According to the NS and ÖBB, the night train is making a comeback as a sustainable alternative to the airplane. A train ride from Amsterdam to Vienna saves 350 kilograms of CO2 emissions compared to the plane, according to the ÖBB.
Decades ago, many European cities were accessible from the Netherlands by sleeper train, such as Minsk, Copenhagen and Milan. In 2016 the last daily sleeper train discontinued from the Netherlands. The ÖBB in particular is investing heavily in a European network of night trains, with connections to Rome, Hamburg and Berlin, among others.
Subsidy contested
The new scheduled service is supported by a Dutch subsidy of 6.7 million euros, because market research has shown that otherwise carriers would not be able to offer a similar service before 2023.
A group of commercial transport companies tried to stop that subsidy at the Board of Appeals for Business, but said so yesterday do not see “urgent interest” to block the grant. A final verdict will follow.
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