Wake up to a vacation: Tips for a sustainable night train trip

Eco-friendly and comfortable travel through Europe? Night trains and sleeping cars are making a big comeback. Board in the evening and wake up to a vacation. And with the knowledge that you’ve reduced your carbon footprint.

Are night trains sustainable?

Since night trains are seen as an alternative to air travel, they can definitely be considered sustainable. Of course, railways also impact nature, but compared to cars and air travel, trains are the more environmentally friendly solution.

• For instance, according to the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), traveling by train from Zurich to Hamburg saves about 170 kg of CO2 per person compared to flying.
• Austria’s ?BB night train (Nightjet) runs on 100 percent green electricity.
• The high comfort of new night trains (such as the new ?BB Nightjets) with more space (= fewer passengers) and private bathrooms with showers is not necessarily an ecological plus, but it helps to make night trains attractive.
• Unlike cars and buses, trains do not emit microplastics into the air through tire abrasion. (There is not enough research on how harmful microplastics actually are, but it is clear that tire abrasion is the largest source of microplastic emissions).
• Night trains do not play a role in discussions and measures regarding noise pollution and noise emissions, as they are very quiet compared to freight traffic.

Night trains are growing in popularity

According to Tagesschau, in 2020 there were only 90 night train connections in Europe. In 2023, more than 200 connections, and in 2024, Nightjet even invested in the development of new trains.

The oBB Nightjet’s new night trains

At the end of 2023, the newoBB Nightjet trains started operating, offering even more comfort than the old ones and, above all, additional capacity! For us as passengers, this means more routes, more flexibility and more attractiveness. Reason enough for us to take a look at the facts:

• The carriages for the 33 new trains were developed by Siemens Mobility and will be delivered by 2025. The train will be built in Vienna.
• The new trains are not intended to replace old trains, but to complement and expand new routes.
• New standards for smoothness, accessibility and bike transport.
• Another new feature are sleeping pods in the couchette cars, offering more privacy.
• Instead of 6 beds, there are only 4 beds per compartment in the couchette car.
• Each compartment in the sleeping car has its own bathroom with toilet and shower, which reduces the capacity considerably. Only 20 beds fit in a sleeping car.
• The new Nightjet trains are certified for a speed of 230 km/h. (This is slightly less than the speed of ICE high-speed trains, which travel at up to 300 km/h).

But why are night trains in demand?

The comic strip hero Tintin had many adventures by train. The Tintin Wall in Brussels Central Station is a reminder of these.

I’m a fan of night trains myself and luckily I can sleep well anywhere. Personally, a night train has a touch of adventure to it and yes, I’m a big fan of “Tintin” (Les aventures de Tintin) where trains are often an important part of the adventure.

Another reason, of course, is sustainability, currently cited as one of the main reasons for the newfound popularity. This means that many travelers (like you?) prefer an environmentally friendly alternative to air travel. However, it is important to note that this is also supported by politicians. According to the Handelsblatt, oBB is profitable in Austria, but this was only made possible by subsidies from the Austrian government. The business is not considered “easy”. Deutsche Bahn, for example, discontinued its sleeping cars in 2016, and the French Thello night train followed suit in 2021. oBB is now filling the gap.

Across Europe by sleeping car – Four night train journeys + sustainable accommodation.

1 By night train to Vienna (8 connections)

Vienna, the city of coffeehouses, parks and museums-a wonderful place for culture and surrounded by the most beautiful nature as well. Vienna is doing a lot when it comes to sustainability. The city aims to be carbon neutral by 2040 and is committed to zero waste, green mobility and sustainable construction. Due to its many parks, Vienna is also considered one of the “greenest cities in the world”.

Night train connections to Vienna

… on the Austrian Nightjet:

• Amsterdam – Cologne – Nuremberg – Vienna
• Berlin – Dresden – Vienna
• Brussels – Cologne – Munich – Vienna
• Hamburg – Würzburg – Vienna
• Paris – Munich – Salzburg – Vienna
• La Spezia – Milan – Vienna

… with the Polish PKP:

• Warsaw – Krakow – Vienna

… or with Hungarian Railways MAV:

• Budapest – Vienna

Sustainable accommodation near Vienna: Gut Guntrams

The “floating accommodations” near Vienna are sustainable and special.

