Now that the night trains stop between Paris, Berlin and Vienne was formalized on Monday, SNCF travelers finally comments on this decision. The operator highlights the intrinsic reverse of night trains and challenges the state’s argument over the amount of daily frequencies.
In fact, the French state decided to eliminate the annual subsidy to the SNCF for these trains (10 million euros per year). Without this help, ÖBB and DB (which operate the line in association) no longer listen to the deficits alone, the link will stop on December 14 despite its success with an average filling rate of 70%.
In a statement, the ÖBB “regrets that, after the withdrawal of its French partners, the two night trains services are no longer available.”
In a press release, the operator recalls that “the commitment of SNCF travelers in the exploitation of this link is conditioned to this public subsidy of the State, essential to guarantee its economic viability.” In addition, all night lines in France are subsidized.
Work to explain the absence of daily links
However, according to our information, if the State has decided to cut the tap, it is also because the SNCF and its partners did not promise to offer a link per day (against three per week currently).
A source close to the file even considers that the State was “caught by SNCF travelers.” This aid of 10 million euros per year was well conditioned at this frequency, says this source and the State indicated that SNCF travelers did not establish the desired service (and promised).
False, respond to the group. “Given the very important work in the network in France and Germany, the transition to daily circulation since 2026, as was the initial objective, was no longer possible. Therefore, a frequency of 3 round trips had been maintained for the preparation of the annual service 2026, and this according to the State,” he insists on the group.
Finally, the SNCF also disputes the lack of will denounced by associations, in particular the fact that the SNCF does not sell tickets for these night tyrants in its SNCF Connect platform, “and does not even report on the existence of these trains that however operates, thus limiting the recipes of the line”, laments the association “Yes to the train night”.
Your absence of CNCF Connect? Temporary, respond to SNCF
“Since May 2024, the offer of the Paris-Vienne/Berlin night cannot be temporarily accessed in all SNCF travelers distribution channels. This momentary interruption is linked to the change of the SNCF traveler reserve system that affects all offers sold by foreign rail companies,” the group justifies. “This Nightjet offer remains available for sale from the site Nightjet.com/fr and the DB site, and SNC travelers communicate regularly in this regard.” The Öbb company, a pioneer in night trains, said he maintained the Vienna-Busela link and would continue to invest with “more capacity and comfort in the existing lines.”
“This situation is transient and a new reserve system will gradually offer trains sold by foreign rail companies, with wide offers and ranges,” says SNCF Travelers.
The fact is that these two lines, which had to specify the rebirth of cross -border night links and respond to a real appetite for this type of links will no longer exist after only a few years of service.
“In the end, international night trains were in 2025 in the same situation as national night trains in 2015: the SNCF degrades the service and, therefore, encouraged the State to get rid of it, in a context of a poorly adapted regulatory framework. It is not acceptable that the only two international trains that meet during the year disappear,” therefore, they regret the collective.
Regular customers of the Paris-Berlin night line can still reach the German capital from Paris in 8 hours thanks to a high-speed line inaugurated at the end of 2024.
Source: BFM TV
