiojet operates a limited number of overnight routes, including seasonal international trains from Prague to Croatia's Adriatic coast.

A new and ambitious contender is European Sleeper, which launched its Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin route in May 2023. This route offers convenient links with Eurostar for travelers going to or coming from London.

European Sleepers' struggles in finding a suitable train and schedule serves as a cautionary tale for other open-access operators looking to capitalize on the growing interest in overnight travel. Initially set to commence in 2022, their launch faced setbacks due to a severe shortage of operational coaches.

Italy introduces specialized tourist trains and cruise rail routes.

ES successfully assembled a collection of coaches from the 1970s, including seated coaches, couchettes, and a celebrated sleeping car from the 1950s that was originally built for the renowned Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits (CIWL), the former operator of the iconic Orient Express. This collection is sufficient to operate one train, which currently runs three times a week on alternate days in each direction. The goal is to increase the frequency to daily operations once additional rolling stock becomes available.

Originally, ES had plans to expand its service beyond Berlin to popular tourist destinations such as Dresden in eastern Germany and the capital city of Czech Republic, Prague. However, due to a lack of suitable train paths (specific timetabled slots) this expansion will not be possible until March 2024. This has been a source of frustration for everyone involved, as the trains often sell out weeks in advance and the demand exceeds the available supply on this route, which appeals to both backpackers and business travelers.

ES has plans to introduce a new route annually, including Brussels-Copenhagen-Stockholm and Brussels-Barcelona. However, the task of obtaining approved rolling stock for France and Spain, as well as navigating through France, poses significant challenges. Rail expert Smith acknowledges the considerable effort in establishing new sleeper trains but cites ÖBB and emerging companies like European Sleeper as examples of successful accomplishments.

Midnight Trains, a French aspirant, aims to make a mark by offering a lavish "mobile hotel" experience between Paris and Barcelona starting in 2025. Additionally, the company envisions expanding its services to 10 destinations branching out from Paris in the future. While certain destinations may prove more feasible than others, all pose their own set of challenges.

If enough rolling stock can be acquired, it seems feasible to travel to Milan/Venice, Florence/Rome, Hamburg, Berlin, and Copenhagen. However, to travel from Paris to Madrid and Porto, trains with the ability to adjust gauge sizes will be necessary as the rail tracks in Spain and Portugal are wider than standard European tracks.

A more challenging endeavor is the proposed Paris-Edinburgh route by Midnight Trains. This route would necessitate the construction of new trains that can fit through smaller British tunnels, bridges, and platforms, while also complying with stringent fire regulations outlined for the Channel Tunnel.

In the mid-1990s, a plan was introduced to operate overnight trains between major UK cities and mainland Europe, called Nightstar. However, this plan failed to progress beyond the testing phase and the partially completed coaches were eventually sold to Canadas VIA Rail, resulting in significant financial losses.

The rise of low-cost airlines had a detrimental impact on Nightstar's viability. Moreover, considering the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit), it is probable that the substantial expenses and political obstacles associated with establishing international overnight connections between the UK and mainland Europe will continue to outweigh any potential advantages they might offer.

Passengers await on the platform adjacent to the Austrian Federal Railways' Nightjet train route that connects Vienna to Venice (-Zurich). Night trains are experiencing a resurgence in Europe, predominantly due to their eco-friendly nature and reduced carbon emissions.

Alex Halada/AFP/Getty Images

Stuck at the border

UK/EU border control requirements pose a significant challenge for international night trains entering the UK, just as they did for German plans to operate high-speed trains between Frankfurt, Brussels, and London during the day. Additionally, Eurostar has recently faced capacity limitations due to these border control measures.

Midnight Trains has not yet acquired any suitable vehicles and has yet to begin the process of refurbishing them to meet its proposed specifications. However, this challenge is not unique to Midnight Trains; all prospective open-access train operators face the daunting task of sourcing suitable "pre-loved" rolling stock.

It is challenging to secure the required funding and approval for specialized new night trains without the support of the government, which is enjoyed by ÖBB and other established state railways. Nick Brooks, the secretary general of ALLRAIL, a pressure group that advocates for non-state train operators, highlights that national rail companies have an unjust advantage that may hinder the expansion of services.

"Politicians should clearly acknowledge that the night train market will remain inaccessible for an extended period," he asserts. "Such a move goes against the objectives of the unified EU Rail market, which is irrational when a well-established and efficient alternative model is already in place.

Although Britain pioneered the train technology, its railway system currently appears to be experiencing a turbulent crisis."

The growing demand for long-distance cross-border passenger rail, especially night trains, is evident through European Sleeper's success. It proves that operating such services in a commercially viable open access manner is possible. To further support this, the EU and rolling stock leasing companies can consider investing in a fleet of designated overnight vehicles that can be leased by any operator.

What does this mean for the highly praised night train revolution? With the exception of Nightjet, a government-subsidized service that aims to grow extensively in the next five years, European night train services have not lived up to the expectations.

The demand is increasing, but the extensive challenges of funding and establishing new ventures are hindering growth. No matter how many positive travel articles are published, the operational, political, and financial hurdles won't disappear. Additionally, night train fares are still expensive compared to budget flights and dynamically priced long-distance buses, and this fact remains unchanged.

Night trains carrying 200-300 passengers per trip, on their own, cannot achieve the desired shift from air travel and cars. Only high-speed trains can offer the necessary frequency and density on long-distance inter-city routes.

Nevertheless, under specific circumstances, with strategic financial and political backing, night trains can and will play a significant specialized role on long-distance routes spanning 500 to 1,000 miles in the future.