HomeNetworkTrainsStationsTicketsTimetablesCompaniesForumAbout usLinkslanguages

RAILWAY COMPANIES

Companies operating nighttrains in Europe

Until the first decade of the years 2000 Europe used to have a dense nighttrain network connecting almost all major cities. Both the upcoming of low-cost airplanes as well as the low revenues of nighttrains versus day trains led almost to a complete shutdown of overnight rail connections. Privatization of national railway companies and profit-oriented marketing strategies had left no space for the sector. But after citizens had lost the comfortable and sustainable way of overnight travel by rail they have pushed politics to review their decisions. Step by step, international overnight trains are now returning on Europe's rails. Some innovative private companies also entered the market. Due to the high cost of new rolling stock they may not offer the full program with sleepercars but some give a service even better than the incumbents. Big railway companies like DB in Germany or RENFE in Spain have completely dismissed their overnight services but minor companies like the Austrian OEBB have filled the gap and resumed many international services with up-to-date standard. Some national railway companies like Italy's Trenitalia and most Eastern Europe operators never abandoned their domestic services by fulfilling their public duty while others like SNCF in France and SJ in Sweden have big programs to revitalize their services.
There is no doubt – the nighttrain is back in Europe!

BDZ Bǎlgarski dǎržavni železnici
Travel Conditions

The national Bulgarian railway company operates night trains between Sofia, Burgas and Varna. A seasonal international night train between Sofia and Istanbul (Halkali) with a Sleepercar antenna to Bucharest is available, too.
CD České dráhy
Travel Conditions

The Czech national railway company has a few international night trains to neighboring countries with sleeping cars and couchettes. Timetables, routes and fares of these trains are available on Euronox but booking is not yet available.
CFR Căile Ferate Române
Travel Conditions

The Romanian national railway company operates both domestic and international night trains to Hungary and Austria. The trains offer classic overnight services from couchettes to sleepingcars for a reasonable price. Timetables, routes and fares of international nighttrains of CFR are available on Euronox. An online-booking on Euronox is not available so far.
CS Caledonian Sleeper
Travel Conditions

The private Railway service company Serco has been chosen to perform the nighttrains between London and Scotland. With one of Europe's newest trains, the Caledonian Sleeper offers hight standard an comfortable overnight connections to Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Scotish Highlands. Euronox is an official reseller for all overnight trains in Great Britain. All services of Caledonian can be booked online.
ES European Sleeper Exploitatie B.V.
Travel Conditions

With European Sleeper we make connections between countries and cities, connections between people and companies. We will start with a train that runs from Brussels via Amsterdam to Berlin.
GW Great Western Railway
Travel Conditions

The private railway company Great Western Railway performs the night train between London and Cornwall. Sleepingcars offer an high travel comfort and a convenient way to join the Western coast of England. Euronox is an official reseller for all overnight trains in Great Britain. All services of GWR can be booked online.
HZ Hrvatske željeznice
Travel Conditions

The Croatian national railway company has international night train connections to Austria, Germany and Switzerland with sleeping cars and couchettes. Timetables, routes and fares of these trains are available on Euronox. Booking may be done by following the link to OEBB website after the selection of the train on Euronox.
MAV Magyar Államvasutak
Travel Conditions

The Hungarian national railway company has international night train connections to Austria, Germany, Czech Republik, Slovakia and Switzerland with sleeping cars and couchettes. Timetables, routes and fares of these trains are available on Euronox but booking is not yet available.
OEBB Nightjet ÖBB
Travel Conditions

OEBB is one of the major players in international night train traffic in Europe. After German railways left the night train business in 2016, the Austrian national railway company has taken over many connections of the German railways and installed new connections to other European destinations. With the brand Nightjet the OEBB has set new standards for night train travel. Cooperation with railway administrations of neighboring countries enables a wide range of train connections all over Europe. New rolling stock due to enter into service during 2022 will give a further boost to a comfortable overnight trip by railway. Euronox has no official agreement for sales of OEBB services yet but booking may be done by following the link to OEBB website after the selection of the train on Euronox.
PKP Polskie Koleje Państwowe
Travel Conditions

The national railway company of Poland runs both domestic and international nighttrains to Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. International trains to Belarus and Russia are currently suspended. The trains have sleepingcars, couchettes and seatcars. Timetables, routes and fares of some international trains are available on Euronox. More will follow. Booking of these trains may be done by following the link to OEBB website after the selection of the train on Euronox.
RJ RegioJet a.s.
Travel Conditions

