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Nightjet is the name for Austrian Railways sleeper trains linking Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £, $) or www.oebb.at (in €)
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Nightjet, the New Generation
33 brand new Nightjet trains are being built by Siemens for ÖBB's (Austrian Railways) Nightjet sleeper service. The first of these innovative new trains entered service in December 2023 on the Hamburg-Vienna/Innsbruck route. Each train has 7 cars: 2 sleeping-cars, 3 couchette cars, 1 multi-function car with seats, luggage space & accessible sleeper compartment, and 1 seats car. This page explains the accommodation & features of the new trains.
Wheelchair-accessible sleepers
For travel in conventional Nightjet trains, see the regular Nightjet page.
Which routes will get these new trains?
Hamburg - Vienna, since 10 December 2023
Hamburg - Munich & Innsbruck, since 10 December 2023
Bregenz & Feldkirch - Vienna, starting 5 March 2024.
All other Nightjet routes use conventional Nightjet rolling stock, see the Nightjet page.
Sleeping-cars
Each 7-car new generation Nightjet train has two sleeping-cars, each with 10 compartments. One compartment is Comfort Plus with 2 transverse beds, a little more floor space and en suite toilet with separate shower cubicle. The other 9 are Comfort with 2 beds alongside the window and an en suite toilet with retractable shower hose. Fixed ladders and no need to convert beds to seats are great improvements over conventional sleepers. All sleeper compartments can be sold as a single or double.
Sleeping-car comfort plus
There are only two comfort plus sleeper compartments in each 7-car train, one in each sleeping-car, with 2 fixed beds (berths 11 & 12), a small table & chair, and a private toilet with separate shower cubicle. The beds come fully made up with sheets, pillow, duvet. Soap & towels are provided. The beds are 192cm (6'4") long.
A control panel lets you adjust temperature, lighting, multi-coloured mood lighting and there's an attendant call button. There are power outlets (European 2-pin 230v type) and USB port at the head end of each bed and free WiFi. The room can be locked from outside with a hotel-style contactless key card.
A complimentary individual bottle of Austrian sparkling wine and small bottle of water are provided. An à la carte breakfast is included, served in your compartment, you pick 6 items from a breakfast menu in the evening. The sleeper attendant can provide room service of tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks & light snacks during the journey, or feel free to take your own bottle of wine or picnic on board.
Sleeping-car comfort plus compartment. The beds are arranged across the car in the comfort plus compartment.
Control panel, en suite shower & toilet, corridor.
Sleeping-car comfort
Each of the two sleeping-cars has 9 comfort sleeper compartments with 2 fixed beds alongside the window, a small table & chair, and private toilet with retractable shower hose. The beds come fully made up with sheets, pillow and duvet. Soap & towels are provided. The beds are 190cm (6'3") long.
A control panel lets you adjust temperature, lighting, multi-coloured mood lighting and there's an attendant call button. There are power outlets (European 2-pin 230v type) and USB port at the head end of each bed and free WiFi. The room can be locked from outside with a hotel-style NFC card.
A complimentary individual bottle of Austrian sparkling wine and small bottle of water are provided for each passenger. An à la carte breakfast is included, served in your compartment, you pick 6 items from a breakfast menu in the evening. The sleeper attendant can provide room service of tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks & light snacks during the journey, or feel free to take your own bottle of wine or picnic on board.
Sleeping-car comfort compartment. The beds are arranged alongside the window in the comfort sleepers.
In the comfort sleepers, the shower & toilet is a wet room, with retractable shower wand.
Couchette car
Each 7-car train has 3 couchette cars. Each couchette car has three 4-berth couchette compartments and 28 mini cabins
The couchette cars are easily recognisable on this side by the 3 couchette compartment windows then the double row of mini cabin windows. Photo taken at the ÖBB technical centre in Vienna. The lower mini-cabins have a slightly larger window, as well as the extra luggage compartment under the mattress.
Couchettes comfort
Each couchette car has three 4-berth couchette compartments, you can book one berth and share with other passengers, or you can book a whole compartment for your family or group. Each berth comes with a fresh clean pillow, double-sheet & blanket which you arrange yourself. Each berth has a reading light, power outlet (European 230v 2-pin type) and USB port and there's free WiFi. Luggage goes in a big space underneath the lower berths. Room lighting & temperature are adjusted using the control panel, a blind covers the window at night. There's a toilet and washroom at the end of the corridor. A light breakfast is included, usually 2 rolls, jam & coffee. The berths are 191cm (6'3") long.
