- I reserved the most economical option for an overnight European train journey—a seat in the seating car.
- The seat on the OBB Nightjet carriage costs $40 for a 12-hour journey from Berlin to Vienna.
- I was extremely squeezed and uneasy, which resulted in absolutely no sleep. I won’t repeat this experience ever.
Has there ever been a moment when sheer exhaustion brought tears to your eyes? I recall one instance where both my body and brain felt utterly drained, as though every part of me was pleading for sleep. As dawn broke over Vienna, my eyes welled up with unshed tears.
This occurred in October 2022, over a two-week period.
backpacking trip
through four
European countries by rail
I was on a
overnight train
travel from Berlin, Germany, to Vienna, Austria, via the OBB Nightjet service run by the Austrian Federal Railways. Unfortunately, I had reserved the most affordable berth for $40.
Nightjet trains have
sleeper cars with bunks
Of three, four, or six seatings for carriage options, I opted for the latter which consists of cabins featuring six standard seats capable of deep reclining. Certain routes offer private cabins, though mine did not include this feature.
I had plenty of experience with overnight trains, having traveled for 140 hours on them from the US to Europe. During most trips, I made sure to book
private cabins
where I had my own private chamber.
The uneven tracks and firm berths make sleeping on a train in a private compartment challenging enough. However, those nights felt like a walk in the park compared to my ordeal in a crowded six-person sleeper car.
The cabin was uncomfortably cramped.
As soon as I got on the train in Berlin, the faintly illuminated hallways led me to compact private compartments containing six seats arranged opposite each other in pairs. The space felt tight from the start, and there didn’t seem to be sufficient legroom for every passenger.
When I embarked on my 12-hour segment of the trip, three passengers were already seated aboard. Within just a short time after departure, another two individuals joined us.
I found the seat appeared somewhat broader compared to an average train carriage seat. The seat came with dual cushioning and offered the ability to lean back; however, it wouldn’t go back fully flat. Fully leaning back created a considerable space between the upper part of the seat and where one would rest their legs, making comfort challenging. Additionally, there were neither pillows nor linens available for passengers’ use.
A spokesperson for OBB Nightjet informed Business News that pillows and linens are exclusively offered to passengers traveling with them.
bunk-style sleeping cars
since the seating carriage is not advised for
long-haul trips
.
The space was missing several important facilities.
Despite the absence of pillows or blankets, the seats offered certain features. A compact table could be extended from each armrest, big enough to hold my ticket and phone, though there wasn’t space for anything more substantial. The carriages did have power outlets, yet they weren’t sufficient for all passengers. Travelers had to alternate when using the pair of outlets provided to charge their devices.
A spokesperson for the OBB Nightjet informed BI that the carriages underwent updates in 2023 and now feature additional power outlets.
I didn’t manage to get any sleep at all.
Although seats were assigned, I quickly noticed that other passengers were moving around the car to find less-crowded rooms. I followed suit and switched to a different cabin with only two other people. But I knew that someone boarding at one of the many overnight stops could kick me out at any time if I were in their assigned seat.
In an uncrowded compartment, I still found it impossible to relax—particularly because I was worried about being roused so someone could pass by. So, I remained wide-awake till daybreak.
I reached Vienna by train at 7 a.m., and I was extremely tired, frantically searching all over town for a hotel willing to accommodate me so early. Spending extra money on a hotel room just to catch some shut-eye made me realize that even though I opted for what seemed like the least expensive seat on an overnight train, it didn’t turn out to be worthwhile after all. My fatigue due to insufficient sleep significantly diminished my enjoyment during my stay in the beautiful Austrian capital.
The standard of travel relies not just on the carriages, but also on the chosen path,” stated OBB Nightjet in an official message to BI. “For overnight trips, we suggest using either the sleeper or couchette cars as they offer ample room to recline comfortably. For more brief travels, seated carriages would be preferable.
A year afterward, I took another.
Nightjet ride
On a train featuring individual compartments, I reserved a cabin traveling from Venice to Vienna and effortlessly drifted off to sleep without feeling sad.
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