Public Demand Grows to Preserve Nightjet Night Trains

Some 60,000 or more have signed a Save Nightjet campaign for the preservation of Nightjet night trains, asking for France and the EU to sustain subsidies and ensure the future of cross-border sustainably powered rail transport.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Nightjet Night Trains Under Cloud of Doubt

The Nightjet night services operated between Paris and Berlin, and between Paris and Vienna, which are popular, might vanish from December 2025. After France announced that it is withdrawing financial support for international services, there was a public outcry and a political outcry.

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The French campaigners at Oui au train de nuit started a petition which has already received more than 63,000 signatures. Campaigners believe the large volume is a testament to the increasing need for nighttime trains across Europe. Last year, 2024, approximately a million people traveled at night across France, for instance, 36,000 on Paris–Vienna services, while on Paris–Berlin services, 30,000 did so.

Critics blame SNCF for being reactionary towards the Nightjet brand since it does not sell tickets on its own SNCF Connect platform and does not mention much about the service. According to them, such lack of promotion hurts the commercial prospects of the trains. Meanwhile, air transport continues to enjoy undeclared subsidies of €30–40 per ticket, which makes competition unfair.

Supporters of the petition call on France to keep open subsidies and on the European Union to overhaul its regulations for financing intercontinental rail. They highlight that cross-border trains are still crucial for cutting pollution and linking European capitals quickly.

Nightjet Night Trains Are Seals of Approval for Europe’s Greener

There is increasing public and political backing for Nightjet nighttime trains. On October 3, close to 100 citizens, campaigners, and politicians assembled at Paris Gare de l’Est to rally support for the service. Karima Delli, a former Chair of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, announced: “We are losing out in Europe because night trains are growing all over the place. They are a genuine alternative — not a niche product.”

Paris Deputy Commander David Belliard commented: “Paris needs to say yes to the night train, since it is a true competitor for short-haul flights.” His remark reflected the increasing steam behind Europe’s turn towards sustainable transport.

ÖBB, the national operator of Austria, subsequently validated that the Nightjet services between Germany, France, and Austria will be withdrawn with the December 2025 timetable, stating that it “regrets that, due to the cancellation of its French associations, the two nighttime train services will cease.” The decision was defended by the Transport Ministry of France on grounds of the lack of everyday activities, although campaigners hold SNCF responsible for them sabotaging the extension.

As Back on Track, the advocacy coalition, points out, ÖBB had already suggested operating three full services a week between Berlin or Vienna and Paris rather than terminating at Mannheim. Deutsche Bahn had even booked the relevant track slots prior to the plan being rescinded.

Critics threaten that cancelling the services would damage Europe’s green transport objectives and sabotage years of cross-border cooperation investment. Initiators of the signature call for new funding, equitable EU competition rules, and an enlarged night train vision.

Saving Nightjet night trains, they believe, involves investing in environmentally friendly transport, passenger comfort, and climate accountability — values which characterize the future of mobility for Europe.

Source: www.railtech.com

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