14 HOURS in Deluxe Nightjet Sleeper train: Amsterdam to Vienna

[@karmesindryade]

ÖBB with their Europe wide network of NIghtjet trains is now correcting all the mistakes that the other European train companies made during the last 40 years. One can't congratulate ÖBB enough for their wise decision, and I really hope that sleeper trains will be a regular means of transport soon.

[@unkreativnet]

Seeing the german over-night-trains being cancelld I am very happy about the Nightjet

[@philipptielmann]

interestingly enough those nichtjets used to be Deutsche Bahn material and ÖBB bought them off.

[@Zoza15]

It seems sleeper trains will be the norm for the entirety of Europe. This makes transport options extremely convenient especially among EU member states.

[@rescuemod]

"...is now correcting all the mistakes that the other European train companies made during the last 40 years". Come to the Netherlands and say that again 🤨

[@karmesindryade]

@@rescuemod Maybe I don't understand your comment. I know that Nederlandse Spoorwegen runs a really great rail network - I travel it a lot and i like it. My comment to this video was just about night trains - and I think that ÖBB is the leader in this business in Europe and I hope that the other companies will follow them or even excel.

[@Bobrogers99]

Unless you're in a hurry, this is the better way to travel in Europe. No hassles, no queues, and you have your own comfortable space with legroom!

[@BubblesBub434]

I kinda disagree as someone who has now taken exactly this train a couple times already. It's expensive- especially if you want some privacy. It requires booking well ahead of time. And the quality is really not that good. If you have any predisposition to motion sickness, laying on a bed perpendicular to direction of travel is killing. It doesn't help that nightjet uses 'refurbished' 25-45 year old coaches. While I agree that airline experiences aren't comfortable either (especially with the issues at Schiphol as well as across Europe now...), I'd say daytime trains are a good contrasting alternative. There's a big market gap for a more modern, streamlined experience here in Europe. Japanese/US style night trains would work much better for so many people. And nightjet has realized this. 30 new trainsets with single sleeping pods are apparently going to be introduced as early as next year.

[@shadowhunterrx]

No thanks. As a Dutch person myself I would rather skip traveling with train from Amsterdam. Getting there from the South Netherlands is already a pain with extra costs outside train tickets, full trains and with alot of pickpocket between Rotterdam and Amsterdam. It's pure hell traveling with bags. Rather travel to Brussels and jump to trains from there and its cheaper too.

[@nanderv]

@@shadowhunterrx It also stops in Utrecht and Arnhem though

[@chrisk9613]

@@BubblesBub434 I should've taken the 1.5 hour flight from Vienna to Amsterdam instead of this train. Terrible experience. The only consolation was finding solidarity with all the other dissatisfied passengers!

[@chrisk9613]

@@BubblesBub434 Also, good point about the discomfort of sleeping perpendicular to the train tracks. I hadn't realized that's why I was so uncomfortable, other than the poor quality of the bed itself.

[@mrborito8604]

I use this exact train at least 3 times a year to get to Vienna to travel even further to Slovakia. It's relatively cheap for the comfort you get and they are pretty much always on time. The staff is always very helpfull and meeting new people there on every train ride brings so much fun along with interesting converstaions. I can truly recomend doing this trip since going to bed and waking up in vienna is such a relaxing way of traveling.

[@beeman2075]

Thanks for your post on this sleeper train journey that you and Paul have both taken. Can I ask if you find it easy to fall asleep on the train during this journey? i.e, if there is not too much 'sway' and ambient rail 'click-clack' noise that enters the cabin? It looks like a wonderful way to travel while being mostly asleep.

[@mrborito8604]

@@beeman2075 hey sorry for the very late answer, yes for me its easy but some might find it harder to fall asleep. If noises easily distutb you i'd recommend using earplugs but other than that it is super easy to travel like that. :)

[@panoshountis1516]

Great video. To be honest, I would gladly spend a night in a sleeper train rather than go through the hassle of dealing with the current chaos in airports across Europe.

[@MattLaurie]

us too!

