Nightjet: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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Line 1: {{Short description|Brand name for ÖBB's overnight passenger train services}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox rail service |name=ÖBB Nightjet Line 11 ⟶ 12: '''Nightjet''' (stylised as '''nightjet''') is a brand name given by the [[ÖBB|Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB)]] to its overnight passenger train services. ''Nightjet'' operates in [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Poland]] and [[Switzerland]]. There are services provided by other train companies to [[Croatia]], [[Hungary]], [[Poland]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Slovakia]] and [[Slovenia]] that operate under the ''Nightjet Partner'' label. ''Nightjet'' trains offers beds in [[sleeper carriage]]s (Nightjet's most comfortable service category), [[couchette]] carriages, and seated carriages. On certain connections within Austria as well as the seasonal service to Croatia, cars can also be transported on the train. Bikes can be transported in a bike transport bag, or on some connections also in special bike racks. ==History== [[File:OEBB Nachtzug Strecken streckennetz deutsch 2023.png|thumb|Nightjet Route Map (2023){{needs update|date=September 2024}}]] [[File:Haldern NSI 193 766 Nightjet 420 Amsterdam C (51235387391).jpg|thumb|''Nightjet 420 [[File:A-ÖBB 73 81 59-91 304-0 Bbcmvz Wien 1.jpg|thumb|Exterior of a Nightjet [[Couchette car]] [[File:NJ2, Liegewagen Bcmz, Bregenz.jpg|thumb|Exterior of a ''new generation'' Nightjet car [[File:Nightjet deluxe compartment.jpg|thumb|Single/double compartment with shower and restroom [[File:Mini cabins in ÖBB's new generation Nightjet sleeper train.jpg|thumb|alt=Mini cabins in ÖBB's new generation Nightjet sleeper train.jpg|Interior of a new Nightjet ''sleeper cabin'' car ===Foundation=== During December 2015, the German state railway company [[Deutsche Bahn]] announced that it would stop its night train services under the [[City Night Line]] branding and replace them with additional overnight high speed [[Intercity-Express|ICE]] services; this outcome followed years of efforts to turnaround the sector, which the company claimed to be little used, accounting for roughly 1% of all long-distance passengers that year, and thus unprofitable.<ref name="IRJ-2015dec"/> Even prior to this decision, discussions were underway with the Austrian Federal Railways [[ÖBB]] on the topic of continuing traditional night trains in some form.<ref name="IRJ-2015dec">{{cite news |last = Fender |first = Keith |title = DB to withdraw all remaining sleeper trains |magazine = [[International Railway Journal]] |date = 21 December 2015 |url = http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/main-line/db-to-withdraw-all-remaining-sleeper-trains.html?channel=524 |access-date = 2 January 2017}}</ref> During February 2016, reports emerged that ÖBB was in negotiations with Deutsche Bahn to take over the operation of several night train services. Furthermore, the company was also evaluating its options in regards to rolling stock for operating these services, these included new-build carriages as well as the modernisation of existing rolling stock.<ref name="irj">{{cite news |last = Reidinger |first = Erwin |title = ÖBB evaluates options for new couchette coaches |magazine = [[International Railway Journal]] |date = 8 February 2016 |url = http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/main-line/obb-evaluates-options-for-new-couchette-coaches.html |access-date = 16 March 2018}}</ref> Later that year, ÖBB decided to adopt the ''Nightjet'' branding for its night train service.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = OBB presents Nightjet |magazine = [[Today's Railways Europe]] |issue = 252 |date = December 2016 |page = 6}}</ref> Line 27 ⟶ 28: In August 2019, the [[Swiss Federal Railways]] (SBB) and ÖBB jointly announced their plans to expand the passenger services between their two countries; this included the running of Nightjet services between the Swiss cities of [[Zürich]] and [[Basel]] with the German urban centres of [[Berlin]] and [[Hamburg]]. Furthermore, the two companies were examining options for the further expansion of the Nightjet network and to provide more overnight connections to Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/sbb-and-obb-to-expand-nightjet-services/ |title = SBB and ÖBB to expand Nightjet services |magazine = [[International Railway Journal]] |first = David |last = Briginshaw |date = 19 August 2019}}</ref> That same year, [[Netherlands Railways]] (NS) was also discussing options with ÖBB for the