SBB presents new night train in Zurich
Keystone-SDA
Swiss Federal Railways presented the latest night train in Zurich on Thursday. The new-generation Nightjet will travel between Zurich and Hamburg and is designed to offer more comfort.
The first new Nightjet was christened “City of Zurich”, and will run between Zurich and Hamburg with immediate effect. This night service will also be gradually introduced on the Amsterdam and Vienna routes from 2026.
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According to the press release, this is the most modern night train in Europe. In addition to sleeping and couchette carriages, the Nightjet also offers so-called mini cabins for solo travellers.
The new night trains are an important contribution to making climate-friendly overnight travel more attractive, the rail company announced. The aim is to further strengthen international passenger transport services.
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Swiss night trains: past, present and future
Limited political support
Night trains are controversial in politics. The Senate recently spoke out against subsidising the planned Zurich-Malmö connection. The House of Representatives will decide on the matter next. From spring 2026, the trains will run to southern Sweden – subsidised with CHF10 million from the federal government.
The number of night trains available in Switzerland fell sharply in the 2010s, partly due to a lack of demand. Competition from low-cost flights and new bus services also had an effect.
The debate about night trains flared up again with the discussion about climate change. The Swiss parliament wanted to invest CHF30 million a year in night trains. However, plans for connections to Barcelona and Rome were cancelled.
Adapted from German by DeepL/ac
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