Sad news: the night train between Strasbourg and Berlin will be discontinued

Some disappointing news as the night train tentatively makes its way back into our travel habits. The reason: the anticipated end to state subsidies that have been supporting this unprofitable service until now. Without this support, SNCF and its Austrian and German partners can no longer maintain the viability of the line. However, the Paris-Berlin route (via Strasbourg) had found its audience, with tens of thousands of travelers in 2024. To raise awareness about this risk, the association Oui au train de nuit has rallied both Paris and Berlin, denouncing the decision as incomprehensible for one of the few remaining international routes.

Between promises and realities

When it was launched, the service was supposed to become daily very quickly. In practice, only three trips per week are currently offered due to a lack of clear agreement among the railway companies. The result: an offering that is too limited to effectively compete.Low-cost flights. Supporters of the project are now calling on the State to maintain its subsidies, not to freeze the situation, but to encourage operators to increase the frequency and finally keep their commitments.

A symbol of a larger battle

Beyond the Strasbourg-Berlin case, it's a whole model of mobility that’s at stake. The night train remains an eco-friendly alternative, but it's struggling to compete with airplanes, which enjoy tax advantages. As long as plane tickets can be found for €20, it's tough to convince travelers to choose sleeper cars. To save the line, a petition is already circulating, addressed to Emmanuel Macron and the head of SNCF. Now we just have to see if European nights will continue to be written to the rhythm of trains or... in silence!

Petition link right here

Source : France 3