The relaunch of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) NightJet service between Paris and Berlin at the end of last year is one of the many developments demonstrating a revival in the European night-train market. Reflecting on the original closure of the Paris-Berlin night train line in 2014, Cameron Jones states: “In examining the situation, while we may not directly operate it, the underlying factors driving its closure seem to be dwindling passenger numbers and escalating operational expenses like staffing and fuel costs.”
As such, to him: “Night trains, unlike conventional rail networks with multiple daily services, face the challenge of economies of scale, making it imperative to strike a delicate balance between costs, customer demand, and pricing.” Positively, Jones notes that “despite the speed and convenience of flights, there’s a renewed interest in night trains as travellers integrate them more in more into their travel.” Indeed, despite the initial decline, in the 2010s there is optimism surrounding the resurgence of night trains, driven by evolving travel preferences and innovative pricing strategies.
With strategic pricing, improved connectivity, and a focus on customer experience, night train operators can tap into the growing demand for sustainable and convenient transportation options, according to Jones. “It’s very exciting to see the demand for rail shoot up, and rail’s all about packing those trains to the brim to make them more profitable and improve services. It’s a thrilling time to be in the rail game with all these changes happening,” he adds.