Europe's Night Train Revival Stalling: Don't Let It Hit the Buffers
The European Union's ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by mid-century has sparked hope for a romantic revival of the continent's night train network. However, after an initial wave of excitement, progress is stalling due to insufficient government action.
The EU had previously assumed that low-cost flights would put the golden era of night trains out of reach. Nevertheless, new environmental imperatives suggested that they could be part of a greener future, delivering a climate impact 28 times less than flying. The European Commission identified potential new routes, which were deemed economically viable.
Unfortunately, Brussels and national governments have failed to address several challenges, leading to the scrapping of a two-year-old night service linking Paris with Vienna and Berlin after state subsidies were removed. Another popular route, Basel-Copenhagen-Malmö, has been derailed due to the withdrawal of state funding. Demand for night trains is not the issue; studies show that 69% of Europeans would support an expanded network.
However, bureaucratic hurdles are preventing progress. VAT charges on international routes are still in place, allowing air travel to remain cheaper, and track access charges are more expensive for longer journeys. The lack of new rolling stock means services are booked months in advance, using outdated carriages that have seen better days.
To overcome these obstacles, governments need to simplify the playing field by dropping VAT charges on cross-border routes and reducing or suspending track access charges. This would encourage investors and create a more level playing field with air travel. The EU needs to provide financial backing and strategic thinking to support the revival of night trains.
Public support is resounding, with 75,000 people signing a petition to preserve a Paris Nightjet service and "pyjama party" protests staged at stations in 11 European cities to draw attention to the stalled revival. The EU must convert enthusiasm into tangible gains by giving the public what they want – an affordable, modernized night train network that delivers environmental benefits.
The mystique of a night-time journey across Europe still captivates millions. Governments must now prioritize action over rhetoric and deliver on their promise to create a more sustainable transportation system.
The European Union's ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by mid-century has sparked hope for a romantic revival of the continent's night train network. However, after an initial wave of excitement, progress is stalling due to insufficient government action.
The EU had previously assumed that low-cost flights would put the golden era of night trains out of reach. Nevertheless, new environmental imperatives suggested that they could be part of a greener future, delivering a climate impact 28 times less than flying. The European Commission identified potential new routes, which were deemed economically viable.
Unfortunately, Brussels and national governments have failed to address several challenges, leading to the scrapping of a two-year-old night service linking Paris with Vienna and Berlin after state subsidies were removed. Another popular route, Basel-Copenhagen-Malmö, has been derailed due to the withdrawal of state funding. Demand for night trains is not the issue; studies show that 69% of Europeans would support an expanded network.
However, bureaucratic hurdles are preventing progress. VAT charges on international routes are still in place, allowing air travel to remain cheaper, and track access charges are more expensive for longer journeys. The lack of new rolling stock means services are booked months in advance, using outdated carriages that have seen better days.
To overcome these obstacles, governments need to simplify the playing field by dropping VAT charges on cross-border routes and reducing or suspending track access charges. This would encourage investors and create a more level playing field with air travel. The EU needs to provide financial backing and strategic thinking to support the revival of night trains.
Public support is resounding, with 75,000 people signing a petition to preserve a Paris Nightjet service and "pyjama party" protests staged at stations in 11 European cities to draw attention to the stalled revival. The EU must convert enthusiasm into tangible gains by giving the public what they want – an affordable, modernized night train network that delivers environmental benefits.
The mystique of a night-time journey across Europe still captivates millions. Governments must now prioritize action over rhetoric and deliver on their promise to create a more sustainable transportation system.
. They had it all figured out - fewer carbon emissions, cheaper fares, and a romantic getaway vibe... but now it's just gathering dust 
. The gov't needs to simplify things, like dropping VAT charges and track access fees, so we can finally see some progress on this project 
. And, like, what's with the lack of new rolling stock? It's like they're expecting us to travel in ancient carriages 
. 69% of Europeans want this, folks! It's time for some action, not just empty promises 
. The EU needs to put its money where its mouth is and give us a night train network that's actually worth traveling on 
. Come on, gov't! Don't let the night trains hit the buffers...
It's not like it's going to break the bank or anything. They just need to simplify the rules and give some financial support to get it off the ground. Come on EU, don't let your dreams of being green and sustainable get derailed! 
. But seriously, it's not that hard for them to make night trains cheaper by scrapping those VAT charges. It's like they're trying to make air travel look good in comparison 
. And what's with the track access charges? It's like they want us to be stuck in the 90s 
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. They're all talk, no action when it comes to reviving the night train network. I mean, we've got 75k people already signing petitions and hosting "pyjama parties" at stations... that's some serious momentum! But until they drop those VAT charges and track access fees, nothing's gonna change 
. We need concrete plans, financial backing, and a clear strategy - no more excuses! 
69% of Europeans support expanded networks lol why not just make it happen already? 
75k ppl signed a petition for Paris Nightjet like what's da diff btw?
. first of all, they gotta sort out these VAT charges on international routes - it's ridiculous that air travel is still cheaper than night trains 
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. and track access charges? more expensive for longer journeys? what's the point of investing in a greener future if we're just gonna stick with old-fashioned bureaucratic red tape 
. and can we talk about how outdated our carriages are? i mean, i've seen better-maintained buses on rural routes 
. seriously though, governments need to step up their game and give night trains the support they deserve 
! The EU's all about making promises, but when it comes down to it, they're not following through. They keep saying one thing, but it's always "we'll sort it out later" or "it's too complicated". Give me a break! 
. Like, yeah sure, regulations can be a pain in the neck, but come on! The EU has the power to make changes, so why aren't they doing it? 
. But no, instead of addressing the real issues (like VAT charges and track access fees), they're just making excuses. It's time for some real action, not just a bunch of empty promises 
. The EU needs to step up their game and make night trains a reality again. Come on, guys! 
compared to flying, right? And yeah, I mean 69% of Europeans are all about expanding the network... that's a pretty big majority 
- a night train revival in Europe is supposed to be the answer to reducing carbon emissions, but it's stalling out due to bureaucratic red tape 
. But, apparently, governments can't even agree on how to make it happen 
️. And, come on, who doesn't want to take a romantic night journey across Europe? 
It's not like it's rocket science (although, I guess the trains do need new rolling stock 
. We need more than just words - we need action! 
. Let's get this night train revival back on track (no pun intended) 
it's like they're stuck in neutral and not giving these trains the love they deserve 
those 75,000 people who signed that petition are clearly onto something - we need affordable, modernized night trains that can compete with air travel 
. if you have the demand and the public support, why not deliver? all this fuss about "strategic thinking" and financial backing just sounds like corporate jargon 
. and what's with the outdated carriages anyway? can't they afford to upgrade a bit? 
and petitions aren't gonna cut it when we're talking about actual change 
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. We need concrete action 
and give the public what we want - a modern, affordable night train network 
. I get why the EU's all about reducing carbon emissions, but come on, it feels like they're not taking things seriously enough. They've got some good ideas, but the execution is where they're falling short 
. The public wants this night train revival to happen, but it's gonna take some serious action on the EU's part to make it a reality 
i mean 69% of europeans want this thing to happen and they're not even getting any subsidies anymore 
the mystique of night trains is still strong and it's time for governments to step up their game 
. With bureaucratic hurdles getting in the way, it's hard to see how progress can be made. The lack of action from governments is leaving people frustrated and eager for change 
and honestly 75k people signing a petition for a night train service is pretty amazing