provision of night trains through to [[Amsterdam]];<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/sbb-considers-reintroducing-night-trains/ |title = SBB considers reintroducing night trains |magazine = [[International Railway Journal]] |first = David |last = Briginshaw |date = 31 May 2019 }}</ref> in October 2019, it was announced that the Dutch government had agreed to provide a temporarily subsidy for NS and Nightjet to jointly provide daily night trains between Amsterdam, [[Nürnberg]], [[Munich]], [[Innsbruck]], and [[Vienna]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/dutch-government-to-support-return-of-international-night-train/ |title = Dutch government to support return of international night train |magazine = International Railway Journal |first = Quintus |last = Vosman |date = 11 October 2019}}</ref> Usage of the service steadily grew during the 2010s; in October 2019, ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä stated the passenger traffic on the Nightjet had grown by 10 percent over the year prior.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/nightjet-passenger-traffic-up-10-says-obbs-ceo/ |title = Nightjet passenger traffic up 10%, says ÖBB's CEO |magazine = [[International Railway Journal]] |first = David |last = Briginshaw |date = 15 October 2019}}</ref> During the first half of 2020, along with the majority of cross-border services in Europe, Nightjet services were temporarily suspended on account of the [[COVID-19]] [[pandemic]]; in June 2020, the resumption of regular scheduled operations was announced.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/cross-border-services-resume-as-european-borders-reopen/ |title = Cross-border services resume as European borders reopen |magazine = International Railway Journal |first = David |last = Burroughs |date = 27 June 2020}}</ref> In December 2020, four railway companies, including ÖBB, Deutsche Bahn, SBB, and France's [[SNCF]], signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of night train services across Europe; specifically, the launch of four new Nightjet connections between 13 European cities will be prioritised. Two of these services will run between Vienna, Munich, and Paris, as well as Zurich, Cologne, and Amsterdam, starting in December 2021, while services between Vienna and Berlin, and Brussels and Paris, will commence during December 2023. In December 2024, a new service between Zurich and Barcelona should be launched as well<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/obb-db-sbb-and-sncf-announce-nightjet-collaboration/ |title = ÖBB, DB, SBB, and SNCF announce Nightjet collaboration |magazine = International Railway Journal |first = David |last = Burroughs |date = 8 December 2020}}</ref> but it is uncertain since the Nightjet from Zurich to Rome planned in 2022 was delayed to an unknown date.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tdg.ch/zurich-rome-en-train-de-nuit-il-va-falloir-patienter-965215460537|title=Zurich-Rome en train de nuit? Il va falloir patienter|date=23 August 2021 }}</ref> In August 2018, ÖBB announced the placement of an initial €375m order for eight day trains and 13 night trains as part of a wider €1.5bn framework agreement with the German engineering company [[Siemens Mobility]] for a new fleet of long-distance trains, which includes the delivery of up to 700 passenger coaches over the next five years. The new Viaggio coaches, which will be manufactured at Siemens’ factory in Vienna, shall be operated with ÖBB's existing fleet of [[EuroSprinter#ES 64 U|Siemens Taurus]] locomotives, and be operated in Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, while provisions are present to equip the coaches for use in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia as well. The seven-car night trains offer 100 seats and 160 berths, and are fully equipped to accommodate passengers with limited mobility. Siemens claims that the Viaggio coaches have improved energy efficiency achieved through [[LED]] interior lighting, [[air conditioning]] via [[heat pump]]s in both cooling and heating modes, and a regulated fresh air supply based on the interior {{CO2|link=yes}} levels. Commissioning of the new fleet is expected in 2022, with service entry starting in the summer of 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/rolling-stock/bb-agrees-e145bn-deal-with-siemens-for-long-distance-trains/ |title = ÖBB agrees €1.5bn deal with Siemens for long-distance trains |magazine = [[International Railway Journal]] |first = David |last = Burroughs |date = 17 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 5 January 2019 |title = Der neue Boom der Nachtzüge |trans-title = The