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7mo ago

France Pulls Funding, Night Trains From Paris to Berlin and Vienna to End Dec. 14

The cut removes about €8 million that operators say was essential to cover loss‑making cross‑border sleeper costs.

Un train de nuit Paris-Berlin. La liaison va être arrêtée à partir du 14 décembre, a annoncé la compagnie ferroviaire autrichienne ÖBB lundi 29 septembre 2025.
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Un train de nuit à Vienne, en Autriche, le 13 décembre 2021.
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Overview

  • ÖBB announced on September 29 that the Paris–Berlin and Paris–Vienna night services will cease from December 14, 2025 following the withdrawal of French partners.
  • The Transport Ministry confirmed the subsidy’s end and said the funds will be redirected to maintaining domestic night lines.
  • SNCF and ÖBB cite average 2024 load factors near 70% yet say the routes remain unviable without state aid due to limited per‑berth revenue and higher staffing and cross‑border operating costs.
  • The services operated only about three days per week and faced heavy disruptions, including a summer 2024 suspension of Paris–Berlin for works, which derailed plans to move to daily service.
  • SNCF has removed these journeys from its booking site with tickets available via ÖBB, and ÖBB says it will keep Vienna–Brussels running and invest in capacity and comfort on other night routes.