A much-heralded renaissance of Europe's night trains, seen as a romantic and green alternative to flying, is stalling due to a lack of financial and political support, despite clear public appetite.
The Dream of a Greener Journey Fades
Following the European Union's 2020 net-zero pledge, hopes were high for a comeback of the continent's iconic sleeper services. Seen as a glamorous solution with a climate impact 28 times lower than flying, night trains promised to combine nostalgia with modern environmental imperatives. The European Commission itself mapped out numerous new routes it believed were viable.
However, this revival has hit significant obstacles. Last month, the two-year-old Nightjet service connecting Paris with Vienna and Berlin was axed after state subsidies were withdrawn. The French operator, SNCF, argued that the unique costs of overnight services are unsustainable without public financial assistance.
Demand Exists, But the System Is Stacked Against Rail
Lack of passenger interest is not the issue. The scrapped Paris-Vienna route maintained a healthy 70% occupancy rate. Surveys consistently show strong public backing. A YouGov poll across Germany, Poland, France, Spain, and the Netherlands found that 69% of respondents were willing to travel by night train, with nearly three-quarters believing rail should be cheaper than flying on similar routes.
Yet, it rarely is. A key problem is an uneven playing field. International aviation is exempt from VAT in some nations, while rail is not. Hefty track access charges for long-distance journeys further inflate costs. Furthermore, a shortage of modern rolling stock means services are often fully booked months ahead and rely on outdated carriages from the 1970s and 80s.
Campaigners Call for a Level Playing Field
Advocacy groups like Back-on-Track.eu argue that governments must intervene to make night trains competitive. They urge countries such as Germany to scrap VAT on cross-border rail travel and to radically reduce track access charges to reflect the environmental benefits of train travel.
The EU, having identified the potential, now faces calls to provide strategic backing and financial guarantees to attract investors wary of a fragile new market. Public support for such action is evident: 75,000 people signed a petition to save the Paris-Berlin-Vienna Nightjet, and recent "pyjama party" protests were held at stations in 11 European cities.
The allure of crossing a sleeping continent by rail continues to captivate millions. The challenge for policymakers in Brussels and national capitals is to transform that enduring fascination into a tangible, sustainable transport network by finally addressing the market failures holding it back.
