Overnight trains in Europe remain a convenient way to travel long distances without flying or paying extra for a hotel. At the same time, most of these carriages are outdated, cramped and often overheated, and passengers are disturbed by stops, border checks and compartment neighbours. The author of the piece, who has been using night trains instead of planes for many years, shares tips on how to make such journeys noticeably more comfortable.
According to him, a significant proportion of European night trains use old rolling stock: there is little space for luggage in the compartments, it gets hot in summer, the plumbing is worn out, and at night there may be loud stops at stations and in marshalling yards. Additional discomfort comes from document checks at borders outside the Schengen area, when passengers may be woken in the middle of the night to have their passports inspected or even asked to leave the train and pass through a control point.
Despite this, the seasoned traveller continues to choose night services for both work and leisure, having learnt how to minimise the inconveniences. First and foremost, he advises choosing modern services. For example, the new generation of ÖBB Nightjet trains offers single-berth compartments and compact “mini cabins” reminiscent of a capsule hotel: they provide more privacy, although there is almost no room for suitcases. Overall, as the article notes, service quality often deteriorates as you head east across Europe, where particularly old carriages are still in use on some routes.
Another tip is to book tickets directly with the operators. Some night services do not appear on aggregator sites at all, and those that do may be sold with an extra commission. For European routes, the author recommends paying attention to the online services of the Austrian company ÖBB, which runs a large network of night trains from Hamburg to Rome, as well as to the app of the French operator SNCF.
For those who sleep badly in shared compartments, it is advisable, where possible, to opt for a single-berth compartment or book out the whole compartment for two people. On some trains, the compartment can be reconfigured so that only one bed remains. The author notes that a single-berth ÖBB compartment with its own toilet and shower is expensive, but allows you to arrive feeling far more rested. Even on Balkan routes, where conditions are more basic, a private compartment is preferable to travelling with noisy groups.
The article separately considers using night trains as an extension of a journey by high-speed daytime services. In France, he says, Intercités de Nuit overnight trains can be a good option for travellers from Britain heading south via Paris. These services allow you to leave London after work and be on the Côte d’Azur by morning. From Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels there are overnight connections to cities in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Another important recommendation is to sort out food and water in advance. On most night trains, catering is either unavailable or expensive and mediocre. On some Nightjet services, certain classes are offered a cold breakfast, but in general it is better to buy food and drinks beforehand. The author warns against overly salty food and perishable meat products in a warm compartment, and stresses that a lack of water will quickly spoil the impression of the journey, even if everything else is up to scratch.
To feel better on arrival, it is worth finding out in advance where you can have a shower. Many major European stations have paid shower facilities, or staff can point you to the nearest gym offering day passes. This is particularly relevant if there was no shower on the train and hotel check-in is not until several hours after you arrive.
Finally, travellers are encouraged to use specialist resources that describe specific routes, types of carriages and the finer points of travelling by night train in detail. There you can find maps of current overnight services across Europe and practical advice for each line. With this kind of preparation, the author concludes, even a journey on an old night train can become an acceptable and relatively comfortable way to reach your destination.