European Rail Companies Roll Out New Sleeper Trains Amid Growing Demand

The resurgence of overnight train routes, driven by environmental consciousness and practicality, faces profitability challenges despite public enthusiasm.

• Three new overnight train routes debut this week: Berlin to Paris, Berlin to Brussels, and Paris to Aurillac, marking a significant return of sleeper trains in Europe.
• The resurgence of sleeper trains is driven by the public's growing environmental consciousness and the practicality of rail travel, which eliminates the need for short-haul flights and associated expenses.
• The Austrian national railway operator, ÖBB Nightjet, has been instrumental in restoring overnight train travel in Europe, introducing trains with modern amenities like wireless charging stations, free wifi, and private compartments with showers and toilets.
• The Berlin to Paris route, discontinued nine years ago, will initially operate three times a week, with plans to increase to daily service by fall 2024.
• Despite the excitement around the return of night trains, profitability remains a challenge for operators, with many routes reliant on government subsidies.

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