The romantic vision of a continent-spanning night train network, hailed as a glamorous and green alternative to flying, is in danger of being derailed. Despite a surge in public enthusiasm and clear environmental benefits, the European night train renaissance is stalling due to a lack of financial and political support.
Promising Start Meets Harsh Reality
Following the EU's 2050 net-zero pledge, hopes were high for a revival of sleeper services. The European Commission identified numerous potentially viable new routes, championing a mode of travel with a climate impact 28 times lower than flying. However, this momentum has faltered. Last month, the promising Paris to Vienna and Berlin night service, operational for just two years, was axed after state subsidies were withdrawn.
French operator SNCF stated that the unique costs of running night trains are unsustainable without public financial assistance. In another blow, the eagerly awaited Basel to Copenhagen and Malmö route, scheduled to start in April, was cancelled following the removal of government backing, despite a public petition to save it.
Public Demand is Clear, But the System is Stacked Against Rail
Lack of passenger interest is not the issue. The scrapped Paris-Vienna service had 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 are 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 many countries, while rail is not. Track access charges also disproportionately penalise longer train journeys. Furthermore, a severe shortage of modern rolling stock means demand outstrips supply, leading to services being booked months in advance and relying on outdated carriages from the 1970s and 80s.
The Call for Action to Secure a Greener Future
Campaigners argue that governments must intervene to correct these market failures. Groups like Back-on-Track.eu urge countries such as Germany to scrap VAT on cross-border rail tickets and to radically reduce track access charges to reflect the environmental benefit of train travel. The EU, having identified the potential, must now provide the strategic vision and financial guarantees to attract investment into this fragile, nascent market.
Public support for such measures is evident. 75,000 people signed a petition to save the Paris Nightjet, while last month 'pajama party' protests were held at stations in 11 European cities to highlight the crisis. The allure of a night journey across a slumbering continent still captivates millions. The challenge for Brussels and national capitals is to transform that enduring fascination into a tangible, low-carbon transport network that people are clamouring to use.
