As a regular solo female traveller those Mini-cabins are actually a game changer for me. They are a fabulous idea and look ideal for sleeper travel. Also having the beds in the direction of travel in the sleeper cabin is a great addition. It really changes the comfort of sleep on a train.
A very wise thing for ÖBB to invite people like Sebastian and yourself for this inaugural trip. Rail travel enthousiasts are likely customers! Thanks (again) for a informative and well shot video. Oh, did I like the train? Heck yes! I'ld love to see those from Amsterdam to Austria / Switzerland as soon as possible!
yeah the beeping would annoy me especially if I was next to someone who wanted to play with their settings a bunch other than that actually quite nice I definitely love the fact the lights can be different colors and dim as having it set to a very dim Red would be perfect if you needed to get up for some reason as to not destroy your night vision and such
Love the new Nightjet, especially the mini cabins. As someone who is quite tall (1.90m) also great to know those cabins don't provide a lack of space! Great video Thibault!'
Yeah, thanks for giving the length of the mini cabin! I didn't really hope to fit in them at 201 cm.. 🥴 But good to get an idea. That whole concept seems really well thought out (except for the beeping controls - wtf?!) Also, nice to see the sleeper beds along the side of the train. Would be curious how much longer they actually are 🙃
It feels like night trains have been stuck with the exact same layout for the last 50 years at least, so this is definitely a breath of fresh air! The variety of room options reminds me of classic North American sleeping cars. I need to visit Europe soon and ride some night trains!
Infact, I found that it was ok to have an old design, as long as there still were some night trains. Now that the night train industry's future is apparently assured (and not because of CFF/SBB nor DB), it's great to see that IN ADDITION, those trains are getting much better. The next issue I see is: will there be ENOUGH night trains? (this year, reserving 4 months in advance was necessary)
The mini cabin is also an improvement for women . The ‘women only’ compartments are usually fully booked in our French night trains, and women are forced to travel with male strangers. The mini cabin is the answer!😊
@@josephwiesenfeld 😁😁 The issue is to sort out men, women who prefer women only compartments and those who don’t care. All those people booking at different times.
Pretty much knew these new coaches were gonna be a huge hit when I first saw the renditions and am very surprised to see nightjet actually pull through with their concepts into the final product which is amazing. My one and only major concern is the rest of time as these coaches have so many gadgets and moving parts I wonder how much of a pain the maintenance will be to make sure everything stays operative. Time will tell. Lovely video.
True...Not like DB with their "new" ICE interior. Only the seats made it into the final product, the truly innovative aspects (new ceiling/wall and lighting design etc.) of the concept were pretty much completely ignored
Exactly my thoughts, I am curious how they will look like in 5-10 years and how many of those `comfort` stuff will actually work or what readiness the rolling stock will have with the no doubt substantial maintenace hours. I am also curious how long the prep will take and will it involve checking everything if it was in working order, or just a visual check for visible damage or they just realy on the passenger to tell if something is not working? Not being negative, just railway worker and can see the operational side. Saying that, they look fantastic, much better than the new screaching plastic sh*t on the Caledonian Sleeper.
While I’ve seen similar style couchettes before on some other trains like the Sunrise Express in Japan, I think this is brand new and truly game changing for Europe!
I wish they took a bit more inspiration from the sunrise express, the larger windows and sleeping direction makes a huge difference for feeling less claustrophobic
@@majorfallacy5926 I think the same... sunrise seto was build in Japan in the late 90s. Every cabin has a big window and you're sleeping in traveling direction. So that should be the standard building a new train. Europe is still behind Japan in 1998 which is a shame. Don't get me wrong sunrise seto has also some negatives like climate control in the small rooms is not great and the shower room is not available for everyone as the cards are limited. But at least there is a shower room... I do not understand why öbb does not offer a shower for the mini-cabin?!
There _are_ extra luggage storage options available for the mini cabins: There’s a large extra storage space ‘hidden’ underneath the mattress of the lower beds. And, as you shown, there are large secured luggage racks available near the seated train carriage. I *do* think that OBB should let travellers know about these extra options, for example by putting up a sign in the couchette car.
I wish we had stuff like this in the USA. This would absolutely be my preferred way to travel if we did. I compared prices, and a cabin from paris to berlin was US $118 on Nightjet and Charlotte to New York (similar distance) was $190 in coach on Amtrak...
@@arnoldhau1 Amtrak Viewliner 2s are probably the closest we get, those are single deck sleeper cars and have the newest sleeping cabin. The Amtrak Superliners that run out west are actually less roomy because they're double decker cars. Nightjet speeds are much higher. Nightjet is also much less expensive.
Honestly i think this is the future of travel. You go to sleep in your private couchette and wake up at your destination. Its better than airtravel. I really hope they cooperate with DB and bring more of these Nighttrains back to germany.
Do they have the capacity to do so? DB gives freight priority on ICE tracks at night, which is why nighttime ICE trains run slow. 230km/h running speed requires LZB and ICE track in Germany and I assume Austria too. They would have to drop to 200km/h or slower and operate in PZB to run on non-ICE track and potentially be delayed by local trains.
@@mrvwbug4423 They'd probably configure the timetable in a way that calculated those factors in. It's also a night train, so the train can run slower because nighttime is not as hectic as daytime.
I was so hoping that Thibault would cover the new Nightjet after it comes out. Glad to see ÖBB did invite him, Thibault definitely deserves more recognition from railways for his work in documenting his train travels.
my overall impression was that there is less space for luggage. in the mini cabins there is space wasted under the lower beds. And in the normal couchette, in the old configuration there was extra storage spave behind the top bunk above the hallway. Also let´s hope that the new nfc locks hold up better than the old manual cabin locks so the luggage storage of the mini cabins is actually safe.
I like the hybrid approach of speaking and text. Makes the video very enjoyable. Because the silent approach of taking the experience with no words is unique and I like not beeing annoyed by any comments. Consuming videos this way is perfect for me. So, I hope you beat the algorithm with that. It is awesome, keep going!!!
Thibault, kudos to you & OBB for showcasing the new Nightjet! The Couchette compartments seem well executed, but... as an older person it'd be a big nope for me. I need a place to sit, and my days of climbing in the top bunk are behind me! The traditional Couchette would be more better suited, I guess I'd need some friends, LOL!!! The sleeping compartments rival anything Amtrak offers... The traditional Couchettes would be a great option for North America, even on the long distance trains. Again, Thank you for taking us along!
@@EdmondDantes-re8jr hi there , the maximum speed a nightjet in this configuration can reach is 230 km/h . But it depends on more then one faktor . : a taurus can reach a max speed of 350kmh , but cant pull a train cause the slowest waggon only alow 230 , ( for ecample ) and even they could drive that fast , they cant if the infrastructure doesnt allow it ( the rails itself ) . Like there are much 120 kmh and 80kmh zones in germany and austria , cause bows are too sharp ( you would derail going 200kmh in an 80kmh bow ) so you always have to drive the slowest speed given by : 1 : the lokomotive is allowed to have ,2: what your slowest waggon is allowed , and 3 what the infrastructure allowes you . Hope i wasnt to missunderstanding . If i got it right , from berlin to vienna yourr traveling between 80 and 230 kmh .
It looks lovely and modern. However, with the mini-cabin compartments, getting changed could be a challenge. You'd either have to go into the washroom/toilet or get changed in the corridor. The compartments look cool. However, the toilets could have been pitched at an angle, rather than directly facing the sink/shower. But overall, it looks like a nice train. OEBB have really excelled themselves here.
I mean... if you were travelling with strangers in old-style couchettes, you'd go to change in the washroom/bathroom anyways. So not a major disadvantage.
Thank you for this review and tour! I loved the double decker design of the previous iteration but the new version looks gorgeous! Makes me excited to travel on it, and makes me look forward to future night train services like Midnight!
Loving your enthusiasm and joy at this momentous moment! And it’s infectious! 😁😁😁 (I also love the way ÖBB has risen to the occasion with the launch fanfare playing the Eurovision anthem - Austria’s Nightjets to connect Europe.)
It's probably because we connect te deum (that song) with Anton Bruckner, who was an Austrian composer. I don't think it has anything to do with Eurovision this time around...
Ive mentioned this before. I live in a dinky high desert town in Oregon and will never experience a trip like this but soooo love riding along with you. That was great and i and thank you and cant wait for your next adventure.
I would go for the mini-cabin on an overnight route! But anything longer than a single night and I think I'd want the ability to sit up. Given what Amtrak charges for roomettes, I wouldn't mind seeing some accommodation between roomette and coach on the next gen long distance fleet here in the US.
