Passengers travelling between Berlin and Paris and Berlin and Brussels can rest assured that they are doing their bit for the environment while saving money at the same time.

The first Nightjet (NJ) service between the European capitals started running last night and will run three times a week. The service is run by the Austrian national rail operator ÖBB.  It is working in co-operation with its partners DB, SNCF and SNCB – the German, French and Belgian rail operators respectively.  The first train left at 20:18 and was seen off by the transport ministers and chief executive officers of the four partner rail companies.

NJ 40424 runs from Berlin via Halle (Saale), Erfurt, Frankfurt/Main and Strasbourg to Paris. It will depart Berlin Hbf at 20:18 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, arriving into Paris Est at 10:24 the next morning.  Return journeys from Paris to Berlin, train number NJ 40469, will depart the French capital at 19:12 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday arriving at its destination at 08:26.

NJ 424 runs from Berlin via Halle (Saale), Erfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Mainz, Koblenz, Bonn, Cologne, Aachen, Liege-Guillemins to Brussels. The train also departs at 20:18 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, arriving at Bruxelles Midi at 09:56, with the return trip (NJ 425) departing at 19:03 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in Berlin at 08:26.

Connections are available from Vienna to both Paris and Brussels.  The new service forms the backbone of the European night train network from the 2023/24 timetable change.

Owing to the early arrival at the centre of each destination, travellers can save time as well as hotel costs. Those travelling in sleeper and couchette carriages also receive a welcome drink and breakfast served in the compartment before arrival.  Nightjet tickets are available from €34.90 per person each way in the seating carriage. Couchette fares start at €54.90, with sleeper fares starting at €79.90. All tickets include a seat reservation and can be booked at ÖBB travel centres, online, through the ÖBB app and by phone at ÖBB customer service.

Leonore Gewessler, Austrian Federal Minister for Mobility, said: “Rail travel is climate protection, especially with the night train, which also makes travelling practical and convenient. Passengers can board a train in the evening and wake up refreshed the next morning in another European capital. With the new Nightjet connections, we’re bringing major European cities closer together and making climate-friendly travel in Europe even easier. I’m convinced that this is the future of mobility for us. Short and medium-haul routes in Europe belong to rail.”

Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB, added: “With the new international Nightjet routes, we’re continuing the systematic expansion of our night train business and underscoring our position as a leading provider of night train travel. The ÖBB Nightjet is already a symbol of a united Europe. Now this partnership between four European railway companies is providing a new service from Berlin to Paris and from Berlin to Brussels with appealing and climate-friendly overnight connections.”

Dr Richard Lutz, CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG, said: “With our partners, we have set ourselves the goal of making rail travel even more attractive for our customers in Europe. The night train stands for climate-friendly travel and an integrated Europe without borders, which we also stand for with our Strong Rail strategy. At DB, we’re proud to be part of the European night trainalliance.”

Sophie Dutordoir, CEO of NMBS/SNCB, noted: “Ever since Georges Nagelmackers founded the legendary Compagnie des Wagons-Lits, night trains have played a crucial role in Belgian rail history. And Belgium has always been at the heart of the European rail network because of its geographical position. So when ÖBB relaunched night trains in early 2020, SNCB was eager to join the initiative to add more European cities to Brussels’ long-haul network with both day and night routes. SNCB provides maintenance services and train staff on the Belgian legs of the journeys, and it sells tickets via its own sales channels.”

Christophe Fanichet, CEO of SNCF Voyageurs, said: “We’re proud of this new night train service, which strengthens our European rail network. After the successful launch of the Paris–Vienna route, which has enough customers, the Paris–Berlin route is another strong symbol of the revival of night trains, made possible with funding from the French Government. Europe has played an important role in the history and activities of SNCF Voyageurs. I would like to thank our partners for their cooperation over the past two years in launching this route to Berlin. ÖBB, DB, SNCB and SNCF Voyageurs have joined forces for a shared goal: the expansion of rail links in Europe.”