Europe promised a new golden era from the night train. Why are we still waiting for? | John Worth

AThe Europeans woke up to the joy of traveling after the conciliation, it looked as if we were in a store emission From the continent night trains. The fans of the sleeping train praised the “Renaissance of the Night Train” and “Railways revolutionThe combination of some nostalgia to an old way to travel with the modern climate and sustainable transportation concerns.

The European train trip for the long distance may be slower than a short ride trip, but it is definitely better in terms of the environment and the experience of the traveler. For those who have a budget, the probability of saving on a night in a hotel also appeals.

But as anyone tried to try to plan the holiday train trip for this summer, it is possible that the night trains are still few and far apart, especially in Western Europe. And if there is a night train at all on the road, it is often seized months ago. This is not all: reliability and service on board do not reach scratching, as vehicles push many of the 50 -year -old.

The traditional giant of the European railway-SNCF in France, Deutsche Bahn in Germany, and Renfe from Spain-are only concerned or non-existent in the night training market, preferring to high-speed day-speed trains. Only öbb Austria has collected the trend, and he ordered a fleet from 33 new trains For Nightjet service. For comparison, Deutsche Ban owns Almost 300 High speed trains during the day. Night services are still a decrease in the ocean.

Now Nox, a private start -up company based in Berlin, has Plans announced He claims that it will change all of this and opens the night training market with the radical rethinking of the passenger experience. No more old or used vehicles; Nitrogen oxides say it intends to build a new fleet. No more travelers asked to participate with the snoring of strangers in Couchetes as well: The fleet will have only one or two people, albeit somewhat small. Experimental services are scheduled to start in 2027 and regular operations by the end of the contract.

This approach about the main question is correct-the only way to present more night training methods is to build new trains. But nitrogen oxides will not be the first new expatriate to try to break this market. The midnight trains, a Paris -based emerging company, promised hotels in wheels in 2021, but investors were not convinced and Folded project. The Dutch process at Govolta He could not To convert successful air travel to its equivalent on the railway. European sleepingAlso launched in 2021, it was a little better – the Motley collection of elderly vehicles operates three times a week from Brussels via Amsterdam and Berlin to Prague, but without new vehicles, the company will remain small.

While nitrogen oxides, like its predecessors, face a hard struggle, it differs from different ways. Her plan to rethink the planning of a night training cart, making it more attractive to contemporary-and safer for women-logical. Standardization – all vehicles will be identical – keeping the operations simple. One of the founders previously worked on Flixbus’s Rail Arm, Flixtrain, in Germany, so there is a real railway experience. Either way, UK travelers should not breathe – night trains through the channel’s tunnel are not on cards, as it is very difficult to think about them.

The efforts made by any special operator to solve the night -time training is welcome, but the problem is eventually political. Since most European countries are very small for national night trains, this means resolving these issues on a large scale. European Commission in A. 2021 report Dozens of ways where night trains are logical, but they are not currently working. However, in the years since then, no action has been taken.

Brussels steadily works to coordinate different national rules that make international trains operating such troubles. But the night trains – the locomotive that was transported, the medium speed and running at night when it is easier to get the course of the path – it can be said that it faces less obstacles than other train types.

It is time for the European Union to provide financial guarantees for the acquisition of new night training vehicles, and to provide these guarantees to the private and state -owned companies. With at least half a half of the trainees of the European Union train manufacturers, it can serve as a blessing for the European industry as well. The requirements of the committee will in return will be compatible in Europe-which will be guarantees only for the sacred vehicles that can be published anywhere from Barcelona to Body, Stockholm to Sofia.

Therefore, this summer, while standing in an endless queue at the airport, or staring at the car bumper in front of you in traffic congestion, remember that all of this may be better. Night training renaissance can take you to the destination of your vacation more comfortable and more sustainable.

The European Union’s actions on the delay in the international railway behind its discourse. Build more night training vehicles to run more services on tracks already must be thinking.