OBB, Austria’s national railway network, has shared a glimpse inside its next-generation Nightjet sleeper trains, set to arrive in summer 2023.

Designed in partnership with Siemens Mobility, the sleeper cabins of Nightjet are designed to accommodate the needs of modern travellers and offer increased privacy and comfort, as well as a climate-friendly mode of transport.

OBB is due to gain 33 Nightjet trains by the end of 2025, and operate the new sleeper trains on rail routes that connect European cities, travelling at speeds of 230 km/ph. The first trains are scheduled to operate on  popular routes from Austria and Germany to Italy.

Leonore Gewessler, Austria’s Federal Minister of Climate Action, says: “Night trains are gaining momentum throughout Europe, because they’re the climate-friendly alternative to short-haul flights.

“With OBB’s new cutting-edge Nightjet, traveling to cities such as Rome, Venice and Milan will become even easier and more comfortable. When you travel by night train, you choose the most relaxed way to travel. You also contribute to reducing CO2 emissions – travelling with the Nightjet is around 50 times more climate-friendly than an airplane.”

Albrecht Neumann, CEO of Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility, says: “With the new Nightjet, we are making an important contribution to making rail travel more appealing and to achieving climate targets. The trains are highly innovative: they will be the global benchmark for years to come, and they stand out due to their comfort for travellers and their sustainability and flexibility.

“One particular highlight of the interior is the innovative mini cabins that offer travellers a private space to retreat. The newly developed bogies, which are lightweight and enable comfortable and energy-efficient operation throughout the entire life cycle, provide a particularly quiet ride.”

In the sleeping cars, all compartments have their own toilets and showers. The fixed beds are designed to be more comfortable, and there is also a seating area where passengers can relax and work, read or eat during their journey.

OBB’s Nightjet will have parking spaces for six bikes, and extra stowage space for luggage and snow sports equipment. Each train will have a wheel-chair accessible couchette compartment with a bathroom that can be accessed via low-floor entry.

Travellers will also benefit from free wifi, and OBB’s Railnet onboard portal for streaming films and TV shows and reading digital magazines and newspapers. As well as offering conventional power sockets, Nightjet will feature USB ports and inductive charging stations.

What’s more, the train’s new window panes are designed to allow a cellular signal to pass through improve network function and ensure more stable cell phone reception.

In the train’s sleeper compartments, there will also be a panel for controlling the lights and a button to call for service from onboard staff. Compartments are equipped with an electronic card access system and each car will have video surveillance to help passengers feel safe.

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