[@dschoene57]

Took the sleeper from Berlin to Vienna countless times. Back then I was working at Erste Bank, which have their headquarters literally right next to the train station. I had something like 80m from the end of the platform to my desk. Good ol' days

[@marionbayley1351]

About 40 years ago, we did a trip with my parents and 8 year old daughter to Austria and used Continental Motor-ail over night from ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands to Saltzburg. We shared a 6 berth couchette & it was very comfortable. Arriving in Saltzburg in time for breakfast was wonderful. We also saved at least 2 nights’ hotel bills.

[@shelaghjackson9577]

That looks like a nicely run service! I used to take the sleepers up and down between Edinburgh and London as a student in the 70’s...loved them. The steward would wake you up in the morning with hot coffee and shortbread!

[@mrpsukmr1871]

I use to love the sleeper from London to Aberdeen in the 80's, but it's so expensive now, £250.!! Shame, I would love to do it again.

[@ronik24]

3:17 just to precise: that might be specific to Amsterdam, usually you can access lounges with sleeping car tickets, no matter what class the base ticket is. That is definitely the case with ÖBB lounges. 10:20 of course, these are all quite old cars, more than 30 new Nightjet trains with new concepts (like single sleeping pods) will be introduced next year featuring all modern amenities. 11:00 Actually, you can lay the seats completely flat to be quite comfy as a bed, so it is an option if you are young and sharing the compartment with people you know.

[@gilles111]

It is a Dutch Railway case, they specifically set the lounge access to first class international passengers only, you can't enter with a first class domestic ticket either.

[@uncinarynin]

@@gilles111 All lounges in Austria are accessible to sleeping-car passengers. However their opening hours aren't always convenient: While it's fine in Wien or Graz, the lounge in Linz closes well before the last nightjets depart so you have to spend the time in the common waiting area of the platform or go to McDonald's. To make the NS lounge accessible I guess ÖBB would need to make a contract and pay ....

[@stephanweinberger]

@11:00 the seats do actually pull out/fold down to form a somewhat flat surface, covering the whole compartment. You can book a whole seating compartment for up to 3 pax for just 99€ total, so it's actually quite a good deal for youths or even families.

[@uncinarynin]

Also in Austria nightjet trains are accessible to shorter-distance passengers travelling late at night or early in the morning, they won't go to sleep. I take this for the one hour tour back from Graz to Leoben quite regularly.

[@annaf3915]

I think it's the best option for travelling with small children because I don't have to worry about them falling off the bed.

[@infobulb]

Gold comment bro!

[@OmegaSoypreme]

Time to get motivated travel again! I haven't left Western Australia since late 2019. Train travel in Europe is one my favourites and I can't wait to do some more of it.

[@ehmha3641]

Just make sure you avoid germany. Travelling by train here is a pain in the arse. I can't even put into words how awful it really is

[@Niranjan_Mavath]

@@ehmha3641 Could you explain why it's different in Germany from the rest of EU?

[@ehmha3641]

@@Niranjan_Mavath massive delays (I am talking about hours not a couple of minutes)massive cancelations, a/cs usually dont work, they usually run out of food, unsafe, overcrowded, unfriendly

[@ehmha3641]

@@xr6lad yup they're great but other than that 😑 I commute daily and idk how many hours of my life I have waisted waiting for trains. It's horrific🙈 love Australia btw.😊

[@davidhogben1455]

@@ehmha3641 If you think train travel is bad in Germany , try the UK , the most expensive rail fares in Europe by a long way , whatever the weather there are delays , cancellations, and oh look this week we have no trains as they are on strike again

[@raphgeld1271]

I’ve taken lots of these nightjets just in the seats this year, as well as a couple of times in a sleeper cabin. If you luck out in your seat compartment and only have a maximum of two others with you, you can fold the seats out to make a bed of sorts. Couple that with your own bedding and it isn’t too bad at all!

[@elgoog-the-third]

Really depends on the kind of seating cars they provide. On some lines, it's German IC cars, the seats there don't fold at all unfortunately

[@thomasmcanea8531]

Great video, thanks Paul. I have taken the Nightjet before as well as other sleepers in Europe and the UK - I am a big fan. It is an enjoyable way to travel and very much the future for journeys between European cities. Short haul flights are simply unsustainable and we need more rail services to keep us moving without harming the environment. Airports are so unpleasant too!

[@morristonian]

I took this journey in 2019 , it sounded good but I used the couchettes with 6 beds in a cabin, it was a nightmare! Rock hard beds and disturbed by people entering and leaving throughout the journey. Paul was smart to get a solo sleeper and after looking at the economics of it , he was right.

