Prices, times, stops: how return of Paris-Berlin night train works
The route is starting again following a nine-year hiatus
The Nightjet train to Berlin departs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 19:12
Jesus Fernandez / Shutterstock
The Paris to Berlin night train is starting again on December 11 following a nine year hiatus. We look at the prices, times and stops of this iconic European train service.
At 20:18 on December 11, the first sleeper train bound for Paris will leave Berlin on its 14 hour trip through the night. It is scheduled to reach the French capital at 10:24 the next morning.
The route, operated by Vienna-based OBB under its Nightjet brand, will restart with three trains a week.
The night train from Berlin runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing at 20:18.
From Paris, it will run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing at 19:12 and stopping at:
- Strasbourg at 23:36
- Frankfurt at 3:17
- Erfurt at 5:47
- Halle at 7:02
- Berlin at 8:26
From autumn 2024, the train will run every day at these times.
Tickets can be purchased on the Nightjet website and cost:
- From €29.90 for a seat
- From €59.90 for a bunk, which includes access to the restaurant service for hot and cold meal and breakfast
- From €94.90 for a compartment, which includes a welcome drink, toiletry bag, shower access, towels and access to the restaurant service for hot and cold meal and breakfast
The tickets will also be available for purchase on the SNCF Connect website.
Previous article: Paris - Berlin night train returns from December 12
Why are night trains starting again?
Night trains, which were once far more widespread than they are today, declined in Europe due to the rise in low cost air travel.
However, due to the spectre of climate change, the political winds are again in their favour.
In July 2020, President Macron announced that he was in favour of them, with lines from Paris to Nice and to Lourdes ripening in 2021.
The then-Minister of Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said this was only the beginning.
His successor, Clément Beaune is also a vocal supporter of night trains, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the return of the Paris Berlin route, and also to announce that of the Paris-Aurillac route after a 20 year hiatus.
The first Paris to Aurillac train departed at 19:27 from Austerlitz station, arriving in Aurillac (Cantal) at 07:15. Tickets are available from SNCF Connect.
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