Milan Marcus spent the summer doing some research for Trains for Europe on the market potential of possible night train routes. He also travelled by rail for two weeks from Germany to Portugal and back on an interrail pass. This trip highlighted the need for better (international) connections throughout Europe […]
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A swift assessment of the German Grüne’s night train plans
The German Bundestag election is taking place 26th September, and yesterday a group of Members of the Bundestag (MdBs) and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the Grüne (Green Party) released a new map and paper about their plans for night trains in Europe post-election. The plans are available on […]
Read MoreThe German passenger federation PRO BAHN supports the Trains for Europe initiative
Without the central procurement of night trains, the desired goals of the EU commission are not attainable. This centralized procurement enables old players and new entrants to quickly acquire new night train units to match the growing demand. At the end of June 2021, Snälltåget launched its new night train […]
Read MoreMidnight Trains – we wish them well, but where are the carriages needed going to come from?
A new night train company has launched today. Paris-based Midnight Trains has launched with a very slick website, and promises a deluxe night train experience – private compartments with showers. The renderings are all soft furnishings and are akin to a smart hotel. RTL news has a report about the […]
Read MoreRolling stock for a new night train: even SBB and ÖBB have plenty of difficulties
As we reported yesterday, Swiss railways SBB are keen to increase their night train offer. But they, like every other player in this market, have the same rolling stock problems to overcome as anyone else. In this post we are going to look at the new NightJet service due to be launched […]
Read MoreSBB boss Vincent Ducrot talks about the future of night trains to/from Switzerland
Tagesanzeiger Sonntagszeitung features a long interview with boss of Swiss Railways SBB Vincent Ducrot – you can read the whole interview here (free registration required). The headline strikes us as slightly off. “Nachtzüge werden nie profitabel sein” “Night trains will never be profitable” he says. Perhaps he ought to have a […]
Read MoreBaWü Transport Minister Hermann is right – “rail isn’t always a viable alternative” – not yet anyway
How Germany makes the transition to a carbon neutral economy is becoming a major topic in the election campaign for September’s Bundestag election. The extent to which banning or stopping certain behaviours is legitimate, or whether persuading people to change their behaviour is a better route, is a central issue. […]
Read MoreMore innovation in fast freight than in fast night trains in Italy, and new night trains with seats only in Germany
Back in 2018, Trenitalia began an experiment called “Mercitalia Fast” – using a converted ETR-500 300km/h high speed train to convey light freight at high speed. You can read more about the project here. Now Trenitalia has announced a new overnight service, likewise using a ETR-500, connecting Milano and Reggia […]
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