[@ronik24]

Yes, if you take a couchette at least get a 4-berth. 6-berth is just claustrophobic. But you could not have taken this journey in 2019, the train was introduced in 2021.

[@morristonian]

@@ronik24 sorry to disappoint you but I just checked and it was October 7th 2019. I wanted to get the train up to Copenhagen but the weather was filthy everywhere that I went so I used my Eurail Pass and took the overnight sleeper train to Vienna. In fact I never left the station and travelled on to Bratislava and Budapest where the weather was perfect.

[@Paul_Lucas]

It can’t have run from Amsterdam. This Nightjet route opened in May 2021, as an extension of an existing service from Düsseldorf.

[@morristonian]

@@Paul_Lucas Paul...I'm being honest!..I bought the ticket as an overnight from Amsterdam to Vienna. Perhaps they had it labelled in another fashion but there were 6 beds in a carriage. I'd have been better served spending the extra like you did because I was knackered when I got into Vienna.

[@ronik24]

@@morristonian If you did this journey in 2019, you had to change trains in Germany. No regular overnight train from the Netherlands to Austria existed at this time. Only some seasonal tourist trains into the Alps, but these are not usable with regular tickets, and they did not go to Vienna. Also, no international train from Copenhagen ran further than Hamburg at this time. Absolutely no direct connection Netherlands - Denmark exists.

[@asdsdjfasdjxajiosdqw8791]

Sleeper trains really are the closest thing we have to teleportation.

[@davevanbeers6944]

Thank you for this video, as an employee of NS International it's always nice to see what a journey like that looks like! I hope you had a great time!

[@SteveSmithRailways]

Great to see another railway video from you. Wouldn't mind doing that trip. Also good to see the booking proceedure online. I'm sure this will help many.

[@marcd6897]

I’ve done nearly the same route, and I’m loving it. The food is good, and the breakfast is standard but really really good incl. fresh rolls or bread.

[@thomasmooreCQ]

This is the nightjet route that's at the top of my bucket list. I may make it part of a larger trip.

[@johnpickles974]

Have taken many night trains in Europe, they are so good! Stockholm to Narvik was great! Will be traveling all over France, Spain, Portugal and Italy starting in September for 3 months

[@DerQn66]

The Arctic Circle Express is a phantastic ride. I took it in a sleeper car once from Narvik to Stockholm. It is really worth going.

[@mikefreeman9251]

I had the deluxe solo sleeper from Venice to Vienna. A sleeper train was an experience i always dreamed of doing as a kid. It was nice to have my own shower then get a solid night's sleep as the train swayed me to sleep

[@xyxy5978]

Do you think it is comfortable enough for elderly people or those who have back pain?

[@mikefreeman9251]

@@xyxy5978 it's comfortable but as a couple you'd have to use the bunk bed option cause the beds are only singles. Bunk beds might be hard for elderly

[@xyxy5978]

@@mikefreeman9251 Thanks you.

[@gerrib1633]

Love sleeper trains across Europe. Convenient and easy.

[@peterpocock9062]

Absolutely I would use the Night Jet service. Thanks for your review

[@extarv]

I just took the nightjet for my summer holidays. The all new comfort couchettes are awesome! I really enjoyed the ride.

[@Jl777100]

American here - and I absolutely love this and wish we had this. I know you can do this on Amtrak, but the system is not as robust as it is in Europe. I've also heard about a sleeper bus between San Francisco and Los Angeles, but that is probably not as good as a train.

[@guilhermetavares4705]

Night buses are very popular here in Brazil.

[@xyxy5978]

@@guilhermetavares4705 How do they look? Are they like normal buses or are they different?

[@pavelittoch8245]

I remember very well how i took a nighttrain from Zurich to Vienna back in 2009. i was 19 an travelling through Europe on a very tight budget. Booked a regular seat because i thought i wasnt going to sleep much anyway, just drink a few beers and stuff. ended up sleeping on the floor for a couple of hours. good times

[@FalconsEye58094]

I wish we could see a similar renaissance of railways in general in the US, sleeper trains might be an excellent way to start if it makes a long journey in an overnight trip, the best option is currently the Acela which you've previously reviewed and said it wasn't worth the hefty price it commands

[@ronclark9724]

The Northwest Regional on the same northeast corridor of Acela is a much better value, although slightly longer in time... Amtrak has a number of sleeper trains although the cars are approaching their 50th birthday... As Paul has noted, all of Amtrak's sleeper trains are comfortable, even the small roomette...

