The Documentary Podcast Europe's night train renaissance: Still on track?
Mar 15, 2026
Kurt Bauer, head of long-distance services at ÖBB, explains Nightjet’s strategy and new train designs. John Wirth, independent rail consultant and pro-night-train campaigner, analyzes optimal journey lengths and the economics of sleepers. They discuss the renaissance of night trains, cabin innovations like mini pods, cross-border operational headaches and the policy and infrastructure hurdles threatening expansion.
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ÖBB Turned Deutsche Bahn Retreat Into Nightjet Opportunity
- After Deutsche Bahn cut night services in 2016, ÖBB (Kurt Bauer) bought coaches and launched Nightjet to fill the gap.
- ÖBB rebranded routes, invested in new trains, and grew to ~1.5 million passengers annually across multiple countries.
Mini Pods And Design Changes Modernised Nightjet
- ÖBB's new Nightjet design introduced mini private pods inspired by capsule hotels to meet privacy demand.
- Features include ergonomic seats and push-pull locomotives for faster station turnarounds, aimed at modern travellers.
State Subsidies Fueled The Recent Night Train Revival
- Public subsidies and state contracts were crucial to recent route relaunches, linking climate policy to night train growth.
- ÖBB relaunched Paris–Berlin in 2023 and governments used funding to prioritise rail alternatives to flying.