Absolutely this! Amtrak really needs an intermediate offering to make rail travel more competitive. Sadly, the GOP in Congress wants to once again slash the Amtrak budget so we will see what actually happens.
This is a great video! The new Nightjet looks really good, and I am sure that it will definitely provide a standard for trains that travel during the night. And given that Amtrak is procuring a whole replacement of their entire long distance fleet, I hope they're taking some notes from Nightjet.
The new nightjet cars are actually VERY similar to the new Siemens rolling stock that Amtrak is getting to replace the Amfleet cars. It wouldn't be a stretch for Amtrak to just use these exact same cars on their overnight trains in the eastern US. I am unsure if Siemens is working on a new double decker car to replace the Superliners that are run on Amtrak's western routes.
Mini cabins: Totally innovative. Privacy for a lower price, meaning I can turn the light on or do some work late without having to sleep at the same time as my neighbours. The window seems a little tiny for my taste. What about the width of the cabin at its narrowest part, between the outer wall and the lockers? Can you turn between sleeping positions (side/belly/back) without feeling stuck? How is the suitable temperature determined if there is no individual climate control? How bright are the control panel LEDs that remain on all the time (light bulb & red symbol)? I would likely need to put a cloth on top to cover those pesky little bright dots that disturb my sleep. Those beeps need to be silenced. The fact that the bigger suitcases are locked away using cables in a different car brings another thing to remind about - you have to think upfront about being able to lock the zippers as well. Sleeping car: Showers for everyone, definitely a huge upgrade. Now, your sleeper tickets guarantees you a way to get clean. If the whole toilet/shower cubicle is a wet room, I wonder how to handle undressing and drying yourself off if you share the compartment with another passenger. Is there a place within the cubicle to put a few items that remain dry during the shower? Good point because the offer is not consistent on current trains. You can enjoy the shower for sure on Comfortlines as there is a shared shower cubicle at the end of the car. Doppelstock sleepers have no communal showers; only in deluxe compartments. AB33s on Basel-Amsterdam do not have any. Beds parallel to the tracks can improve comfort in curvy routes - north of Frankfurt towards Hamburg, the stretch between Feldkirch and Salzburg, those send perpendicular couchettes swing head-to-toes like a seesaw. The seat car: What a downgrade in comparison to seated compartments. Because two seats are too short to lie across in couch style. Upside is that there is a tray table to get some work done. How bright are the ceiling lights? Are they dimmed or turned off at some point? This is why I prefer the individual compartments where you can turn the light off by yourself, pull out the curtains, and enjoy the darkness. Even if travelling for a few hours! In big-room cars, everyone is forced to have the big lights on in general, even if all seats are equipped with reading lights that would be sufficient. Sleep masks do not cut it. Some LED lights in recent trains, such as DB Intercity 2, are an eyesore in the late hours, damn too bright. I wonder if it is the case in this car. Missed opportunities : 1- Propose a shower to couchette passengers! Do it by reusing the "wet room" toilet/shower combination with the same footprint - just stick a retractable showerhead next to the washbasin. Being able to travel by sleeper train and arrive CLEAN i.e. not smelly - if I head to the office directly, for instance - is a major concern for me. There are stations that receive a lot of sleeper trains and do not have any shower facilities - looking at you Wien Hbf! Even in sleepers, when a shower is accessible to all, I barely saw passengers taking advantage of it. The wait should not be too long. 2- Put a window for the upper berths too, in sleepers and 4-person couchettes! I would have enjoyed a stargazer window like on the doppelstock - just incredible to be able to look up when you have a cabin in the upper deck and the top bed. Sure, some may argue that it is useless at night, but looking at the night scenery has something relaxing and part of the experience. This is a lost opportunity, as each passenger (in sleeper) or couple of passengers (in 4-person couchettes) would have independent windows and choices of looking out or keeping it dark. The lack of direct view through a window from my sleeping position is a turn-off for me, I would make sure I get a lower bunk each time in this situation.
Simply Amazing Railway :) Nothing else to say. A game changer among the night trains. Nice to see that newly invented bogies are doing their job, seems amazingly smooth and quiet, is it? Thank you for this video. Definitely a lucky one to be able to test the train :)
@@markoobid2005 The Tauern isn't a pass that's gonna make you uncomfortable, if anything, only the Semmering is gonna be at a regular level of quiet and smooth.
Looks fantastic. It's a shame that the seating car isn't a bit roomier but we've seen a similar downgrade in seated accommodation on our overnight trains in the UK. The mini-cabins and rooms look fantastic though and the mini-cabins are such a good idea for a more affordable but private option. I'd love to see more overnight trains in the UK, being able to travel from the North of England to the South Coast by night train would be wonderful. Even better, international overnight trains to places like Spain, Switzerland, Vienna or Scandinavia would be incredible.
it was the original plan with the eurotunnel. They wanted trains from manchester to berlin etc which would be amazing. instead we chose the route of brexit and closing our boarders which made it near impossible
I could imagine night/day trains from London to Nice, Marseille, Milan and Barcelona or even to Berlin. There could be from Scotland to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, etc. But British Imperial subjects must pay a so called Brexit tax. Even before Brexit to cross the British imperial border wasn't easy, but now it's extra burdensome.
I'm happy you reviewed the mini-cabin, thanks! It's innovative and very thoughtfully designed. I'm glad you picked up on the control panel beeping though, that was also my first thought! No idea why they think it needs to beep, hopefully they deactivate this before all the rest of the sets are rolled out. The other potential problem seems to be lack of luggage room, it'll be interesting to see how this pans out in real-world use...
Thank you Thibault for the great video! And for showing the bike space, that looks good too. A vertical bike space is troublesome if you have a bike for travelling (18-19 kg), like we do. Thanks again
I love this concept. While it may not be the ideal accommodation for everyone, as a solo traveler who values every bit of privacy I can get, this is brilliant...And I'm sure pretty good value. Here in the US a 3 Day Trip across the US on Amtrak is like $1200-1500 for one person. I have my own views on Amtrak's operation, but that's another story for another day. Reminds me of some of the Capsule Hotels I've stayed in when I visited Japan a few years back. Granted not 5-Star lodging, but if you're ok with the thought of it, it's absolutely adequate
An overnight train of this caliber in the US would be a game changer. Amtrak could do it if they wanted, this rolling stock is pretty close to their new rolling stock that is being built stateside by Siemens.
Great video and I can't wait to try it! Some old US sleeping compartments had a hatch to put your shoes in. The porter could unlock it from the corridor and polish them, ready for your morning departure!
That Mini-Cabin is a game-changer in the night train sector, as previously many passengers bought a whole compartment for privacy. In my opinion, the seat cars are now only good for short travels like between Wien and Salzburg on a night train heading for Hamburg for example. The only things that bother me a bit above the ones you mentioned in your video (eg. the beeping sound of the control panel, etc.), are the following: How do they make sure that the separation wall is not openable from the other side if someone closes it? (I only saw 1 lock) Is the luggage box big enough for a standard carry-on as most people travel with hard case carry-ons nowadays? Storing your bag in a completely different car is a NO-GO for me.
I wondered about the luggage as well, being able to keep a "normal" backpacking backpack, which generally contains _all_ of ones belongings, close by or at least locked would be nice.
I've been a fan of the OeBB since my first ride behind a Baureihe 1245 from Mittenwald to Innsbruck in 1976. It's so nice to see the railroads modernizing and improving, as opposed to North America where the only real transportation possibilities are self driving or being stuffed in a seat made for a hobbit, and being treated like cattle on an airplane. Whichever I choose, I wish I'd done the other. The only reason I wouldn't take a nightjet is that I like to look out at the scenery and absorb the experience.
@@randall8379 Amtrak, unfortunately, isn't a realistic option for many. The network doesn't cover as much of the country as it should, and the long-distance trains that do run are slow and delay prone, both due to old track alignments that aren't kept in great shape (thanks to the private railroad companies that own them maintaining them only to minimum standards) and the fact that freight trains frequently get in the way of Amtrak's trains. Not to mention, Amtrak isn't cheap, so plane tickets are often cheaper (the airline industry is much more heavily subsidized than many realize, where trains barely get any support). For most people, driving and flying are the only real options available. Which is exactly what he said, given he said "only real transportation possibilities" in his comment, so I'm not sure where you got it that he didn't know Amtrak had sleeping cars.
