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IN BRIEF
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In France, as elsewhere in Europe, night trains are making their grand return, driven by a gentle nostalgia, a desire for savings, and the promise of low CO2 travel. Yet, just as they are relaunched, some are already wavering: the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna connections could be discontinued by December due to a lack of profitability, insufficient rotations, and threatened subsidies — despite a solid occupancy rate around 70% and more than 65,000 passengers in 2024.
In Europe, night trains are making a grand comeback, blending nostalgia, savings, and a promise of lower CO2. However, upon their relaunch, some lines are already struggling: due to a lack of profitability and sufficient rotations, the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna services might hit the brakes as early as December, despite a solid occupancy rate (around 70%) and more than 65,000 eager travelers in 2024. Here’s why this hope is faltering, and how to prevent it from being extinguished on the platform.
There’s a scent of a golden age that lingers on the platforms when a night train departs. Once kings of long-distance travel from the interwar years to the 1970s, they were later disrupted by high-speed rail, cars, and low-cost airlines. Their recent resurgence, driven by a desire to slow down, travel better, and emit less CO2, has created palpable enthusiasm in France, Germany, and beyond. But enthusiasm alone is not enough to balance the books.
The paradox is clear: these trains have found their audience… without yet discovering the economic equation. Fixed costs (equipment, staff, maintenance, energy, scheduling slots, cross-border logistics) remain high, while the frequency of services — particularly on the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna routes — remains too timid to reach the break-even point. The result: the structure hangs together thanks to public subsidies, whether national or European. And when these resources shrink, the night suddenly becomes much darker.
A renaissance hindered by arithmetic
The indicators are nevertheless encouraging: an occupancy rate flirting with 70%, over 65,000 travelers attracted as of 2024, and positive feedback. However, frequency is key. A rotation that is too rare dilutes revenues, while costs — they — never sleep. Adding to this is the shortage of modernized sleeper cars, coordination between operators and infrastructure managers, and the total cost becomes steep.
The dependence on subsidies weakens the entire system: a threatened withdrawal on the French side, and suddenly, viability is on shaky ground. The model must therefore evolve from a symbol of the renewal of European rail to a recurring, clear, and optimized service. Otherwise, the sleeper train remains a romantic dream… with insomnia-inducing finances.
Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna, symbols in jeopardy
Relaunched after the health hiatus, the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna routes seemed poised to reconcile Europe with its night train journeys. However, threats loom: due to insufficient rotations and uncertainty over funding, they could be shelved as early as December. Hard to swallow, especially when occupancy is “more than decent” and demand exists from both Germany and France.
In the compartments, you can encounter everyone: families, city-break lovers, hikers, professionals looking for productive time. If you are a 19-year-old globe-trotter, this format checks all the boxes: a small budget, adventure, and arriving upon waking in the heart of Berlin or Vienna.
Why we love them so much
Because the night train is a journey within a journey. You trade the boarding line for a corridor that smells of fresh laundry, a cabin that transforms into a sleeping berth, the night reflections on the Elbe, and the early morning unfolding on the edges of Berlin. You save time on accommodation, reduce your carbon footprint, and avoid the fatigue of transfers.
And then, there’s the gentle sensation of entering Germany while sleeping: waking up in Hamburg for lovers of industrial ports, strolling in Munich for a coffee at Viktualienmarkt, a trip to Cologne under the shadow of the cathedral. The capitals shine, but the magic also happens in human-sized cities — perfect for spontaneous explorations.
Levers to save these lines
Good news: solutions exist. Increase frequency to smooth out costs, modernize equipment to improve comfort and productivity, pool certain cars between lines, better coordinate schedules with daytime trains, and clarify the public service status when the market alone is insufficient. The fare can remain accessible thanks to yield management (shared cabins, family offers, youth, last-minute deals), while ensuring a revenue base.
On the marketing side, let’s play up authenticity: storytelling of night journeys, themed routes (museums in Berlin, Christmas markets in Munich, contemporary art in Düsseldorf), and controlled seasonality. For a glimpse into the lines that are trending, take a look at these new European connections for Christmas 2024.
Practical tips for travelers while it rolls
– Book early for cabins for two or four: comfort matters as much as price, especially on a route to Germany. A sleep mask, earplugs, and a reusable water bottle work wonders. And in cases of unavailability, seating compartments can help out for tighter budgets.
– Hybrid travel: overnight to Berlin, then rent a bike or a car as needed. If the call of the road tempts you, here are some tips for a truly comfortable night in a van.
– Onboard entertainment: podcasts, reading… or even a replay of a match if Wi-Fi allows; no one will judge you for following a Jets–Buccaneers game, week 3 from your sleeper. And to dream of other places, let yourself be tempted by a pop-culture interlude, like Eden, Sasquatch, and the misty forests of Washington — the getaway begins long before the border.
If the line stops… the journey continues
Don’t pack away your suitcase. On a Paris–Berlin, alternatives exist: combine with a TGV/ICE via Frankfurt, choose a night bus, or, if necessary, opt for a flight with carbon compensation. The Christmas markets in Germany, museums, urban parks, everything remains within reach. And who knows? A pause could reignite stronger versions of these night lines, with more frequencies and better connections.
In the meantime, head to Germany: from Stuttgart to Hamburg, from Aachen to Berlin, the journey is never short of sparks. The night trains have proven they can reconcile us with slowness — it’s up to all of us, operators and travelers, to ensure the light doesn’t go out just as it’s turning on again.
