Night train news
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NewsCastex predicts ‘the mother of all battles’ to fund French rail infrastructure as he takes over at SNCF
FRANCE: Former Prime Minister and RATP Chief Executive Jean Castex promised to ‘fix the foundations’ of SNCF as he was confirmed in the role of President of the national railway holding group.
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NewsTourist train developed with the needs of older passengers in mind
CHINA: The YINLV tourist train has been developed by CRRC Changchun and China Railway Harbin Group to offer ‘middle-aged and elderly’ passengers a ‘comfortable, high-quality’ journey.
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NewsParis to Wien and Berlin night trains to end after French government withdraws subsidy
EUROPE: The Paris – Wien and Paris – Berlin sleeper train services are to end with the December 14 2025 timetable change, following the French Ministry of Transport’s decision to withdraw funding for their operation.
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In depthDesign: Creating more than just a night train
The development of more flexible rolling stock that could be deployed on day and night services offers economic and timetabling benefits, as well as attracting more long-distance travellers to rail, suggests Harald Buschbacher.
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NewsOrders adjusted to include more day and fewer night trains
AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways and Siemens Mobility have amended contracts for the supply of new passenger stock, increasing the number of day trains on order and reducing the number of night trains.
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Rail Business UKBritannic Explorer to be hauled by GB Railfreight Class 99s
UK: Luxury travel brand Belmond is to launch its Britannic Explorer sleeper cruise train shortly, offering three-day itineraries from London to Wales, Cornwall and the Lake District.
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NewsNox aims to reinvent night trains to offer privacy, efficiency and affordability
EUROPE: Ambitions to launch a European network of overnight trains with private rooms at the price of a flight have been announced by Berlin-based start-up Nox.
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NewsUkrainian Railways takes delivery of couchette coaches
UKRAINE: National railway Ukrzaliznytsia has taken delivery of six platskartny open-plan couchette cars, which Deputy Minister for Development of Communities & Territories Oleksii Balesta said were the first of this type to be purchased since independence.
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NewsYellow River tourist train ready for service
CHINA: CRRC Sifang and China Railway Zhengzhou Group have produced a hotel train themed on the Yellow River which will take tourists to scenic destinations in Henan province including Luoyang, Anyang and Sanmenxia. The rolling stock has been designed for comfort and ...
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Rail Business UKCaledonian Sleeper launches branded merchandise range
UK: London to Scotland night train operator Caledonian Sleeper has launched an online souvenir shop in partnership with branded merchandise agency ORB Group. ‘We have often been asked by guests for souvenirs which they can buy to remember their trip, or for a special gift to ...
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Rail Business UKCaledonian Sleeper appoints interim Managing Director
UK: Caledonian Sleeper’s Commercial & Procurement Director Graham Kelly has been appointed as interim Managing Director from April 18. He succeeds Kathryn Darbandi, who is to pursue ‘semi-retirement’ after more than four years in the position. Kelly joined the Caledonian Sleeper as Guest Experience Director in ...
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NewsLonger and wider coach on test
RUSSIA: A longer and wider design of overnight coach developed by Transmashholding’s Tver Carriage Works is undergoing certification trials at the VNIIZhT test centre in Belorechensk. The Type 61-4533 coach meeting the T profile is 730 mm longer and 280 mm wider than the 1-BM profile ...
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NewsSJ awards night train maintenance contract
SWEDEN: SJ has awarded Alstom a further two-year contract for the maintenance of night trains at depots in Luleå and Stockholm. The contract announced on March 14 covers 75 coaches and 12 Rc6 electric locomotives used on Stockholm – Umeå – Luleå – Narvik services. Alstom ...
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NewsDreamSuite concept targets night train market
Speaking to Railway Gazette International at the Rail Innovation Exhibition in London on February 13, FTS said DreamSuite does not simply transfer airline seats to rail, as the technical constraints and requirements are too different, not least that train seats need to be harder-wearing.
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NewsFrance begins procurement of replacement night train fleet
FRANCE: The government has called for expressions of interest in contracts to supply locomotives and coaches to renew the national night train fleet. French night trains carried 950 000 passengers in 2024, a 23% increase on the previous year, according to Pierre-Christophe Soncarrieu, deputy director of ...
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NewsICF orders Alstom traction equipment for Vande Bharat sleeper trains
INDIA: Integral Coach Factory in Chennai has awarded Alstom a contract to supply Mitrac traction components and other electrical equipment for 17 24-car Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets. Alstom will produce the equipment at its Maneja site, with a prototype to be delivered by August 2026 followed ...
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NewsFrench night train fleet renewal tender expected
FRANCE: Tenders are to be called in early 2025 for the renewal of SNCF’s night train fleet. The plans were confirmed to local media by Pierre-Christophe Soncarrieu, the deputy director of the transport ministry’s Trains d’Équilibre du Territoire regional trains division responsible for overnight services. The ...
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NewsRussian-backed consortium prepares to start production of Indian overnight trains
INDIA: A Russian-backed consortium led by Transmashholding is preparing to begin producing Vande Bharat inter-city sleeping car trainsets for Indian Railways.
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In depthInterview: Ukrainian Railways looks for more international partnerships
Ukrainian national railway Ukrzaliznytsia is looking for international help to boost rail freight traffic, and for assistance in funding major projects including 1435 mm gauge lines, as Board Member Yevhen Liashchenko* explains to Benjámin Zelki.
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News‘Sleep in Motion’ night train concept launched
EUROPE: A ‘groundbreaking’ concept for high-capacity overnight trains has been unveiled by Škoda Group. Developed by designers in the Austrian arm of the company, the ‘Sleep in Motion’ proposal features a double-deck coach with pairs of single-berth cubicles stacked one above the other on each side of ...