@@that1niceguy246 It does make sense re. the nighttime hours, but I'm up at 5am no matter what, so on the Vienna-Bregenz route I want to know if I'll be able to look out as we go over the Arlberg Pass. I wish there was more info on this and other 'small things' - i.e. the overall experience, not just the features (which are by and large now expectations in a competitive climate)
This mini cabin concept seems brought from Asia, very small living/travel spaces. It looks very much like the tanning beds and to me is as close as it gets to be in a coffin. Maybe we are closer than ever to interplanetary travel like in the movies when people travel naked in capsules (probably due to lack of spaces for clothes and luggage). This is why I don´t like the bi-level TGV either. We live in a world in which even chicken farms have minimum space standards. They seem to have missed it for these coaches... I get it, it´s not for everybody and they want to make it profitable. But as a person that slept in igloos and used a lightweight 2 person MSR tent, this mini-cabin seems a bit extreme. I hope it works out well for the operator and I´m glad that you liked it. Congratulations for going on this preview trip!
The mini cabin is quite cramped. Much smaller than a Japanese hotel pod. Plus, I do not like the lack of privacy with its totally unnecessary screen between the cabins. A screen that could easily be mistakenly left open, leaving one's cabin open to thievery from a neighbor.
I heard Te Deum at the beginning, I immediately thought of Eurovision lol. Excellent train though! I wish it had been there when I was in Austria last spring + summer
I love the current Nightjet sleeping cars and I struggled to imagine how they could improve the experience, but it turns out there was a lot! It's great to see a train launched that's been the subject of a really thorough consultation with passengers; in the UK we're used to new train designs being imposed on us by the Department for Transport, only for people to complain about them once they're in service. This is a much better approach - a great train and a great product.
Don't the franchise holders in the UK get to spec out their rolling stock to the product they want to offer? I'm actually taking a trip to the UK in February, so will get to experience UK rail first hand, I'm sure even a very average UK train will feel like a huge improvement over any US train haha
I've been waiting to see a closer look at the Mini-Cabins for awhile and I have to say I'm impressed. They remind me a lot of the Capsule Hotel concept from Japan. I'm pleased to hear they're so comfortable; I'd worried at first that they would be a nightmare for the claustrophobic, feeling like a padded coffin. I'm a bit wary of the lack of large luggage space; no chance for lockers above the corridor, or losing 1-2 rows of bunks at one end for suitcase lockers there? Also only offering the increasingly obsolete USB-A is a strange choice. Overall though, a brilliant innovation. I wonder if something like this would work for the American market as an even cheaper alternative to Roomettes. I was a little dubious at first about retaining classic Couchette compartments since the Mini-Cabins seem to render them obsolete. But you make a good point about group travelers. And at peak travel times I see no reason why they can't still be let out to individuals the old fashioned way, perhaps for a slight discount, maybe 5-10% or so. By contrast, I must admit I too was horrified by the Seat Class accommodations. They're so squeezed together they're almost more claustrophobic than the Mini-Cabins. And the recline is so pathetic that one almost wonders why they bothered. If that's what the new Railjets will use, then fair enough for that. But I agree that Nightjet totally dropped the ball here; for all their talk of "listening to their customers", it's clear there was one class of customer they completely ignored, which does not look good from a PR perspective. I also thought the low belly design of the coach cars was weird and unnecessary; they're not double deckers, so why not have a flush floor throughout? They can't be storing any equipment or supplies above as that would make the cars top heavy. So why the awkward and unnecessary design choice? Makes one think these were the cars assigned to the office intern with his own ideas that nobody likes. The Sleeper Class looked excellent, though it did bring a thought to mind: Why don't European night trains have Roomettes like American sleepers? It's another step between Couchette and Compartment, ideal for single and twin travelers. Perhaps the loading gauge would mean the corridors would be too narrow. Either way, these compartments look great and the inclusion of en suite toilet and showers is a godsend, especially for American travelers. Perfect, no notes. The only way it could be better would be some extravagant unnecessary add-ons like a TV entertainment system. If anything, the Comfort Plus feels a little too extravagant; the main compartment isn't that much bigger than normal Comfort, and while having a separate shower stall is nice it's by no means necessary; if Amtrak can get away with shower-toilet combinations, Nightjet can too, and with Comfort they already have. Still nice and I'm sure it will have its fans, but overall Comfort Plus just feels like trying to improve upon perfection. There's just one glaring omission I see from this otherwise stellar package (setting aside the horrific Seat Class): No dining facilities. Yes, a certain amount of on-board catering is offered in the form of breakfasts for sleeper/couchette passengers, and I should hope at least drinks and light refreshments can be ordered through the car attendant. But I will die on the hill that every night train (every *train*, come to it) with a duration greater than 6 hours should have some form of cafe/bistro car; ideally 10 hours or more should have a full service dining car. That is simply too long for people to go without some form of food greater than a bag of crisps and a soda. And not everyone is going to know they have to pack their own food before boarding, which is an extra expense and inconvenience for the traveler at any rate. This has already been proven by the Caledonia Sleeper, which has a lounge car that serves full meals, to say nothing of North American sleeper trains. There is simply no excuse not to offer some form of meal service; you're letting passengers go hungry and leaving food sales money on the table. Overall, I thoroughly agree that this is what the future of European night trains should look like. I would even go a step further and say that with minimal modification (and the addition of at least a cafe car), I would be thrilled to see Siemens introduce a product very similar to this to the North American market; those Viewliner sleepers are getting pretty long in the tooth, and it wouldn't take too much imagination to make a double decker version to replace the aging Superliners.
Regarding the dining: you can order food from your attendant in couchette and sleeper cars at pretty much any time. Having a whole restaurant would take a lot of space where passengers would normally be
I agree on some of tje points you raise and understand some of the complaints but OBB managed to make night train profitable because of those decisions. This service is nothing like the US, it is not an expensive touristic attraction for the adventure with an emphasis on the views, at low speeds and very long delays are a bit less problematic for some nor is it a low quality way to serve some locations over night (many places in the US use those trains for shorter rides as they have no other options), this is a regular service that lives in the evening and ends in the early morning so you mostly sleep. You can eat dinner before you board and more than the basics breakfast upon arrival. As for people thinking they'll hace catering on board, this is how they work from the begining and many other night tarain do the same. Even most day trains don't have this so if someone assumes something without verifying it it's on him and he will survive. A classy restaurant car is great but it is expensive to maintain and they succeeded ringing night trains back by being efficient. I love the private pods, the seats are cramped and I wouldn't want to spend 10 hours in them but younger people and those who want to save money can manage, after all you spend longer than that o a plane with worst seats an, less room and no space to move around. It can also be a cheap way to travel shorter distances during the night. The USB A is not great but you also have wireless charging and an electric outlet (apart from the seats). That said, they could have easily offered both. The beeping is also annoying (although I understand the need to indicate it did something) but I'm sure they can change this. This is the type of service most are looking for today with night trains, a chipper way to get from point A to point B on an environmentally friendly way that saves time an a hotel that you take in the evening and arrive in the morning.
I think that most people still use USB-A and it will stay with us for a while. But it won't be a big deal to adapt those outlets some time in the near future without having to rebuild the whole train for it.
i feel a claustrophobia attack 😞noise can be hear outside even if the slider is closed. Sleeping car are great the ambient lights are nice and love the space.
I absolutely love this new train. Went on my first night jet journey in September 2021 between Munich and Florence. I enjoyed it, but I understand when people are scared off by the stiff beds and old carriages. So I'm very glad that this new train exists. Hopefully it will get moire people to ride night trains
They should replace the ‘beep’ by haptic controls on the control box. Or a flash of the symbols. Hope will see trains as comfortable as that here in France! Our ‘Corail’ couchettes, while refurbished recently, look obsolete, compared to that ! Thanks Thibault!
yeah a simple slight vibration to tell you the command was received would be much better than the Beep cause I could imagine getting absolutely annoyed with a indecisive neighbor constantly playing with the controls and hearing "BEEP" "beep" all night long as they fiddled with their settings
the mini-cabins (in my opinion) look like the coffin express... I understand OBB wants to squeeze as much money out of the space as they possibly can, but no, thank you. the rest of the cabins look amazing. nicely done :)
Certainly a huge improvement by ÖBB on their the Nightjet service especially the privacy for Couchette passengers. But there are still room for improvements though. It lacks a restaurant/bar where passengers can choose to have their breakfast there instead of inside their room/capsule. Also the seats have to be more comfortable and in 2+1 layout like those on Caledonian Sleeper in UK instead of 2+2 layout. Those overnight travelers who want to travel cheaply also have to be taken into consideration. Not to mention that Caledonian Sleeper also provides personal lockers to seat passengers.