[@morgan97475]

That looked great. If we ever get back to Europe, we will certainly try this train.

[@areebahmedshariff2842]

Need more sleeper train review from Europe

[@missVmilne]

Yes, I would take a sleeper train. This is such a civilised moode of transportation. Thank you for sharing the details and your insights. Stay well and positive : - )

[@anderslarsen6009]

I have used the Euronight service between Copenhagen and München a few times when it existed. I would gladly use a night train service out of Copenhagen again if it existed.

[@pip6866]

Took an overnight train from Calais to Geneva in a couchette for 6 on a school trip back in 1964. Not alot seems to have changed apart from the addition of showers on trains. It was great fun as a 14 year old kid.

[@brynndillon8200]

Have only taken a night train in the UK, but would do it anywhere in Europe! Trains truly are the best way to travel. Wish we had better trains in the US!

[@micheleerba]

This video totally reminded me my nightjet travels from Munich to Milan in the past years when I lived in Germany. What a memory.

[@FraserAtSea]

This looks like a lovely way to travel, and the food on here looks decent too. As someone who’s now a seasoned solo traveller, the thought of THREE people in one of those cabins terrifies me! Haha

[@harsh4834]

I recently travelled all over Austria in bus/flixbus. Never knew OBB trains were these good. Thanks for the video

[@georgiebestmanutd4746]

The journey IS the destination

[@alexkalmanofsky8542]

Thanks SO much for showing how to book online! I can't wait to try this train. It looks fantastic.

[@dhanamjayas]

I like the relaxed train travel with bath. It must be cheaper and comfortable than plane travel Plus hotel room plus taxi fares.

[@GalateaRik]

Super Video. Many years ago traveled Paris - Venice in sleeper, loved it. Does one tip the car attendant these days? Even earlier worked one trip on Nostalgic Orient Express Paris - Istanbul as Asst. tour manager. Don't miss the border crossings in the old Soviet/Eastern Europe.

[@seewulf1993]

You can even book a entire seating compartment for you "Privatabteil Sitzwagen" and form with the 6 seats a quite good bed for up to two travelers. (The last option for me if the sleeper is sold out. )

[@EibaProductions]

Hey, whenever you have a sleeping car-ticket, you can use the lounge in Austria. Both is possible, 1,5 hours before departure or 1,5 hours after arrival. Before Covid, the lounge was even stocked with beer and wine.

[@kpdowd4221]

Can’t wait to take a sleeper train Europe. Loved, loved, loved this video.

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always! Sleeper trains and over night ferries are a good two for one deal. Hotel and getting from A to B at the same time. Be safe!

[@eriklundquist8842]

I live in the US and this summer I’ll be traveling to Europe for the first time since 2019. I wanted to get from Paris to Milan overnight and I was disappointed to see that the Thello service ended in 2021. Your video shows my favorite way to travel across the continent and I can’t wait to try NightJet! Thanks, Paul!

[@keithparker2206]

Great video. Will be doing the reverse trip from Innsbruck to Amsterdam in 4 weeks time (only the fourth booking since the start of the pandemic so hopefully, this time I will actually get on the train). Is the final leg of an Interrail trip taking in Holland, Germany, Czechia, and Austria.

[@petern6808]

Love trains!! Thanks for taking us along! 🇨🇦

[@uncinarynin]

CityNightLine (1995 to 2010 or so) used to have dining cars (the impressive "1000 stars restaurant") but they were only occupied in the evening and morning with several hours without business in the night. So they were abandoned even before the end of CNL. ÖBB never had dining cars in its EuroNight and nightjet trains, instead offering compartment meal service. The meals are warmed up in the little office compartments at the end of the car. It is one of the measures to make the nightjet make not too much of a loss. Another measure is to give the staff many different roles: The same person checking your ticket and taking your order is watching the departure of the train and even doing technical tasks such as coupling/uncoupling where required, cooking your evening meal and preparing your breakfast. The beds are pre-made during the day before the train departs.

