Midnights Trains, European Sleeper: The rise of night trains hampered by a lack of sleeper cars

The train in general and night trains in particular are arousing great enthusiasm throughout Europe. Rail is now perceived as a green mode of transport, one that we take our time with, and even becomes a source of pride, called “train bragging”.

States are finally investing in rail again, and night-time connections or projects are multiplying throughout Europe, in particular from Brussels to Prague and Graz, in Austria, from Hamburg to Stockholm and even in France with the reopening of lines previously sacrificed. on the altar of profitability (see box).

However, the operators face a big problem: the availability of rolling stock.

Investment wall, reluctance of banks

Used or new, it is difficult to find, long to obtain and expensive, mechanically delaying projects for new lines and drying up financing, banks are very cautious in the face of these walls of investment and profitability that is difficult to demonstrate.

“From an operational point of view, you need to be successful in finding train sets. The opportunity that allows you to have trains quickly but require major renovation work. In general, good quality second-hand trains are rare and often keep”. by national operators”, confirms Adrien Aumont, co-founder of the French company Midnight Trains, which first of all intends to connect Paris with Venice and Barcelona with high-end trains and which will not finally start operating before 2024.

“It’s not just us who have problems with that,” he explains to his fellow students. guardianChris Engelsman, co-founder of the new European Sleeper service, a night service from Brussels to Berlin (with the possibility of leaving London with a change in the Belgian capital) that will launch next May.

“Nothing has been invested in rolling stock”

“The same thing happens with other initiatives, even with the big rail operators. They have the same problem as the Austrian railways, many night trains run, of course, throughout Europe, and they have the same problems, ”he continues.

At the moment, European Sleeper rents sleeping cars and plans to improve the normal cars in the near future. The first 10-car train connecting Berlin to Brussels will depart on May 25, with the Brussels-Berlin connection scheduled for the following night.

There will be three rotations per week with prices starting at 49 euros per seat, 79 euros per berth and 109 euros per berth in a more comfortable compartment.

SNCF is renovating old trains, but will have to buy new cars

Even so, night trains are gaining ground across Europe as the green alternative to short-haul flights.

So what seemed unlikely five years ago becomes a possibility. SNCF and its German counterpart DB, for example, want to launch a new TGV link in 2023. between Paris and Berlin.

I still need to find cars. In France, where the trains used are old, we bet on renovation to go fast. This modernization began in 2021 at the SNCF Technocentre in Périgueux in the Dordogne, which employs around 500 people.

There is work, at least for at least two years. This involves improving the insulation of the trains, integrating new seats and new berths, as well as Wi-Fi and new fire warning systems.

But to operate new lines (as foreseen by the Government) and raise them to the level of quality of service of certain European operators (such as OBB in Austria that offers a premium offer), it will be necessary to go through the new equipment box.

Especially since customers want comfort and modernity and not necessarily travel in renovated trains from the 1980s. A survey by the National Federation of Transport Users Associations carried out in February 2020 showed that 36% of respondents want, for example, bed compartments with showers and toilets.

The TET report (territorial balance trains) published in May 2021 by the government thus recommended the purchase of 600 new cars for an investment of 1,500 million euros.

“Given the shortage that is felt throughout Western Europe, the construction of the equipment will take 4 to 6 years to put into service, so it is advisable not to lose another year,” the French group was already alarmed at the end of 2021. “Yes to the night train.”