A young private railway company from Czech Republic has set up several international nighttrain connections. Their innovative spirit shows how private entrepreneurship can deliver a professional service for overnight rail travel. Currently RJ does not operate sleepingcars on their trains but only couchettes. Euronox is an official sales partner for RegioJet nighttrains.
RZD Russian Railways
Travel Conditions

The Russian national railway is the world leading railway company for long distance and overnight trains. Their overnight train service ranges from low budget Platzkartny (plank bed) to luxurious suites on international trains. RZD trains used to connect Berlin, Nizza, Paris, Warsaw, Vienna, Brno, Salzburg and other Western destinations with Moscow. Due to the Covid pandemic these services are currently suspended. Currently the service remains suspended due to war in Ucrainia (военная спецоперация for Russians).
SJ Statens Järnvägar
Travel Conditions

The Swedish national railway SJ company operates long distance domestic night trains on several routes in Sweden as well as in Norway trough it's subsidiary SJ Norge. All trains have a full range of accommodations with standard sleepingcars, luxury sleepingcars with en-suite shower and WC as well as a restaurant car. Euronox has no official agreement for sales of SJ yet but booking may be done by following the link to SJ website after the selection of the train on Euronox.
SNCF SNCF Voyageurs
Travel Conditions

The French national railway company SNCF operates a few domestic night trains which connect Paris with the south of the country. Services reach as far as Nice and the Spanish border at Cerbère. Currently SNCF does not operate sleepingcars on their trains but only couchettes with 4 bunk beds in first class and 6 bunk beds in second class. French government has announced to expand the network and to improve overnight trains in the near future. Timetables, routes and fares of these trains are available on Euronox but booking is not yet available.
ST Snälltåget
Travel Conditions

The private railway company Snälltåget, a subsidiary of the French Transdev company, has resumed long distance trains between Sweden, Denmark and Germany which had been abandonned by national railway operators. They also operate several domestic overnight trains in Sweden. Currently Snälltåget does not operate sleepingcars on their trains but only couchettes. Euronox has no official agreement for sales of Snälltåget services yet but booking may be done by following the link to SJ website after the selection of the train on Euronox.
TI Trenitalia
Travel Conditions

The Italian national railway company Trenitalia operates numerous domestic night trains on all long distance connections inside the country, including a night train service between Milan or Rome and the Sicily island with transshipment of the train on a ferryboat. Most connections run daily. All trains have couchettes and sleepingcars. Nighttrains to Sicily have extra comfortable (Excelsior) sleepingcars with private shower and WC in every compartment. Euronox is an official sales partner for Trenitalia nighttrains.
UZ Ukrzaliznytsia
Travel Conditions

The Ukrainian national railway company operates many domestic night trains and several international overnight connections to Hungary and Austria as well as Poland. Euronox has no official agreement for sales of UZ services yet but booking of the train between Kiew, Lviv, Budapest and Vienna may be done by following the link to OEBB website after the selection of the train. Services may be subject to interruptions due to the ongoing war.
VR VR-Yhtymä Oy
Travel Conditions

The Finnish national railway VR company - former Valtionrautatiet - operates high quality long distance domestic night trains on several routes in Finnland. The first class international train Leo Tolstoj between Helsinki and Moscow is provided in cooperation with with RZD Russian railways. The international connection is currently suspended due to the Covid Pandemic. Timetables, routes and fares of VR trains are available on Euronox but booking is not yet available.
VYG Vy Norway
Travel Conditions

VY is the Norvegian State Railway operator which provides domestic night trains and sells tickets for all railway companies in Norway. Overnight services with comfortable sleepercars operate on all long distance connections. Timetables, routes and fares of all Norwegian night trains are available on Euronox but booking is not yet available.
ZS Serbian Railways
Travel Conditions

The Serbian national railway company, together with the railway of Montenegro runs the only stable and international overnight train in the Balkans. The train on one of Europe's most scenic railway lines between Belgrade, Podgorica and the Adriatic seaport Bar has become a cult trip for railway travel enthusiast. You may enjoy a slow but relaxing trip on rather nostalgic but decent sleeping cars. Tickets can only be purchased locally. Euronox shows the timetables, route and fares of this train.