ÖBB: Nightjet premiere for Berlin - Paris/Brussels

(Berlin, 12.12.2023) The first Nightjet from Berlin to Paris and from Berlin to Brussels was launched on 11 December 2023. In cooperation with its Nightjet partners DB, SNCF and SNCB, ÖBB is now offering these connections three times a week. The first Nightjet took off at 20:18 and was given a fitting send-off by the transport ministers and CEOs from the countries of the four partner railways.

Leonore Gewessler, Austrian Federal Minister for Mobility: "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: "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: "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: "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: "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."

Overnight climate-friendly journey from Berlin to Paris & Brussels

The NJ 40424 runs from Berlin via Halle (Saale), Erfurt, Frankfurt/Main and Strasbourg to Paris. The NJ 424 runs from Berlin via Halle (Saale), Erfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Mainz, Koblenz, Bonn, Cologne, Aachen, Liege-Guillemins to Brussels. Together with the connections from Vienna to Paris and Brussels, these connections will form the backbone of the European night train network from the 2023/24 timetable change.

NJ 40424: Berlin Hbf from 20:18 - Paris Est to 10:24 (Mon, Wed, Fri)
NJ 40469: Paris Est from 19:12 - Berlin Hbf to 08:26 (Tue, Thu, Sat)
NJ 424: Berlin Hbf from 20:18 - Bruxelles Midi to 09:56 (Mon, Wed, Fri)
NJ 425: Bruxelles Midi from 19:03 - Berlin Hbf to 08:26 (Tue, Thu, Sat)

Travelling with the ÖBB Nightjet is not only environmentally friendly, but also comfortable and affordable. Thanks to the early arrival directly in the centre of the destination, travellers can save valuable time and additional hotel costs. Passengers travelling in sleeper and couchette carriages also receive a welcome drink and breakfast served directly in the compartment in the morning before arrival. Tickets for the Nightjet connections will be available from €34.90 per person and direction in the seating carriage, from €54.90 in the couchette carriage and from €79.90 in the sleeper carriage. All tickets include a seat reservation and can be booked at ÖBB travel centres, online in the ÖBB ticket shop, in the ÖBB app and via the ÖBB customer service on +43 5 1717. Further information about the ÖBB Nightjet is available at www.nightjet.com.

Photo: © ÖBB/Marek Knopp