[@tmgarcia2002]

Did it in 2020, from Bonn to Wien and back. Bad decision to take the seating compartments, hardly no sleep for the whole 10 or so hrs. The deluxe sleepers look good, i will try that for my planned Hamburg-Milano trip.

[@leland33946]

Good to see you back at sleeper trains. I have miss that. You make really the best reports. Thanks Paul for this perfect Review! 💯💯💯❤❤❤🥰👌🙏

[@nowysacz69]

If you are lucky and have whole compartment to yourself - seats are movable and you can have pretty big bed for yourself! I travelled that way overnight from Munich to Venice. Not bad.

[@ericasarat1834]

I love that they gave you a snack. We all need those from time to time.

[@raymondleongdiva]

Very informative. Thanks becos I am targeting to travel to Amsterdam and Vienna from Singapore 🇸🇬 sometime next year. Great video!

[@paulhg1ztn]

The last over night sleep I took was back in 1995 from Oostende to Interlaken in a couchette Many happy memories

[@debramage739]

Cheers Paul, more comfy than I thought. Nice journey.

[@carolyng5133]

You did a great job showing the accommodations! Love from Maine USA

[@daaleshimi]

I've just booked this exact trip but reverse from Vienna to Amsterdam for October. Thank you for such detailed video as it's helped me decide which kind of ticket to buy :D

[@curtbonnell4308]

I love train travel so I would do that trip in a heartbeat.

[@adamcressy6227]

I'm watching some of these as am planning a Europe train holiday next June, only 9 days but these sleeper trains look a lot better than I thought and cheaper than hotels so will be using nightjet and the ferry train in Italy

[@MattLaurie]

would recommend the Bucharest to Budapest train we just took, it was lovely!

[@soniauk4284]

Definitely would take a trip in Europe on the sleeper train. Great video as always XX 🙏🙏

[@Chieltjo]

Thanks for this video! We'll be taking this train sometime in the future.

[@sarah-janejones2076]

Looks great I would definitely give it a go! 👍

[@EpicThe112]

7:41-7:58 All Brussels/Amsterdam to Innsbruck/Wien Nightjet trips use Main Spessart Bahn Aschaffenburg Lohr Wurzburg section via the Lohr Connector Line. Wien/Innsbruck-Amsterdam Centraal used to Terminate at Dusseldorf Hbf that's why when it had Autoracks Dutch Licence Plates are a common sight on them. Excellent Job Lucas

[@redpastawench]

So glad to see sleepers come back! A far more relaxed way to travel. I am definitely takeing the train to Vienna next time I go there!

[@faryalalam7730]

Wow. You are living your life. All the best. Happy travels.

[@rickloduca394]

Thanks Paul! Love that you mix it up your trip reports. Yes, I look forward to an overnight train trip next time I’m in Europe!

[@ronclark9724]

Ditto... I had one planned a couple of years ago, but the pandemic halted those plans. When I feel these governments won't close down again, I will plan another two weeks of sleeper trains and layovers in Europe. Trains beats airlines, and frankly I would rather spend a night on a train than spend another night at a expensive hotel...

[@CM-vc3rr]

I'm going to travel with the Nightjet, and this is very useful! One important piece of information: if you are going to buy (as I stupidly did...) the flex option, very expensive for a peace of mind in case something happens and you want to change your plan DO NOT REQUIRE THE TICKET PDF until the very last moment possible. If you obtain the PDF you can't change the ticket anymore, and you've paid a very higher price for nothing! This information is not immediately provided, I find out when it was too late...

[@francisflood8921]

Paul, I wish we had such great train service here in the USA!

[@unkreativnet]

This train comes through my little town and I see it very ofter while walking / running. Missed your waving ;-)

[@tuomomutru8002]

We are thinking to take one, and this was very good reference for what to expect, thanks!!

[@xmen9916]

Great video!

[@johnburke5384]

Yet another excellent video Paul and yes...I would definitely do this trip !

[@bobbydale1938]

Its stress free and fun ! Need that dinner car and bar car- thks

[@daveudon2850]

Love taking sleeper train from Bangkok to northen thailand and there new trains are on par with the European trains

[@AmazeTase]

Yes, definitely take a train. I’ll put this trip on my (ever growing) list! Cheers bud

[@kennixox262]

Looks very nice and compared to the Amtrak videos you show, the food looks vastly superior. As others have commented, much better than dealing with airports.