The sexes aren't usually segregated in couchettes, but women travelling alone can book a berth in a women-only compartment. In couchettes, you don't normally fully undress but if your family or group have sole occupancy there's no reason why you can't.
The attendant sells tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks & light snacks during the journey, or feel free to take your own bottle of wine or picnic on board.
Two views of a 4-berth couchette compartment.
There are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor.
Mini Cabins
Mini cabins are the greatest innovation in these new trains. They are fully-enclosed individual sleeping pods for one person, for a fraction of the price of a single-bed sleeper. Think Japanese capsule hotel!
Each mini cabin has a fresh clean pillow, double-sheet & blanket which you arrange yourself. There's a reading light, power outlet (European 230v 2-pin type), USB port, wireless charging pad for mobile phones and free WiFi. A control panel in each mini-cabin lets you adjust the lighting, including multi-coloured mood lighting. There's an attendant call button, the one with the teacup logo. The mini cabins are 188cm (6'2") long.
You'll usually find your mini cabin open when you board. When you close the sliding door, it locks automatically. If you're inside, you can always simply pull the door open using the handle. From outside, you unlock the mini cabin with a hotel-style contactless key card which you're given when staff come around to check your ticket before (or soon after) departure. Simply hold the card against the card reader next to your cabin number, this also unlocks the adjacent luggage & shoe lockers. Remember to take the card when you go to the toilet to avoid locking yourself out!
There's an adjustable table which folds down and slides along a rail, I'm 6' 2" and can easily sit up and type on a laptop on the table in my mini-cabin. There's a folding divider at the head end of each mini cabin which can be opened if a companion is travelling in the adjacent mini cabin. There's a small window with blind. The mini-cabins have excellent air-conditioning, they're well sound-proofed and the ride is remarkably smooth.
There are 2 toilets and a washroom at one end of the corridor, your control panel shows whether each toilet & washroom are free or occupied. There's a tip-up seat in the corridor if you want to sit outside your mini cabin. A light breakfast is included, 2 rolls, jam & coffee.
Luggage in mini cabins
Next to each mini-cabin is a locker for shoes and a locker big enough for a cabin size bag (58 x 46 x 27 cm by my own measurement).
When you hold your key card against your mini cabin's card reader it unlocks both lockers for 7 seconds, a green LED lights up and you can open them. If unopened, they lock again after 7 seconds. If opened, they lock again when you close them.
If you have a lower mini-cabin there's also a hidden luggage compartment under the mattress, (103cm x 47cm x about 25cm by my own measurement).
Larger suitcases can be placed on the large racks in the multi-function car and secured with wire cables that are also locked using your contactless key card.
Is upper or lower best?
There's not a lot in it, but lower mini-cabins have a slight edge. They're easier to get in & out of, they have that handy extra luggage space under the mattress and a slightly larger window. The wall at the head end is vertical not inwardly-sloping as in an upper minicabin, so easier on the back when sitting upright.
Mini cabins shown open & closed, with adjacent lockers.
Above left, a lower mini cabin, pillow, sheet & blanket provided. Above centre, water is provided, bring your own wine! Above right, a light breakfast is included.
At the head end, a divider to the next mini-cabin can be opened if you're travelling with a friend. Note the control panel, power outlet and wireless charging pad. Above right, playing with the ambient lighting!
Above left, opening the mini cabin & lockers with a key card. Above centre, each mini-cabin gets a secure locker which fits a cabin bag (58cm x 46cm x 27cm). Above right, there's also a well-hidden extra luggage compartment under the mattress in the lower mini-cabins (103cm x 47cm x about 25cm).
Multi-function car & seats car
Wheelchair-accessible sleeper
Each train has one multi-function car with a low-floor area in the centre. In the low-floor area there's a level-access entrance door, an accessible toilet and wheelchair accessible 4-berth couchette compartment for up to 2 people in wheelchairs plus up to 2 companions. Generally, the beds are set up as couchettes with sheets, pillow and blanket provided, but service is as for a sleeper with complimentary individual bottle of Austrian sparkling wine and an à la carte breakfast, you choose 6 items from a breakfast menu in the evening.