This reminds me of the old Slumbercoaches that Amtrak had, they were almost all single-person compact roomettes, surprisingly each TINY room had its own toilet and sink!
I always dreamed of something like these mini-cabins... and the absence of a solution like this was the reason why I mostly avoided traveling by train at night... in fact, having my little health issues, I very much avoided traveling at longer distances because of the inconvenience and discomfort lately... So let us hope they will become available outside Austria soon...
Between this and Vy's new "business class" lay-flat seating it's cool to see some new ideas actually being put into service for night trains. I only wish they would actually be available on the routes I typically take.
Long distance coach seats on Amtrak continue to take the prize, I think. Lots of leg room, recliner design with foot rest. I think those private pods are great, but not so good for anyone who has mobility issues, the bottom ones may be too low. I think the lowest couchettes look better for that purpose. I really like the look of that little roomette! With a toilet, wow!
To me the mini cabins are the most exciting innovation. For me the privacy is the biggest thing that has put me off of using night trains. Booking an entire traditional cabin for privacy is just way more expensive than booking a flight and I don't feel comfortable to spend a night in such a confinded space with strangers. So the mini cabin is a really good option when traveling alone. The main downside in my opinion are the beeping control panels. In my opinion it's completely unnecessary and annoying to have the beeping sound and I hope that they decide to deactivate it in the future.
Very good! Thank you for making and sharing, and such a cool train. Fingers crossed some day the UK gets sleeper trains through the Channel Tunnel, though I'd bet against it happening in the next ten years. (Next fifteen, though...?)
Hi. Enjoy your videos very much. I have always loved trains and wish the service in America was as good as in Europe. The new train is beautiful and the modern features are great but that mini compartment looks like sleeping in a coffin. A big no on that for me. The bedroom seems nice though. As with everything else, you get what you pay for. Best regards.
This looks amazing, its almost seems like the designers travelled to Japan and took notes of public transport and capsule hotels and implemented a whole bunch of cool ideas. Sadly, our German Rail is still stuck in the pre 2000s despite recent year Ministry scouting trips to asia. I gave up due to unpunctual or broken connections, delays and overall scruffiness years ago . This on the other hand is a fantastic way to travel, would like to try it myself. TAKE NOTE DB!
No worries the DB gave the night train business to the OEBB which now is making good money with it! So the OEBB is doing anyway what the DB should, expect the night trains to get bigger area coverage as business increases for the oebb in this segment!
@@mrvwbug4423 They wouldn't. I don't really have much trouble with DB. It's certainly better than driving or flying. That being said they aren't always the most customer friendly. You definetly have to learn how to use the system and where to plan extra time into your journey. It's far from the disaster everyone likes to poartray it as but it's also very, very far from perfect.
As many others have said, the mini cabin (whether travelling solo or as a couple) is a game changer, especially with that price, and so are the amazing looking sleepers! I hope similar stock is introduced on the Amsterdam-Vienna route soon, unfortunately could not find much information on their rollout plans for other routes. Planning a trip in spring, and so looking forward to what would be my first NightJet experience. Thank you for the very informative video and can't wait to see what other innovations come for European night trains in the future!
Génial la Vidéo 💡😃👍The new Nighjet is based on Viaggio Confort cars as on Railjet with Vectron or Taurus locomotive, moreover the pilot car takes over the controls and the front of a Vectron.
These cars are "loosely" vased on Viaggio, but structurally different as they are made of lighter aluminium instead of cheaper but much heavier steel. They also have very fancy windows that let cellular signals in but still reflect sunshine to reduce air conditioning load.
I think I would prefer Comfort over Comfort Plus. I wonder if being parallel to the track might be a smoother sleeping experience (but I would love the real shower compartment!).
A lot of interesting and innovative features are incorporated into this train. I have to wonder how the maintenance and upkeep will work out once these trains enter service. It looks like there are a lot of electronic parts and pieces that will be susceptible to failure. Hopefully that has been planned for. I personally dislike the mini cabins. I understand the idea behind them, but there are other ways to have accomplished what these cabins will do. Pullman's duplex roomettes and Budd's Slumbercoach single and double roomettes provided the same privacy, the ability to fully stand, and even included sink and toilet facilities in each room. The mini cabins will work well for a lot of people, but they will not work well for others.
Those mini cabins looks fantastic! It's like a mix of the couchette with better privacy than the open section accomodation offered by many old Pullman cars in the US. I think these should definitely spread outside Nightjet, an intermediate option between a private room and seating would be very welcome to many travellers
Looks amazing! Sounds so quiet too. Can’t wait to ride this train next year when I visit Europe. Thanks for posting this fantastic episode. Loving your work mate ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for the video. I remember the old moon chairs that worked really well for night train. The Mini cabin is good. I didn't see a temp control that I saw in the sleeper car. It also seemed quieter as well.
All for those who criticise the mini cabins claustrophobic look at business class on most airlines I can assure you that the leg room in sleeping configuration on airplanes is much smaller than in this mini cabins. I would love to see a nightjet running to London.
As a regular solo female traveller those Mini-cabins are actually a game changer for me. They are a fabulous idea and look ideal for sleeper travel. Also having the beds in the direction of travel in the sleeper cabin is a great addition. It really changes the comfort of sleep on a train.
How do you mean in the direction of travel? Beds seem to be at 90 degree angle to the direction of travel as usual in most sleeping trains.
A very wise thing for ÖBB to invite people like Sebastian and yourself for this inaugural trip. Rail travel enthousiasts are likely customers!
Thanks (again) for a informative and well shot video. Oh, did I like the train? Heck yes! I'ld love to see those from Amsterdam to Austria / Switzerland as soon as possible!
I went to the Nightjet site. I could search Amsterdam to Innsbruck. Go and search, you will find.
The beep noise of the light controls would haunt me forever after a night in this 😂 but other that that it all looks pretty impressive.
yeah the beeping would annoy me especially if I was next to someone who wanted to play with their settings a bunch other than that actually quite nice I definitely love the fact the lights can be different colors and dim as having it set to a very dim Red would be perfect if you needed to get up for some reason as to not destroy your night vision and such
hopefully they can still fix this, would be bad to wake up cuz your neighbour needs to go to the toilet or something
Love the new Nightjet, especially the mini cabins. As someone who is quite tall (1.90m) also great to know those cabins don't provide a lack of space! Great video Thibault!'
190cm? My god I'm short😢
Yeah, thanks for giving the length of the mini cabin! I didn't really hope to fit in them at 201 cm.. 🥴 But good to get an idea. That whole concept seems really well thought out (except for the beeping controls - wtf?!)
Also, nice to see the sleeper beds along the side of the train. Would be curious how much longer they actually are 🙃
@@IM4GIN3my spouse calls this the "tall tax".
1m90 is about the bed length...
I was told by a person working for ÖBB, that the mini cabins have a total length of 187cm
It feels like night trains have been stuck with the exact same layout for the last 50 years at least, so this is definitely a breath of fresh air! The variety of room options reminds me of classic North American sleeping cars. I need to visit Europe soon and ride some night trains!
Infact, I found that it was ok to have an old design, as long as there still were some night trains. Now that the night train industry's future is apparently assured (and not because of CFF/SBB nor DB), it's great to see that IN ADDITION, those trains are getting much better. The next issue I see is: will there be ENOUGH night trains? (this year, reserving 4 months in advance was necessary)
The mini cabin is also an improvement for women . The ‘women only’ compartments are usually fully booked in our French night trains, and women are forced to travel with male strangers. The mini cabin is the answer!😊
Maybe they should make Instead "male only" compartments......
@@josephwiesenfeld 😁😁
The issue is to sort out men, women who prefer women only compartments and those who don’t care. All those people booking at different times.
Terrific video!
Pretty much knew these new coaches were gonna be a huge hit when I first saw the renditions and am very surprised to see nightjet actually pull through with their concepts into the final product which is amazing. My one and only major concern is the rest of time as these coaches have so many gadgets and moving parts I wonder how much of a pain the maintenance will be to make sure everything stays operative. Time will tell. Lovely video.
Agreed. The maintenance will be tough but ÖBB is taking a good care of his trains and the quality built of Siemens was good
True...Not like DB with their "new" ICE interior. Only the seats made it into the final product, the truly innovative aspects (new ceiling/wall and lighting design etc.) of the concept were pretty much completely ignored
Exactly my thoughts, I am curious how they will look like in 5-10 years and how many of those `comfort` stuff will actually work or what readiness the rolling stock will have with the no doubt substantial maintenace hours. I am also curious how long the prep will take and will it involve checking everything if it was in working order, or just a visual check for visible damage or they just realy on the passenger to tell if something is not working? Not being negative, just railway worker and can see the operational side. Saying that, they look fantastic, much better than the new screaching plastic sh*t on the Caledonian Sleeper.
