Project Dates

Start: 2016

The Story

Business trips and holidays without airplane traveling are possible: ÖBB currently operates 20 Nightjet connections with more than 25 different destinations all over Europe. Each year, more than 1.5 million customers choose the ÖBB Nightjet for their overnight journeys making the ÖBB one of the largest night train providers in Europe. The overnight train is used primarily by young people and families. Since 2023, especially the new generation of Nightjets have been ensuring a pleasant travel experience with modern design, greater privacy, and increased comfort. The new generation of Nightjets consist of two seating cars, three couchette cars and two sleeping cars. In the couchette car concept of the new generation Nightjets, additional mini cabins provide even more privacy for solo travelers and ensure a pleasant and relaxed arrival at the destination. Guests in the standard or deluxe sleeping car compartments will find a toilet and shower facilities in their compartment, while families will continue to have family compartments available as before.  Another feature on board of the new Nightjets is free Wi-Fi, which was previously limited to Railjets on long-distance services. Customer needs are the focus of the new Nightjets, and a new approach has been adopted to achieve this: The new generation of long-distance trains was consistently developed from the customer’s point of view right from the start and customers were involved in the design process for the development of the new night trains at various stages. As the most climate- and environmentally friendly means of transport, rail can thus replace more and more CO2-intensive short-haul flights.

Success Factor | Hero Moment

While countries like Germany and France discontinued their routes in recent years, ÖBB saw a future and took over many of Deutsche Bahn’s abandoned routes, including Munich to Rome and Vienna to Hamburg. “Nightjet” sleeper trains continue to play a significant role in ÖBB’s long-distance traffic, offering overnight connections across several European countries. Costumer-demand is increasing, not least because passengers want to reduce their environmental footprint and arrive at their destination comfortably and well-rested. With its decision in 2016, early along ÖBB set the course for new Nightjet routes: The launch of new connections to Hamburg, Rome and Amsterdam marked milestones for all people traveling by train.

Submitter

ÖBB – Personenverkehr AG