photo: Oliver Lang / Deutsche Bahn AG/DB Nightjet
Now passengers can enjoy relaxed overnight travel to major European cities while saving on hotel accommodation. Starting today, the night train alliance of DB, ÖBB, NMBS/SNCB, and SNCF is offering night train service from Berlin to Brussels and Paris.
The Nightjet (NJ) runs three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The trains return from Paris and Brussels to Berlin on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The first NJ was seen off on its trip from Berlin this evening by the German, Belgian, French, and Austrian transport ministers and the CEOs of the four participating rail companies.
The new service is the latest milestone in a successful partnership between the European railways, which in 2020 had set themselves the goal of establishing environmentally friendly night train connections.
"With our partners, we have set ourselves the goal of making rail travel even more attractive for our customers in Europe. The night train stands for climate-friendly travel and an integrated Europe without borders, which we also stand for with our Strong Rail strategy. At DB, we're proud to be part of the European night train alliance," said Dr Richard Lutz, CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG.
Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB, added, "With the new international Nightjet routes, we're continuing the systematic expansion of our night train business and underscoring our position as a leading provider of night train travel. The ÖBB Nightjet is already a symbol of a united Europe. Now this partnership between four European railway companies is providing a new service from Berlin to Paris and from Berlin to Brussels with appealing and climate-friendly overnight connections."
"Ever since Georges Nagelmackers founded the legendary Compagnie des Wagons-Lits, night trains have played a crucial role in Belgian rail history. Belgium has always been at the heart of the European rail network because of its geographical position," commented Sophie Dutordoir, CEO of NMBS/SNCB. "So when ÖBB relaunched night trains in early 2020, SNCB was eager to join the initiative to add more European cities to Brussels’ long-haul network with both day and night routes. SNCB provides maintenance services and train staff on the Belgian legs of the journeys, and it sells tickets via its own sales channels."
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"We're proud of this new night train service, which strengthens our European rail network. After the successful launch of the Paris–Vienna route, which has enough customers, the Paris–Berlin route is another strong symbol of the revival of night trains, made possible with funding from the French Government," said Christophe Fanichet, CEO of SNCF Voyageurs. "Europe has played an important role in the history and activities of SNCF Voyageurs. I would like to thank our partners for their cooperation over the past two years in launching this route to Berlin. ÖBB, DB, SNCB, and SNCF Voyageurs have joined forces for a shared goal: the expansion of rail links in Europe."
Also new since the 10 December 2023 timetable change is daily service with sleeping cars and seated coaches on the Munich–Vienna–Warsaw line. In December 2022, the partners added the Zurich–Prague night train line and extended the Munich–Venice/Rijeka/Zagreb/Vienna–Budapest night train by adding Stuttgart as a departure and destination station.
By steadily growing its selection of night trains, the alliance is making an important contribution to achieving the EU climate targets agreed in the Green Deal.
Source: Deutsche Bahn