[@johnstansfield5265]

I do really enjoy sleeper trains. Did Stockholm-Narvik for the second time last month, and just booking the Milan-Catania intercity notte for August bank holiday weekend.

[@glennkennedy441]

Looked like a decent trip.....I give it a thumbs up !

[@gunvaldsandhaland7757]

Good job,nice cabin

[@paulmark63]

Hi Paul it’s Paul thank you again another great video looked like a nice sleeper train

[@CoraVanLincolnius]

I've just booked NJ467 in a single deluxe! Very excited to try NJ! Im bingewatching NJ reports now to see what i can expect🤭

[@posokay5905]

I remember doing this exact same route back in autumn 2022 on the seats coach. You can actually turn the seats into beds, which I was able to do for we were only 3 people on the compartment.

[@Irnest]

Great video Paul, thank you 👍👍. I like how you showed the other sleeper coaches

[@Hopeful_Libertarian]

Your train tickets & accommodations seem like "Business class" on planes, very nice & much cheaper than 1st class.

[@melody383838]

im doing the salzburg-paris route with the nightjet sleeper train in september and i cant wait! its one of my dream to sleep in a train ☺

[@JuanWayTrips]

I think I'd be more likely to take an overnight/sleeper train in Europe than in the US. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely on my bucket list to do one of Amtrak's long-distance routes in a sleeper car, but those seem more like a joy ride between major cities (though I do acknowledge that those Amtrak routes are lifelines for many small towns w/o airports or transit along the route) whereas the Nightjet is a true plane/car replacement like you mentioned.

[@trainviation7119]

I took the deluxe nightjet just over 2 years ago from Venice - Munich. It was worth every penny! The only downside is that we were woken up at 3am for a German passport check as we arrived into Salzburg.

[@coreenbrown3651]

Dining cars are part of the experience! Great video!

[@jjquinn2004]

Just spent a couple of months in Ireland with a side trip to England. Absolute chaos with both departures in Dublin and it took us about an hour and a half to get our bags off of the plane in Leeds. So would I take the Nightjet: hell yes!

[@roberthamilton1301]

Looked good Thanks You for the video Paul.

[@TheNinjaGinger]

I do enjoy a good sleeper train video, I really need to give one a go someday, great work as always Paul. 👍👍

[@sander5086]

Great video Paul!! I took the nightjet two years ago, from Amsterdam to Munich. Just had a seat and it was occupied with six people all the way. So there wasn't much sleep on that trip (I found out that, I'm not the backpacker from 20 years ago😂) but it was fun!! This summer I will take the deluxe sleeper, to Austria!!

[@theobrattinga500]

Great video in my country !!

[@hallmanager4911]

Excellent video - very informative. Thanks !

[@cpritchett2098]

Really enjoy your videos. They are informative and you have a relaxed manner which makes then fun to watch. Thanks!!

[@TheRareVideosXL]

What an amazing trip as always. Great video yet again. Keep it up.

[@fairyprincess911]

Thanks for the ride. I love Europe and it’s rail system. I can’t wait to go back! 🚆

[@kudzumoose3861]

I agree with the comment about the booking info. I remember booking train rides from Graz to Vienna, years ago, and while I had some German, I never was sure what I booked. Certainly had no idea what the various options were because the words had no meaning. This was years ago, before Google and maybe it is better now, but I am not confident of that. Again, thanks.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Nice video. Clear exclamation of fares and booking procedures. My first class journeys in the US have included meals served in the dining car. I would not enjoy eating in my room. Thank you Paul for posting this over night trip.😀😀💚💚

[@scottyerkes1867]

@@Traveller69 Thanks for pointing out my typo error. I meant to say explanation.

[@scottyerkes1867]

@@Traveller69 Thank you

[@Panzerairlines]

Long time ago (10ish years), i have used a sleeper/night train to go to Bergen (Changed to another train for the last 7 hour trip) from Utrecht Centraal; was an interesting experience; and yes that was 32 hours on the 6 seater. Was a long uncomfortable ride; but would do it again. (And if there is an option to take the car with you i would use that.)

[@joemeyers3127]

Enjoyed sharing the trip. The sleeper looks great.