Night trains to Paris and Vienna: Last chances for travelers!

Night trains to Paris and Vienna: Last chances for travelers!

Night trains, a nostalgic symbol of adventure and travel dreams, are facing a change in Europe. A sad farewell for the connection between Berlin, Paris and Vienna is emerging. According to a report by Golem.de, night train services to Paris will be discontinued in December 2025, which is not only a bitter loss for travelers, but also calls into question the future of night train services across Europe. This sends a clear signal that the market for night trains is facing challenges.

The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), known for its Nightjet services, continues to offer a variety of connections, including to Rome, Paris, and Hamburg, showing that interest in night travel still exists. Nevertheless, passengers must prepare for temporary cancellations of connections to Florence and Rome until December 13, 2025, due to construction work, according to information from the ADAC.

Night trains as an environmentally friendly alternative

Night trains are becoming increasingly popular. According to a survey, 42% of Germans could imagine traveling by night train. This shows the growing interest in environmentally friendly travel options and could be a positive sign for the future development of night train services. ÖBB is focusing on expanding its offering and plans to put new, more comfortable trains on the rails.

Traveling by night train not only offers a practical way to save time and money, but also allows passengers to travel in a relaxed manner while they sleep. Reservations are required on the Nightjet, and different comfort categories are offered - from simple seats to couchettes and sleeping cars. This variety ensures that there is something for every budget. Nevertheless, there are challenges: The ADAC test from 2024 pointed to problems with few direct connections, a limited offer and large price differences.

Expand the offering

Despite the difficulties mentioned, hope remains for night train fans. In addition to the ÖBB, the European Sleeper is also providing a boost by introducing night trains between Berlin and Brussels and to Prague. The Swedish state railway SJ operates connections between Hamburg and Stockholm, which make night travel in Scandinavia attractive.

But with the dwindling connection to Paris, a central axis of night train traffic in Europe could disappear. However, there are still many solutions to keep fans of nighttime adventures. Experts recommend booking in good time, testing different train stations and comparing prices. A busy travel period could be a sign that night trains are very popular as an environmentally friendly alternative to planes and cars, especially for direct connections.

The switch from traditional travel methods to more sustainable alternatives is reflected not only in the perception of travelers, but also in the need for rail companies to develop innovative concepts. What remains is the hope for a renovation of the night train connections to continue to enable travel to Vienna, Paris and beyond.

For more information on the impact of the night train lines, you can view the detailed report Golem.de read. The ADAC website also offers helpful tips on booking and the latest developments in the night train business here can find.

The future of night train traffic remains exciting and we will see whether we will succeed in getting travelers excited about this great way of traveling. Maybe there will soon be new options that make traveling on the train at night not only nostalgic, but also individual and sustainable.