While I’ve seen similar style couchettes before on some other trains like the Sunrise Express in Japan, I think this is brand new and truly game changing for Europe!
I wish they took a bit more inspiration from the sunrise express, the larger windows and sleeping direction makes a huge difference for feeling less claustrophobic
@@majorfallacy5926 I think the same... sunrise seto was build in Japan in the late 90s. Every cabin has a big window and you're sleeping in traveling direction. So that should be the standard building a new train. Europe is still behind Japan in 1998 which is a shame. Don't get me wrong sunrise seto has also some negatives like climate control in the small rooms is not great and the shower room is not available for everyone as the cards are limited. But at least there is a shower room... I do not understand why öbb does not offer a shower for the mini-cabin?!
There _are_ extra luggage storage options available for the mini cabins:
There’s a large extra storage space ‘hidden’ underneath the mattress of the lower beds. And, as you shown, there are large secured luggage racks available near the seated train carriage.
I *do* think that OBB should let travellers know about these extra options, for example by putting up a sign in the couchette car.
Great to know, thank you! We have just booked lower mini cabins, so your comment will come in handy to us soon!
Can i bring the luggage inside the cabin with me ?
I wish we had stuff like this in the USA. This would absolutely be my preferred way to travel if we did. I compared prices, and a cabin from paris to berlin was US $118 on Nightjet and Charlotte to New York (similar distance) was $190 in coach on Amtrak...
Given the loading gauge and potential train length, in the US you could even have much more spacious night trains.
@@arnoldhau1 Amtrak Viewliner 2s are probably the closest we get, those are single deck sleeper cars and have the newest sleeping cabin. The Amtrak Superliners that run out west are actually less roomy because they're double decker cars. Nightjet speeds are much higher. Nightjet is also much less expensive.
Use interrail tickets
Amtrak needs to get some of these types of cars when they replace their long distance fleet in the next few years.
I have done that coach ride. Roundtrip. Grueling. I don't remember it being that expensive but this was 1999.
Honestly i think this is the future of travel. You go to sleep in your private couchette and wake up at your destination. Its better than airtravel. I really hope they cooperate with DB and bring more of these Nighttrains back to germany.
Do they have the capacity to do so? DB gives freight priority on ICE tracks at night, which is why nighttime ICE trains run slow. 230km/h running speed requires LZB and ICE track in Germany and I assume Austria too. They would have to drop to 200km/h or slower and operate in PZB to run on non-ICE track and potentially be delayed by local trains.
@@mrvwbug4423 They'd probably configure the timetable in a way that calculated those factors in. It's also a night train, so the train can run slower because nighttime is not as hectic as daytime.
L’insonorisation de ce train à l’air complètement folle. Et d’une excellente qualité
Oui, on est monté à 230km/h pendant un moment c'etait impressionnant le silence à bord
Those mini cabins are brilliant! Offer security and privacy. Hope these become more common everywhere. Great review.
I was so hoping that Thibault would cover the new Nightjet after it comes out.
Glad to see ÖBB did invite him, Thibault definitely deserves more recognition from railways for his work in documenting his train travels.
Hard agree 💯
my overall impression was that there is less space for luggage. in the mini cabins there is space wasted under the lower beds. And in the normal couchette, in the old configuration there was extra storage spave behind the top bunk above the hallway. Also let´s hope that the new nfc locks hold up better than the old manual cabin locks so the luggage storage of the mini cabins is actually safe.
I definitely want to try the mini-cabin at some point! Looks like a really good option. But I think that the beeping should be deactivated.
I like the hybrid approach of speaking and text. Makes the video very enjoyable. Because the silent approach of taking the experience with no words is unique and I like not beeing annoyed by any comments. Consuming videos this way is perfect for me. So, I hope you beat the algorithm with that. It is awesome, keep going!!!
Thibault, kudos to you & OBB for showcasing the new Nightjet!
The Couchette compartments seem well executed, but... as an older person it'd be a big nope for me. I need a place to sit, and my days of climbing in the top bunk are behind me! The traditional Couchette would be more better suited, I guess I'd need some friends, LOL!!!
The sleeping compartments rival anything Amtrak offers...
The traditional Couchettes would be a great option for North America, even on the long distance trains.
Again, Thank you for taking us along!
I am proud to work for such a company!🇦🇹
Gratulation zur Einführung der unbequemsten Sitze aller Zeiten!
[That is to the person that replied to you.] Er hat nichts damit zu tun, wie die Sitze sind, spar dir diese Bemerkungen und jammer zuhause.
What is the maximum speed? I am scared of the fast train and i want travel on this route with a normal train
@@EdmondDantes-re8jr hi there , the maximum speed a nightjet in this configuration can reach is 230 km/h . But it depends on more then one faktor . : a taurus can reach a max speed of 350kmh , but cant pull a train cause the slowest waggon only alow 230 , ( for ecample ) and even they could drive that fast , they cant if the infrastructure doesnt allow it ( the rails itself ) . Like there are much 120 kmh and 80kmh zones in germany and austria , cause bows are too sharp ( you would derail going 200kmh in an 80kmh bow ) so you always have to drive the slowest speed given by : 1 : the lokomotive is allowed to have ,2: what your slowest waggon is allowed , and 3 what the infrastructure allowes you . Hope i wasnt to missunderstanding . If i got it right , from berlin to vienna yourr traveling between 80 and 230 kmh .
@@EdmondDantes-re8jr 230 kmh take it or leave it what even is your concern?
It looks lovely and modern. However, with the mini-cabin compartments, getting changed could be a challenge. You'd either have to go into the washroom/toilet or get changed in the corridor. The compartments look cool. However, the toilets could have been pitched at an angle, rather than directly facing the sink/shower. But overall, it looks like a nice train. OEBB have really excelled themselves here.
I mean... if you were travelling with strangers in old-style couchettes, you'd go to change in the washroom/bathroom anyways. So not a major disadvantage.
Thank you for this review and tour! I loved the double decker design of the previous iteration but the new version looks gorgeous! Makes me excited to travel on it, and makes me look forward to future night train services like Midnight!
Loving your enthusiasm and joy at this momentous moment! And it’s infectious! 😁😁😁 (I also love the way ÖBB has risen to the occasion with the launch fanfare playing the Eurovision anthem - Austria’s Nightjets to connect Europe.)
It's probably because we connect te deum (that song) with Anton Bruckner, who was an Austrian composer. I don't think it has anything to do with Eurovision this time around...
@@that1niceguy246 ah. Thank you.
Being 6’4” and with multiple spinal fusion surgeries where I can’t bend my spine anymore even if I got into this thing I couldn’t get back out!
Ah ca y est ! vive les trains de nuit. Bravo NightJet !!
Grazie 😊
Ive mentioned this before. I live in a dinky high desert town in Oregon and will never experience a trip like this but soooo love riding along with you. That was great and i and thank you and cant wait for your next adventure.
I would go for the mini-cabin on an overnight route! But anything longer than a single night and I think I'd want the ability to sit up. Given what Amtrak charges for roomettes, I wouldn't mind seeing some accommodation between roomette and coach on the next gen long distance fleet here in the US.
Absolutely this! Amtrak really needs an intermediate offering to make rail travel more competitive. Sadly, the GOP in Congress wants to once again slash the Amtrak budget so we will see what actually happens.
@@timnewman1172those tax cuts for the uberwealthy won't pay for themselves!
Amtrak used to have single person roomettes on the 1st gen Viewliner cars that ran in the east. At least in the late 80s
I don't think there are any routes longer than a single night in europe. At most it's early evening - late morning.
This is a great video! The new Nightjet looks really good, and I am sure that it will definitely provide a standard for trains that travel during the night. And given that Amtrak is procuring a whole replacement of their entire long distance fleet, I hope they're taking some notes from Nightjet.
They would do well to follow OBB's lead, traditional Couchette rooms would be a great option here!
The new nightjet cars are actually VERY similar to the new Siemens rolling stock that Amtrak is getting to replace the Amfleet cars. It wouldn't be a stretch for Amtrak to just use these exact same cars on their overnight trains in the eastern US. I am unsure if Siemens is working on a new double decker car to replace the Superliners that are run on Amtrak's western routes.