Two views of the spacious 4-berth accessible sleeper compartment. An accessible toilet is adjacent.
The multi-function car, note the low-floor section in the centre of the car with level boarding.
Seat car & luggage area
Each train has a seats car at one end of the 7-car train, with a smaller section of seats in the adjacent multi-function car. Some of the seats are raised, so luggage can go underneath. The multi-function car also has a large luggage area, with cable ties to secure bags, locked with a contactless key card, for example your mini-cabin key.
Seats car, and (above right) the luggage area in the multi-function car.
Luggage can be secured with cables that lock using an NFC card.
The multi-function car has an area for 6 bikes and for skis.
Travel tips
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Don't worry if your ticket doesn't show all your names
Passenger names aren't important, just one name is enough to prove that a self-print ticket is yours, however many people it is for.
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Berth numbering
In the sleeping-cars, the comfort plus sleeper compartment contains berths 11 & 12. The comfort sleepers are numbered 21 & 22, 31 & 32, 41 & 42 and so on, up to 91 & 92. The first digit is the compartment number, the second digit is 1 for a lower berth and 2 for an upper.
In the couchette cars, mini cabins are numbered 11-74, where the first digit designates the bay of 4, the second digit is 1 or 2 for a lower mini cabin and 3 or 4 for an upper. So for example, the second block of mini cabins along will be numbered 21, 22, 23 & 24. The three 4-berth couchette compartments have berths numbered 81-84, 91-94, 101-104, where the last digit is 1 or 2 for a lower berth, 3 or 4 for an upper.
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Luggage
As long as you can carry it you can take it, no-one worries about its size or weight. You take all your luggage into your sleeper or couchette compartment with you, so have access to your bags throughout the journey. See the mini cabin section for advice about luggage in mini cabins. In the seats, luggage goes either under your seat or on the racks where it can be secured with a cable locked with an NFC card.
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Children under 6 - important!
Children under 6 go free, but without a bed. If you're happy with that, you don't need to buy a ticket for them. If you want them to have their own bed, you should enter their age as 7 so you pay the child fare and they get a berth.
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Dogs
Dogs travel for €29 paid to the staff on board, as long as you (and any travelling companions) have sole occupancy of an entire couchette or sleeper compartment. Guide dogs travel for free.
Small animals are carried free of charge if (a) they're in a secure container not exceeding 90cm x 60cm x 40cm and (b) you have sole occupancy of a whole couchette or sleeper compartment.
Dogs & pets can't be taken in a mini cabin.
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Bikes
Up to 6 bikes are carried on these new generation Nightjets, reservation required for a small fee. Add a bike to your passenger details at www.oebb.at and book the train.
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Food & drink on board
In sleepers there's a room service menu with a good but limited selection of wine, beer, soft drinks, snacks and hot dishes. The hot dishes are microwaved, but tasty and served on proper china with metal cutlery. To order, just push the attendant call button, the one marked with a teacup logo on your control panel. Your order will be taken and served in your sleeper.
In couchettes & mini cabins you won't have a menu, but can order food & drink by pressing the teacup logo on your control panel and asking staff. For a sample menu go to www.nightjet.com, look under Travel categories then Services on the train.
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Dinner before you board?
There's no restaurant car on Nightjet trains, so have dinner before you board or feel free to take a picnic & bottle of wine with you into your sleeper or couchette! A decent meal is a good way to fill time between a day's sightseeing and a late night sleeper train departure.
In Amsterdam, I recommend the Cafe 1e Klas on platform 2, see here for more information.
In Munich, I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf for great Bavarian food & beer, see walking map. There's a similar restaurant near Munich Ost, see details here.
In Cologne, I recommend the Brauhaus Sion (www.brauhaus-sion.de) 5 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf, or the Malzmuehle restaurant (www.muehlenkoelsch.de) 10-15 minutes walk away.
In Innsbruck, try the Stiftskeller (www.stiftskeller.eu), a restaurant & beer hall in the heart of Innsbruck's old town, a 1.1 km 13 minute walk from the station, see walking map.
In Basel, for traditional Swiss fare try the Restaurant Steinbock (www.restaurantsteinbock.ch), across the road (and 200m to the right) from Basel SBB.
