Two major European rail operators are going in opposite directions on sleeping car service. Germany’s Deutsche Bahn is getting out of the business, and Austria’s Õsterreicher Bundesbahn is taking up the slack with new routes in Germany.
The Bahn, whose sleeper services have operated under the City Night Line brand, joins other operators in thinking that the time for overnight travel has ended, done to death by budget airlines and high-speed trains. It will continue to operate overnight services, but only with coaches.
The OBB is putting out about $45 million to buy and renovate the equipment DB is giving up, including 42 sleeping cars with beds and 15 with couchettes, whose daytime seats convert to beds.
Starting in December, they will begin operating under OBB’s NightJet brand, which is adding six new routes, including Zurich to Hamburg and Munich-Salzburg-Rome. It will still be fewer sleepers operating in Germany than now.
OBB chief Andreas Matthae told a press conference that the sleepers are still popular with the environmentally conscious and families. “It’s clear that night trains are a niche sector, but this is a strong offer for certain target groups.” OBB hopes to add 1.8 million passengers a year to its sleepers on top of the present 1 million. Sleepers now account for 17% of OBB’s long-distance revenue.
Among my best travel experiences ever were two overnight train trips in single compartments, from Venice to Vienna and from Budapest to Munich, both on Austrian trains. I’m very glad to hear it’s they who will continue these services.
I’m glad, too, especially since that Zurich-to-Hamburg-via Salzburg route will also connect to Munich; we have a 2018 trip in planning that counts on a Munich-to-Hamburg sleeper as part of the route (Rome-Verona-Bolzano-Munich-Hamburg).