Very cool...can't wait to travel via Nightjet when I head to Europe! thanks for this video
Mini cabins:
Totally innovative. Privacy for a lower price, meaning I can turn the light on or do some work late without having to sleep at the same time as my neighbours. The window seems a little tiny for my taste. What about the width of the cabin at its narrowest part, between the outer wall and the lockers? Can you turn between sleeping positions (side/belly/back) without feeling stuck? How is the suitable temperature determined if there is no individual climate control?
How bright are the control panel LEDs that remain on all the time (light bulb & red symbol)? I would likely need to put a cloth on top to cover those pesky little bright dots that disturb my sleep. Those beeps need to be silenced.
The fact that the bigger suitcases are locked away using cables in a different car brings another thing to remind about - you have to think upfront about being able to lock the zippers as well.
Sleeping car:
Showers for everyone, definitely a huge upgrade. Now, your sleeper tickets guarantees you a way to get clean. If the whole toilet/shower cubicle is a wet room, I wonder how to handle undressing and drying yourself off if you share the compartment with another passenger. Is there a place within the cubicle to put a few items that remain dry during the shower?
Good point because the offer is not consistent on current trains. You can enjoy the shower for sure on Comfortlines as there is a shared shower cubicle at the end of the car. Doppelstock sleepers have no communal showers; only in deluxe compartments. AB33s on Basel-Amsterdam do not have any.
Beds parallel to the tracks can improve comfort in curvy routes - north of Frankfurt towards Hamburg, the stretch between Feldkirch and Salzburg, those send perpendicular couchettes swing head-to-toes like a seesaw.
The seat car:
What a downgrade in comparison to seated compartments. Because two seats are too short to lie across in couch style. Upside is that there is a tray table to get some work done. How bright are the ceiling lights? Are they dimmed or turned off at some point?
This is why I prefer the individual compartments where you can turn the light off by yourself, pull out the curtains, and enjoy the darkness. Even if travelling for a few hours! In big-room cars, everyone is forced to have the big lights on in general, even if all seats are equipped with reading lights that would be sufficient. Sleep masks do not cut it. Some LED lights in recent trains, such as DB Intercity 2, are an eyesore in the late hours, damn too bright. I wonder if it is the case in this car.
Missed opportunities :
1- Propose a shower to couchette passengers!
Do it by reusing the "wet room" toilet/shower combination with the same footprint - just stick a retractable showerhead next to the washbasin. Being able to travel by sleeper train and arrive CLEAN i.e. not smelly - if I head to the office directly, for instance - is a major concern for me. There are stations that receive a lot of sleeper trains and do not have any shower facilities - looking at you Wien Hbf!
Even in sleepers, when a shower is accessible to all, I barely saw passengers taking advantage of it. The wait should not be too long.
2- Put a window for the upper berths too, in sleepers and 4-person couchettes!
I would have enjoyed a stargazer window like on the doppelstock - just incredible to be able to look up when you have a cabin in the upper deck and the top bed. Sure, some may argue that it is useless at night, but looking at the night scenery has something relaxing and part of the experience. This is a lost opportunity, as each passenger (in sleeper) or couple of passengers (in 4-person couchettes) would have independent windows and choices of looking out or keeping it dark.
The lack of direct view through a window from my sleeping position is a turn-off for me, I would make sure I get a lower bunk each time in this situation.
Simply Amazing Railway :)
Nothing else to say. A game changer among the night trains. Nice to see that newly invented bogies are doing their job, seems amazingly smooth and quiet, is it?
Thank you for this video. Definitely a lucky one to be able to test the train :)
The ride was so quiet and smooth. We went briefly at 230 km/h on the Westbahn, it was so smooth
@@SimplyRailway what about the mountain parts over Tauern and Semmering passes?
@@markoobid2005 The Tauern isn't a pass that's gonna make you uncomfortable, if anything, only the Semmering is gonna be at a regular level of quiet and smooth.
Looks fantastic. It's a shame that the seating car isn't a bit roomier but we've seen a similar downgrade in seated accommodation on our overnight trains in the UK. The mini-cabins and rooms look fantastic though and the mini-cabins are such a good idea for a more affordable but private option.
I'd love to see more overnight trains in the UK, being able to travel from the North of England to the South Coast by night train would be wonderful. Even better, international overnight trains to places like Spain, Switzerland, Vienna or Scandinavia would be incredible.
The Think is that in Austria the seating car operates within the normal fare system.
I'm with you there - how wonderful to be able to board a night train at St Pancras.. Will we ever see it happen I wonder.
it was the original plan with the eurotunnel. They wanted trains from manchester to berlin etc which would be amazing. instead we chose the route of brexit and closing our boarders which made it near impossible
@@TobyClarky yes, sad that the Nightstar services never went ahead. Worse that there's so many obstacles to it actually happening today.
I could imagine night/day trains from London to Nice, Marseille, Milan and Barcelona or even to Berlin. There could be from Scotland to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, etc. But British Imperial subjects must pay a so called Brexit tax. Even before Brexit to cross the British imperial border wasn't easy, but now it's extra burdensome.
I'm happy you reviewed the mini-cabin, thanks! It's innovative and very thoughtfully designed. I'm glad you picked up on the control panel beeping though, that was also my first thought! No idea why they think it needs to beep, hopefully they deactivate this before all the rest of the sets are rolled out.
The other potential problem seems to be lack of luggage room, it'll be interesting to see how this pans out in real-world use...
Also the temp control. I didn't see one.
Thank you Thibault for the great video! And for showing the bike space, that looks good too. A vertical bike space is troublesome if you have a bike for travelling (18-19 kg), like we do. Thanks again
Very good point! ÖBB thought about every little detail
I love this concept. While it may not be the ideal accommodation for everyone, as a solo traveler who values every bit of privacy I can get, this is brilliant...And I'm sure pretty good value. Here in the US a 3 Day Trip across the US on Amtrak is like $1200-1500 for one person. I have my own views on Amtrak's operation, but that's another story for another day. Reminds me of some of the Capsule Hotels I've stayed in when I visited Japan a few years back. Granted not 5-Star lodging, but if you're ok with the thought of it, it's absolutely adequate
An overnight train of this caliber in the US would be a game changer. Amtrak could do it if they wanted, this rolling stock is pretty close to their new rolling stock that is being built stateside by Siemens.
Great video and I can't wait to try it! Some old US sleeping compartments had a hatch to put your shoes in. The porter could unlock it from the corridor and polish them, ready for your morning departure!
This has me smiling and I haven't even watched it yet!!!!!
That Mini-Cabin is a game-changer in the night train sector, as previously many passengers bought a whole compartment for privacy.
In my opinion, the seat cars are now only good for short travels like between Wien and Salzburg on a night train heading for Hamburg for example.
The only things that bother me a bit above the ones you mentioned in your video (eg. the beeping sound of the control panel, etc.), are the following:
How do they make sure that the separation wall is not openable from the other side if someone closes it? (I only saw 1 lock)
Is the luggage box big enough for a standard carry-on as most people travel with hard case carry-ons nowadays? Storing your bag in a completely different car is a NO-GO for me.
I wondered about the luggage as well, being able to keep a "normal" backpacking backpack, which generally contains _all_ of ones belongings, close by or at least locked would be nice.
There are 2 locks, one on each side of wall. Both of them need to be unlocked for the wall to open.
Very nice. Night trains are becoming more and more popular. The single compartment alone looks very nice. Can I afford it? Well.....
I wish we had a network of those all over Europe...
It is just WONDERFUL !! I am a regular on the Roma-Termini line. The mini-cabins are just a dream come true!
I've been a fan of the OeBB since my first ride behind a Baureihe 1245 from Mittenwald to Innsbruck in 1976. It's so nice to see the railroads modernizing and improving, as opposed to North America where the only real transportation possibilities are self driving or being stuffed in a seat made for a hobbit, and being treated like cattle on an airplane. Whichever I choose, I wish I'd done the other. The only reason I wouldn't take a nightjet is that I like to look out at the scenery and absorb the experience.
Wohnst du in Österreich?
Sorry but you aren't aware that there are overnight trains in the US with sleeping cars?
@@randall8379 Amtrak, unfortunately, isn't a realistic option for many. The network doesn't cover as much of the country as it should, and the long-distance trains that do run are slow and delay prone, both due to old track alignments that aren't kept in great shape (thanks to the private railroad companies that own them maintaining them only to minimum standards) and the fact that freight trains frequently get in the way of Amtrak's trains. Not to mention, Amtrak isn't cheap, so plane tickets are often cheaper (the airline industry is much more heavily subsidized than many realize, where trains barely get any support).
For most people, driving and flying are the only real options available. Which is exactly what he said, given he said "only real transportation possibilities" in his comment, so I'm not sure where you got it that he didn't know Amtrak had sleeping cars.