new boom of night trains |url = http://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/artikel/nightjet-nachtzuege-der-oebb-erfolgreich-a-1246563.html |language = de |work = Manager Magazin |access-date = 7 January 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/obb-unveils-new-generation-nightjet-cars/ |title = ÖBB unveils new-generation Nightjet cars |magazine = International Railway Journal |first = Simon |last = Artymiuk |date = 6 September 2022}}</ref> Line 36 ⟶ 37: In August 2020, ÖBB received permission by the Austrian federal government to purchase an additional 20 seven-car Nightjet trains along with additional locomotives for a combined value of roughly €500m. When combined with previous orders, ÖBB's new-build rolling stock for the Nightjet includes 231 new sleeping cars, couchettes, and seated vehicles; the expansion of the fleet will enable the operator to reach more destinations.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/obb-to-order-more-nightjet-trains/ |title = ÖBB to order more Nightjet trains |language = en |magazine = International Rail Journal |last = Smith |first = Kevin |date = 11 August 2020 |access-date = 11 December 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000136421970/neue-oebb-nachtzuege-kommen-erst-ab-sommer-2023 |title = Neue ÖBB-Nachtzüge kommen erst ab Sommer 2023 |website = derstandard.de |language = de-AT |access-date = 10 June 2022}}</ref> That same month, as to accommodate the expanding fleet, ÖBB invested €40m into the modernisation and enlargement of the Vienna Simmering depot, which included the construction of a new 5,500m2 maintenance hall with two elevated tracks.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/regions/europe/obb-to-invest-e40m-in-vienna-simmering-nightjet-depot/ |title = ÖBB to invest €40m in Vienna Simmering Nightjet depot |magazine = International Rail Journal |first = Oliver |last = Cuenca |date = 25 August 2020}}</ref> In August 2021, a further 20 seven-car Nightjets, based on the new generation Viaggio Next Level, were ordered from Siemens Mobility.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/obb-orders-20-additional-nightjets/ |title = ÖBB orders 20 additional Nightjets |magazine = International Rail Journal |first = Richard |last = Clinnick |date = 10 August 2021}}</ref> Despite these aforementioned stop-gap measures, since 2023 passengers have been strongly affected by cancellations of service or severe delays.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-22 |title=Bahnfahren zwischen Zürich und Wien – Hohe Preise und defekte Züge: Österreichs Bahn fährt in die Krise |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/oebb-in-der-krise-hohe-preise-und-defekte-zuege-614862189116 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Tages-Anzeiger |language=de}}</ref> This includes unannounced “downgrades”, in which customers who had reserved sleeping berths are informed on the train that they must sit for the journey as there is no sleeping carriage available.<ref>{{Cite web | On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the [[ÖBB]] the 'new generation' of the Nightjet services was launched. Newly designed, more comfortable carriages built by [[Siemens Mobility]] were announced on 2 October 2023 for the 2024 schedule, starting 10 December 2023. The services will cross Germany from Hamburg to Innsbruck (and Vienna) and vice versa, to be expanded to the existing lines later.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilcock |first1=Rich |title=OBB celebrates 100 years with Nightjet model |url=https://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/articles/obb-celebrates-100-years-nightjet-model |website=Rail Technology Magazine |access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ÖBB's Nightjet new generation is the future of night train travel in Europe |url=https://railway-international.com/news/72587-%C3%B6bb-s-nightjet-new-generation-is-the-future-of-night-train-travel-in-europe |website=Railway International |publisher=Induportals Media Publishing |access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nightjet unveiled as the 'flagship of European night train traffic' |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/passenger/nightjet-unveiled-as-the-flagship-of-european-night-train-traffic/65031.article |website=Railway Gazette International |publisher=The Railway Gazette Group |access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref> == {{As of|2024}}, the following Nightjet services are operated:<ref>[https://www.nightjet.com/en/reiseziele nightjet.com - Destinations] retrieved 11 September 2024</ref>
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