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The night train revolution has been hailed as an alternative to airplanes. Here’s how that’s going

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Summary

After decades of decline, night trains like OBB's Nightjet, have seen a resurgence due to the flygskam (flight shame) phenomenon and the Covid-19 pandemic. OBB's Nightjet network has re-established and expanded overnight routes between major European cities, and Italy has committed to buying 70 new carriages for night trains. Private startups have also been inspired to enter the market, but they face many challenges such as a lack of serviceable coaches and difficulties securing rolling stock authorized for other countries. Night trains can provide a sustainable alternative to short-haul air travel, but they remain expensive and have yet to match the hype of the much-vaunted night train revolution.

Q&As

What led to the resurgence of night trains?
The resurgence of night trains is due to growing environmental concerns and the flygskam (flight shame) phenomenon, which encourages climate-conscious travelers to seek alternatives to short-haul air travel.

What challenges do night trains face in terms of cost and operational obstacles?
Night trains face challenges in terms of cost, as fares can be good value but quickly ramp up on busy routes, and operational obstacles, such as delays and outdated accommodation.

How are government-subsidized and private operators working to improve the night train experience?
Government-subsidized operators like OBB and private operators like European Sleeper are working to improve the night train experience by introducing luxurious new trains with comfortable sleeper cabins, discreet “pods” for solo travelers, and fully accessible cabins.

What is the potential of night trains to replace short or medium-haul flights?
The potential of night trains to replace short or medium-haul flights is limited, as they do not have the capacity to deliver the required modal shift away from air travel and cars.

What support is necessary for night trains to succeed?
The right conditions, with carefully targeted financial and political support, are necessary for night trains to succeed.

AI Comments

👍 This article does a great job of highlighting the potential of night trains as a sustainable alternative to air travel and why they are making a comeback. It provides an interesting and detailed insight into the challenges and opportunities that night trains pose and the potential for future growth.

👎 This article lacks a sense of optimism or enthusiasm for the night train revolution. It extensively covers the challenges and obstacles that stand in its way, but fails to mention any potential solutions or strategies for overcoming them.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the night train revolution that is happening across Europe. It discusses how night trains are making a resurgence after decades of decline, the challenges that come with running night trains, and how some private start-ups have started to offer services in this area. The article also discusses the implications of the night train revolution for sustainability, environmental concerns, and the potential for night trains to replace short-haul air travel.

Friend: That's really interesting. It seems like there are a lot of potential benefits to using night trains. What are some of the implications of this article?

Me: Well, the article points out that night trains can offer travelers an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional air travel. It also discusses the challenges that come with these trains, such as the difficulty of acquiring rolling stock and the cost associated with running them. The article also mentions some private start-ups that are trying to enter the night train market, as well as the potential for more routes to be developed in the future. Finally, it looks at how the UK and EU border control requirements could present a major obstacle to international night trains.

Action items

Research the night train routes available in your area and consider taking a night train for your next long-distance journey.
Join a local environmental organization and advocate for more sustainable transportation options, such as night trains.
Follow the progress of the night train revolution and stay informed about new routes and services that become available.

Technical terms

OBB: Austrian Federal Railways, the national railway system of Austria.
Flygskam: Swedish term meaning “flight shame”, a phenomenon encouraging climate-conscious travelers to seek alternatives to short-haul air travel.
Nightjet: OBB's network of overnight links between major European cities.
The Man in Seat 61: A website run by rail travel expert Mark Smith.
CIWL: Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits, the former operator of the iconic Orient Express.
Regiojet: Czech travel provider that operates a handful of overnight routes.
European Sleeper: Private startup that opened its Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin route in May 2023.
Midnight Trains: French hopeful that is trying to break onto the scene, promising to deliver a luxurious “hotel on wheels” experience between Paris and Barcelona from 2025.
Nightstar: A plan to run overnight trains between major UK cities and mainland Europe in the mid-1990s.
ALLRAIL: A pressure group representing non-state train operators.