You can still look out the window but the thing about night trains is they run at times where there's not a lot of light to illuminate the scenery.
@@that1niceguy246 It does make sense re. the nighttime hours, but I'm up at 5am no matter what, so on the Vienna-Bregenz route I want to know if I'll be able to look out as we go over the Arlberg Pass. I wish there was more info on this and other 'small things' - i.e. the overall experience, not just the features (which are by and large now expectations in a competitive climate)
This mini cabin concept seems brought from Asia, very small living/travel spaces. It looks very much like the tanning beds and to me is as close as it gets to be in a coffin. Maybe we are closer than ever to interplanetary travel like in the movies when people travel naked in capsules (probably due to lack of spaces for clothes and luggage).
This is why I don´t like the bi-level TGV either.
We live in a world in which even chicken farms have minimum space standards. They seem to have missed it for these coaches...
I get it, it´s not for everybody and they want to make it profitable. But as a person that slept in igloos and used a lightweight 2 person MSR tent, this mini-cabin seems a bit extreme.
I hope it works out well for the operator and I´m glad that you liked it. Congratulations for going on this preview trip!
The mini cabin is quite cramped. Much smaller than a Japanese hotel pod.
Plus, I do not like the lack of privacy with its totally unnecessary screen between the cabins. A screen that could easily be mistakenly left open, leaving one's cabin open to thievery from a neighbor.
This looks amazing! I hope it sets off a night train revolution around the world!
I heard Te Deum at the beginning, I immediately thought of Eurovision lol.
Excellent train though! I wish it had been there when I was in Austria last spring + summer
I love the current Nightjet sleeping cars and I struggled to imagine how they could improve the experience, but it turns out there was a lot! It's great to see a train launched that's been the subject of a really thorough consultation with passengers; in the UK we're used to new train designs being imposed on us by the Department for Transport, only for people to complain about them once they're in service. This is a much better approach - a great train and a great product.
Don't the franchise holders in the UK get to spec out their rolling stock to the product they want to offer? I'm actually taking a trip to the UK in February, so will get to experience UK rail first hand, I'm sure even a very average UK train will feel like a huge improvement over any US train haha
The old fashion trains were more comfortable and much more elegant.
Vivement sur Paris-Vienne et sur d'autres destinations en Europe ! ÖBB are the best for night trains.
I've been waiting to see a closer look at the Mini-Cabins for awhile and I have to say I'm impressed. They remind me a lot of the Capsule Hotel concept from Japan. I'm pleased to hear they're so comfortable; I'd worried at first that they would be a nightmare for the claustrophobic, feeling like a padded coffin. I'm a bit wary of the lack of large luggage space; no chance for lockers above the corridor, or losing 1-2 rows of bunks at one end for suitcase lockers there? Also only offering the increasingly obsolete USB-A is a strange choice. Overall though, a brilliant innovation. I wonder if something like this would work for the American market as an even cheaper alternative to Roomettes.
I was a little dubious at first about retaining classic Couchette compartments since the Mini-Cabins seem to render them obsolete. But you make a good point about group travelers. And at peak travel times I see no reason why they can't still be let out to individuals the old fashioned way, perhaps for a slight discount, maybe 5-10% or so.
By contrast, I must admit I too was horrified by the Seat Class accommodations. They're so squeezed together they're almost more claustrophobic than the Mini-Cabins. And the recline is so pathetic that one almost wonders why they bothered. If that's what the new Railjets will use, then fair enough for that. But I agree that Nightjet totally dropped the ball here; for all their talk of "listening to their customers", it's clear there was one class of customer they completely ignored, which does not look good from a PR perspective. I also thought the low belly design of the coach cars was weird and unnecessary; they're not double deckers, so why not have a flush floor throughout? They can't be storing any equipment or supplies above as that would make the cars top heavy. So why the awkward and unnecessary design choice? Makes one think these were the cars assigned to the office intern with his own ideas that nobody likes.
The Sleeper Class looked excellent, though it did bring a thought to mind: Why don't European night trains have Roomettes like American sleepers? It's another step between Couchette and Compartment, ideal for single and twin travelers. Perhaps the loading gauge would mean the corridors would be too narrow. Either way, these compartments look great and the inclusion of en suite toilet and showers is a godsend, especially for American travelers. Perfect, no notes. The only way it could be better would be some extravagant unnecessary add-ons like a TV entertainment system. If anything, the Comfort Plus feels a little too extravagant; the main compartment isn't that much bigger than normal Comfort, and while having a separate shower stall is nice it's by no means necessary; if Amtrak can get away with shower-toilet combinations, Nightjet can too, and with Comfort they already have. Still nice and I'm sure it will have its fans, but overall Comfort Plus just feels like trying to improve upon perfection.
There's just one glaring omission I see from this otherwise stellar package (setting aside the horrific Seat Class): No dining facilities. Yes, a certain amount of on-board catering is offered in the form of breakfasts for sleeper/couchette passengers, and I should hope at least drinks and light refreshments can be ordered through the car attendant. But I will die on the hill that every night train (every *train*, come to it) with a duration greater than 6 hours should have some form of cafe/bistro car; ideally 10 hours or more should have a full service dining car. That is simply too long for people to go without some form of food greater than a bag of crisps and a soda. And not everyone is going to know they have to pack their own food before boarding, which is an extra expense and inconvenience for the traveler at any rate. This has already been proven by the Caledonia Sleeper, which has a lounge car that serves full meals, to say nothing of North American sleeper trains. There is simply no excuse not to offer some form of meal service; you're letting passengers go hungry and leaving food sales money on the table.
Overall, I thoroughly agree that this is what the future of European night trains should look like. I would even go a step further and say that with minimal modification (and the addition of at least a cafe car), I would be thrilled to see Siemens introduce a product very similar to this to the North American market; those Viewliner sleepers are getting pretty long in the tooth, and it wouldn't take too much imagination to make a double decker version to replace the aging Superliners.
Regarding the dining: you can order food from your attendant in couchette and sleeper cars at pretty much any time. Having a whole restaurant would take a lot of space where passengers would normally be
regarding the lower floor: that is made for people in wheelchairs for example, in order to not have a step anymore
I agree on some of tje points you raise and understand some of the complaints but OBB managed to make night train profitable because of those decisions. This service is nothing like the US, it is not an expensive touristic attraction for the adventure with an emphasis on the views, at low speeds and very long delays are a bit less problematic for some nor is it a low quality way to serve some locations over night (many places in the US use those trains for shorter rides as they have no other options), this is a regular service that lives in the evening and ends in the early morning so you mostly sleep. You can eat dinner before you board and more than the basics breakfast upon arrival. As for people thinking they'll hace catering on board, this is how they work from the begining and many other night tarain do the same. Even most day trains don't have this so if someone assumes something without verifying it it's on him and he will survive.
A classy restaurant car is great but it is expensive to maintain and they succeeded ringing night trains back by being efficient. I love the private pods, the seats are cramped and I wouldn't want to spend 10 hours in them but younger people and those who want to save money can manage, after all you spend longer than that o a plane with worst seats an, less room and no space to move around. It can also be a cheap way to travel shorter distances during the night.
The USB A is not great but you also have wireless charging and an electric outlet (apart from the seats). That said, they could have easily offered both.
The beeping is also annoying (although I understand the need to indicate it did something) but I'm sure they can change this.
This is the type of service most are looking for today with night trains, a chipper way to get from point A to point B on an environmentally friendly way that saves time an a hotel that you take in the evening and arrive in the morning.
Remind me of a coffin.
I think that most people still use USB-A and it will stay with us for a while. But it won't be a big deal to adapt those outlets some time in the near future without having to rebuild the whole train for it.
i feel a claustrophobia attack 😞noise can be hear outside even if the slider is closed. Sleeping car are great the ambient lights are nice and love the space.
I absolutely love this new train. Went on my first night jet journey in September 2021 between Munich and Florence. I enjoyed it, but I understand when people are scared off by the stiff beds and old carriages. So I'm very glad that this new train exists. Hopefully it will get moire people to ride night trains
Nothing has me feeling older than calling ÖBB coaches old. But i suppose some are from the 90s. (CityShuttle cars are older)
They should replace the ‘beep’ by haptic controls on the control box. Or a flash of the symbols.
Hope will see trains as comfortable as that here in France! Our ‘Corail’ couchettes, while refurbished recently, look obsolete, compared to that !