Gut Guntrams is not in Vienna, but 60 kilometers away on the edge of the Bucklige Welt. However, the unusual floating accommodation is well worth a visit. Gut Guntrams is its own organic retreat with a small nature museum, crystal garden, farm shop and a farm specializing in the preservation of old fruit varieties. If you’re looking to relax in nature after a day of culture in Vienna, this is the place to be

2 Awake in Munich (10 connections)

The Bavarian capital of Munich offers a combination of big city and nature. The Isar River flows right through the city and there is the famous English Garden. The historic old town, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and Nymphenburg Palace are all must-sees. Unfortunately, Munich plans to wait until 2050 to become carbon neutral. But at least there are climate-friendly projects underway.

Night train connections to Munich with

… the Austrian Nightjet:

• Brussels – Aachen – Munich
• Hamburg – Würzburg – Munich
• La Spezia – Padua – Salzburg – Munich
• Rome – Munich (Attention: from June 8 to September 9, 2024 the line will be closed due to track works)
• Venice – Munich

… the Hungarian Railway MAV:

• Budapest – Munich

… the Croatian Railways HZ:

• Rijeka – Ljubljana – Munich
• Zagreb – Ljubljana – Munich

… or the Polish PKP:

• Warsaw – Krakow – Vienna – Munich

Eco-friendly accommodation near Munich: Gut Sonnenhausen

Munich is home to the Ecological Education Center, but if you want to see the ideas put into practice, head to Gut Sonnenhausen (about 30 kilometers southeast of Munich). Here, eco-pioneer and art collector Georg Schweisfurth has transformed a 120-year-old stud farm into a unique hotel surrounded by nature. Gut Sonnenhausen runs its own organic farm according to permaculture principles and uses only organic produce in the kitchen. However, the estate is difficult to reach by public transportation, so you will probably need to rent a car in Munich. You can choose to drive an electric car, as there are two charging stations on the property’s parking lot.

3 Sleeping car to Milan (2 connections)

From the two cities mentioned above – Vienna and Munich – you can sleep throught to Milan. Italy’s fashion capital also has many famous addresses for sustainable vintage lovers. There is the Bosco Vertikale (Vertical Forest) – a green skyscraper in the middle of the city that stands for modern urban greening and biodiversity.

Nightjet connections to Milan:

• Munich – Padua – Milan
• Vienna – Milan

Sustainable accommodation in Milan: Hotel Milano Scala

The modern city hotel in Milan is a pioneer when it comes to renewable energy.

The Hotel Milano Scala is located in the center of Milan (within walking distance of the famous La Scala Opera House and other attractions). It is the first zero-emissions hotel in Milan and powered by green energy from its own geothermal probes. The roof terrace is particularly beautiful, where you can enjoy a wonderful end to an eventful day.

By night train to Paris (2 connections)

The French capital has once again used the 2024 Summer Olympics as an opportunity to showcase its green initiatives – even cleaning up the water in the Seine. You can now enjoy a relaxed (!) bike ride in Paris, with a 10-kilometer running route along the banks of the Seine. For an alternative Paris, Barbara Tascijevic-Porwoll, owner of Green Spirit Hotels, recommends a visit to the REcyclerie. A café, repair shop, gardening project and cultural center all in one.

The Berlin-Paris route is one of the brand new Nightjet routes launched in December 2023. You will board the train at Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 19:07 in the evening and arrive at Paris Gare de l’Est at 10:24.

Nightjet connections to Paris:

• Berlin – Paris
• Vienna – Paris

Eco accommodation in Paris: Green Spirit Hotels

This small boutique hotel is centrally located in Paris and a real insider tip.

There are three Green Pearls? accommodations in the lively 7th arrondissement: Hotel Le Pavillon, Hotel Marlar and Hotel Amélie. These small boutique hotels are not only centrally located (the Seine, Eiffel Tower, etc. are within walking distance), but they are also ecological and individual. You can nevertheless enjoy your breakfast in the quiet inner courtyard.

By the way, Belgian reporter Tintin and his companion Snowy were also in Paris! So you have a good chance of experiencing an adventure…