In Zurich, for schnitzel & fries and a beer I recommend the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse, www.brasserie-federal.ch. For upmarket dining with great reviews try Da Capo, www.restaurant-dacapo.ch in a corner of the old station building.
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Where to wait for your train
At Vienna Hbf, Salzburg & Innsbruck passengers with tickets for any type of sleeper (meaning sleeper, not couchettes) can use the ÖBB Lounge for up to 1½ hours before departure or 1½ hours after arrival, with free WiFi & complimentary tea, coffee, beer & snacks.
At Amsterdam Centraal, the Cafe 1e Klas on platform 2 makes a great VIP waiting room, more information here.
At Brussels Midi, the Pullman Hotel bar makes a great VIP waiting room, it's an integral part of the station, more information here.
There is now no lounge in Zurich or Basel. As all Nightjet tickets are technically 2nd class, even for deluxe sleepers, you can't use the 1st class DB Lounges at German stations or the NS International lounge at Amsterdam Centraal.
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Where to stand on the platform
Nightjets are often long trains with cars bound for multiple destinations. There's usually a train composition poster in a display case somewhere on the platform which shows the formation of the train and where each car will be when the train arrives. If you're in car 462 and that car is shown on the plan as stopping in 'sector E' go and stand next to the big 'E' sign hanging from the platform canopy. This saves running up and down looking for your car like a headless chicken. At some stations, the departure indicators also show this information.
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Information on your train formation & its carriages
You can check the consist for each Nightjet train, check the car numbers and see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled in your train using the excellent Vagonweb site, www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria or Germany (or Italy, etc.) and click nj for Nightjet.
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Station guides
Vienna Hbf, Innsbruck Hbf, Cologne Hbf, Berlin Hbf, Munich Hbf, Hamburg Hbf, Amsterdam Centraal, Brussels Midi, Zurich HB, Rome Termini, Florence SMN, Venice Santa Lucia, Milan Porta Garibaldi.
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You can find and download the Nightjet brochure with route map and timetable at the ÖBB Nightjet website www.nightjet.com.
In sleepers, a complimentary individual bottle of sparkling wine is included, as is an à la carte breakfast, you pick 6 items from a breakfast menu in the evening.
Fares
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Fares start at €29.20 in a seat, €58.20 with a couchette or private mini cabin, €107.40 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €159 with a single-bed sleeper. Fares are dynamic, so book early as they rise as departure date approaches and the cheaper tickets are sold.
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Family fare for a whole private couchette compartment: A family or small group of 1 or 2 adults and 1-4 children can book a whole private 4 berth couchette compartment from around €199 upwards on Nightjet routes. Only available if you book at www.oebb.at. But also check regular fares at int.bahn.de to check what's cheapest.
How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com: It's easy to buy tickets for most Nightjet routes at www.thetrainline.com, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee. You simply print your own ticket. www.thetrainline.com will book most Nightjet routes.
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Buy tickets at www.oebb.at: You can also book all Nightjet trains at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at, in €, a little more fiddly, it's been known to reject some overseas credit cards, but no fee.
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Buy tickets to/from Amsterdam at the www.nsinternational.nl, in €, no fee. This is the Dutch Railways international website.
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Booking for Nightjet trains opens up to 6 months ahead, although the booking horizon can be shorter than this, especially for dates after a timetable change on the 2nd Saturday in June and the 2nd Saturday in December. More about when booking opens.
Interrail & Eurail reservations
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How to make passholder reservations:
Interrail & Eurail passholder reservations can be made at the Austrian Railways (ÖBB) website following the instructions here (use method 1).
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Reservation fees: From 2024, passholder reservation fees are dynamic, they vary like air fares according to demand, the minimum and maximum prices are shown below. All of these accommodation types can be booked with either a 1st or 2nd class pass, it makes no difference to the price. Prices are per person per bed.
Seat €4.90 to €19.90.
Mini cabin €24.90-€64.90. Couchette in 4-berth compartment €24.90-€64.90.
Bed in 3-bed sleeper €64.90-€124.90, bed in 2-bed sleeper €64.90-€154.90, single bed sleeper €149.90-€309.90.
Bed in 3-bed comfort plus sleeper €89.90-€214.90, bed in 2-bed comfort plus sleeper €109.90-€264.90, single bed €249.90-€469.90.