Thanks Thibault!
yeah a simple slight vibration to tell you the command was received would be much better than the Beep cause I could imagine getting absolutely annoyed with a indecisive neighbor constantly playing with the controls and hearing "BEEP" "beep" all night long as they fiddled with their settings
Or a physical button
@@OntarioTrafficMan yes that'd work as well but it's not the look that OBB is going for they're going for the futuristic look with the Touch controls
the mini-cabins (in my opinion) look like the coffin express... I understand OBB wants to squeeze as much money out of the space as they possibly can, but no, thank you. the rest of the cabins look amazing. nicely done :)
It has everything I need for overnight travel, and this would be my firsthand choice every time.
Oh, Vienna!
You lucky chap!
Certainly a huge improvement by ÖBB on their the Nightjet service especially the privacy for Couchette passengers. But there are still room for improvements though. It lacks a restaurant/bar where passengers can choose to have their breakfast there instead of inside their room/capsule. Also the seats have to be more comfortable and in 2+1 layout like those on Caledonian Sleeper in UK instead of 2+2 layout. Those overnight travelers who want to travel cheaply also have to be taken into consideration. Not to mention that Caledonian Sleeper also provides personal lockers to seat passengers.
Again, ÖBB is doing the right thing, listening to the requests of travellers and investing in the future. 👍👍
the pod room reminds me of japanese sleeper train “sunrise-izumo”!! it looks small but comfy
Great video! As a wheelchair user, i would,have liked to see the accessible cabin
I'm taking the new model from Hamburg to Vienna next month and I can't wait! I'm slightly sad that it's an older train on the way back but oh well 😅
How was it ?
This reminds me of the old Slumbercoaches that Amtrak had, they were almost all single-person compact roomettes, surprisingly each TINY room had its own toilet and sink!
Very nice train and I loved the mini cabins which are far better than the old style crouchettes.
I always dreamed of something like these mini-cabins... and the absence of a solution like this was the reason why I mostly avoided traveling by train at night... in fact, having my little health issues, I very much avoided traveling at longer distances because of the inconvenience and discomfort lately... So let us hope they will become available outside Austria soon...
Between this and Vy's new "business class" lay-flat seating it's cool to see some new ideas actually being put into service for night trains. I only wish they would actually be available on the routes I typically take.
Long distance coach seats on Amtrak continue to take the prize, I think. Lots of leg room, recliner design with foot rest. I think those private pods are great, but not so good for anyone who has mobility issues, the bottom ones may be too low. I think the lowest couchettes look better for that purpose. I really like the look of that little roomette! With a toilet, wow!
I really like your train review videos. Informative and pleasant. Thanks
Congratulations Thibault for this excellent and informative video!🎉
To me the mini cabins are the most exciting innovation. For me the privacy is the biggest thing that has put me off of using night trains. Booking an entire traditional cabin for privacy is just way more expensive than booking a flight and I don't feel comfortable to spend a night in such a confinded space with strangers. So the mini cabin is a really good option when traveling alone. The main downside in my opinion are the beeping control panels. In my opinion it's completely unnecessary and annoying to have the beeping sound and I hope that they decide to deactivate it in the future.
Поразительно на скорости 230км/ч вагон не трясет и не колбасит, едет плавно
Very good! Thank you for making and sharing, and such a cool train. Fingers crossed some day the UK gets sleeper trains through the Channel Tunnel, though I'd bet against it happening in the next ten years. (Next fifteen, though...?)
Hi. Enjoy your videos very much. I have always loved trains and wish the service in America was as good as in Europe. The new train is beautiful and the modern features are great but that mini compartment looks like sleeping in a coffin. A big no on that for me. The bedroom seems nice though. As with everything else, you get what you pay for. Best regards.
This is insanely good! Hope other operators can deliver this kind of experience eventually.
Phew - hope OBB has a way of extracting any 'big boys' who may get wedged in that little berth!
6 bike racks on board! Perfect for cycling advendture in another country or region! 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
This is amazing! I would happily live there, like forever! Amazing! Well done OBB
This looks amazing, its almost seems like the designers travelled to Japan and took notes of public transport and capsule hotels and implemented a whole bunch of cool ideas. Sadly, our German Rail is still stuck in the pre 2000s despite recent year Ministry scouting trips to asia.
I gave up due to unpunctual or broken connections, delays and overall scruffiness years ago . This on the other hand is a fantastic way to travel, would like to try it myself. TAKE NOTE DB!
No worries the DB gave the night train business to the OEBB which now is making good money with it!
So the OEBB is doing anyway what the DB should, expect the night trains to get bigger area coverage as business increases for the oebb in this segment!
Would Germans know what to do if DB actually ran on time? I know DB always being late is a bit of a meme in Germany.
Yeap, sadly...its a really long time since I remember anything going "to plan"@@mrvwbug4423
@@mrvwbug4423 They wouldn't. I don't really have much trouble with DB. It's certainly better than driving or flying.
That being said they aren't always the most customer friendly. You definetly have to learn how to use the system and where to plan extra time into your journey.
It's far from the disaster everyone likes to poartray it as but it's also very, very far from perfect.
The designs are very clever, especially the table/mirror combo. Can't wait to try it out.
Grateful, thanks
Tellement bien les voyages en train de nuit, merci de nous faire partager vos voyages !
This is my new favorite train. We need this in America to replace our east coast overnight trains.
Muito lindo cabine simply do trein Boa viagem trein cama
As many others have said, the mini cabin (whether travelling solo or as a couple) is a game changer, especially with that price, and so are the amazing looking sleepers! I hope similar stock is introduced on the Amsterdam-Vienna route soon, unfortunately could not find much information on their rollout plans for other routes. Planning a trip in spring, and so looking forward to what would be my first NightJet experience.
Thank you for the very informative video and can't wait to see what other innovations come for European night trains in the future!
Génial la Vidéo 💡😃👍The new Nighjet is based on Viaggio Confort cars as on Railjet with Vectron or Taurus locomotive, moreover the pilot car takes over the controls and the front of a Vectron.
These cars are "loosely" vased on Viaggio, but structurally different as they are made of lighter aluminium instead of cheaper but much heavier steel. They also have very fancy windows that let cellular signals in but still reflect sunshine to reduce air conditioning load.
I think I would prefer Comfort over Comfort Plus. I wonder if being parallel to the track might be a smoother sleeping experience (but I would love the real shower compartment!).
Yes the shower/ensuite is extra small. I was shocked that the beds were made from start to finish on the journey.
A lot of interesting and innovative features are incorporated into this train. I have to wonder how the maintenance and upkeep will work out once these trains enter service. It looks like there are a lot of electronic parts and pieces that will be susceptible to failure. Hopefully that has been planned for. I personally dislike the mini cabins. I understand the idea behind them, but there are other ways to have accomplished what these cabins will do. Pullman's duplex roomettes and Budd's Slumbercoach single and double roomettes provided the same privacy, the ability to fully stand, and even included sink and toilet facilities in each room. The mini cabins will work well for a lot of people, but they will not work well for others.
This new Nightjet service looks fantastic !! Great review & lovely to see everything new, very comfortable.
Very cool, thanks for sharing.
Those mini cabins looks fantastic! It's like a mix of the couchette with better privacy than the open section accomodation offered by many old Pullman cars in the US. I think these should definitely spread outside Nightjet, an intermediate option between a private room and seating would be very welcome to many travellers
Looks amazing! Sounds so quiet too. Can’t wait to ride this train next year when I visit Europe. Thanks for posting this fantastic episode. Loving your work mate ❤️❤️❤️
What I still miss on most sleeper trains is a proper restaurant/bar car. It would be nice to get a proper dinner in the evening...
Those couchette and sleeping compartments look great and are very stylish, just hope all those gadgets and moving parts hold up in the long-term.
Congratulations for a great video and for being invited by ÖBB. The future for international trains in Europe looks bright :)
Thanks for the video. I remember the old moon chairs that worked really well for night train. The Mini cabin is good. I didn't see a temp control that I saw in the sleeper car. It also seemed quieter as well.
A capsule hotel on wheels! I LOVE it!
Great, thanks for sharing this and all your videos, enjoy watching them, keep up the awesome work you do.
Thank you for this great video ! I think the new NightJet train looks wonderful, and will certainly take a ride on one next year !
All for those who criticise the mini cabins claustrophobic look at business class on most airlines I can assure you that the leg room in sleeping configuration on airplanes is much smaller than in this mini cabins. I would love to see a nightjet running to London.
Ależ piękne wagony 🤯👍👌🔥 Coś wspaniałego!
Wow the entire sleeper compartment is First Class
Thank you!
It looks very modern!!! But I still missing the bar/restaurant coach in the night trains. It makes to feel you more in a hotel over rails