Advice for sleeper trains

[alex397]

Its long been an ambition of mine to travel on a European sleeper train.

I very much appreciate my own space, and also have difficulty sleeping, which is why I always stay in hotels rather than hostels (despite being tempted by hostels as apparently they are good places to meet people). So its not too much of a shock to the system, i'm thinking of booking with one of the better sleeper train operators, and it seems to me that OBB's Nightjet is probably the best operator - is this the case? And are there any other recommended operators?

The Dusseldorf - Innsbruck route looks like a good option. Relatively easy access from the Eurostar (lets hope they will still run fine after the end of this month!!), probably some good scenery too. Innsbruck looks like a good place to stay for a few days too - great scenery, geeky transport stuff, and an interesting city. Are there any other recommended routes? (Well, most sleeper routes look good!)

I also need a bit of advice with the booking on OBB - Seat61 has some very good info, but theres a few things i'm not completely sure on.
As long as I get a compartment all to myself with a bed and a window, thats fine! I don't mind too much having to share a toilet, and I can go a night without a shower. It seems the difference between an ordinary cabin with a bed and washbasin, and a 'couchette' with a toilet/shower is 100euros, so i'd happily just have a ordinary cabin for that big difference.

There is a 'spar-pries' ticket for 29euros, with the addition of 80.90euros for a 'sleeping car', but instead of a sleeping car its just an extra 30 euros for a couchette. I thought the couchette was the better option, so why is it so much cheaper? I'm finding the booking process a bit confusing

Secondly, Seat61 suggests if you book for just 1 person, you will probably get an extra person in your cabin, which i'm really not keen on. Is it worth booking for 2 people, and are you allowed to do this when travelling alone?

 

[DEE-DE]

Disclaimer, my last and only journey with nighjet was 1.5 years ago so some of this info is from my memory and the rest from the nightjet website.
Right, to go through the categories:
The couchette coach: Available in 6 or 4 berth configurations (same coach with the middle berths folded away for the 4 bed configuration).
To see how couchettes are like, see this link in night configuration and this link in day configuration. As you can see you don't really have a bed but rather it's just the seats you're lying on. As you can see, you get a pillow, some seat cover and a blanket (which is a step up from DB times as I remember them only providing a very thin sleeping bag and possibly a very thin pillow). There'll be toilets and washrooms at the end of the coach (washrooms are like a toilet just without the toilet, really). No showers around.
Normally you'd be booking one place out of the 4/6 and the rest will be strangers (mixed gender unless you book in one of the female only compartments). Now with ÖBB there's the possibility of booking a full compartment for oneself but I have never done that. But according to the website it starts at €199 so it's probably not worth it.

The sleeper coach: Available in 1-3 bed configurations (same coach again, with the middle and top beds folded away).
To show the difference: Night-time configurations and day-time configurations again. As you can see it's an actual bed (so a lot softer) with the seats appearing only as the bottom bed is folded away. You get a proper pillow, duvet and a fully made-up bed. There's a difference here between standard and deluxe compartments. Standard compartments just come with a sink in the room. Öbb don't seem to advertise any showers so this might depend on the type of coach but I've found some at the end of the coach before. Deluxe, you get a toilet and shower in your room.
You can either book one place out of 2/3 or book it in 1-bed configuration. If you don't book the full compartment you might have to share with some strangers. With Öbb it should probably be cheaper to book the 1-bed configuration if you don't want to share. That should be possible unless they don't have a full compartment available anymore. If it's just yourself I suspect this should be even cheaper than booking a full couchette compartment. And you get a better breakfast and some other goodies that you can probably still keep (horray for small towels that don't take up much space).

 

[DEE-DE]

Part 2 on the booking with some screenshots attached.
- Search for the connection.
- Click on the connection you want. It'll show you the ticket types. Scroll down and you'll see the available accomodation types under the heading of Night Train.
- Tick the accomodation type you want. It might ask you to change service if the ticket type is not compatible with the chosen accomodation. Just click the message and it'll select the correct ticket type.
- In the place of the message you now get an option to Change Compartment Type. Click that to see what's on offer.
- now with what you see here the only options where you'd be getting your own cabin as a single traveller is the private couchette compartment (unavailable as it's a different specific fare, go back to the fares to change the fare type) and the Compartment with 1 bed (Single). All other options you'll be sharing with a stranger if you don't fill up the whole compartment. In my case it shows up as €199 in total for the full couchette compartment or €209 for the standard single sleeper compartment.

This is all I've been able to find out about the booking process as I've never actually booked anything with ÖBB themselves.

 

[Alfonso]

Its long been an ambition of mine to travel on a European sleeper train.

I very much appreciate my own space, and also have difficulty sleeping, which is why I always stay in hotels rather than hostels (despite being tempted by hostels as apparently they are good places to meet people). So its not too much of a shock to the system, i'm thinking of booking with one of the better sleeper train operators, and it seems to me that OBB's Nightjet is probably the best operator - is this the case? And are there any other recommended operators?

The Dusseldorf - Innsbruck route looks like a good option. Relatively easy access from the Eurostar (lets hope they will still run fine after the end of this month!!), probably some good scenery too. Innsbruck looks like a good place to stay for a few days too - great scenery, geeky transport stuff, and an interesting city. Are there any other recommended routes? (Well, most sleeper routes look good!)

I also need a bit of advice with the booking on OBB - Seat61 has some very good info, but theres a few things i'm not completely sure on.
As long as I get a compartment all to myself with a bed and a window, thats fine! I don't mind too much having to share a toilet, and I can go a night without a shower. It seems the difference between an ordinary cabin with a bed and washbasin, and a 'couchette' with a toilet/shower is 100euros, so i'd happily just have a ordinary cabin for that big difference.

There is a 'spar-pries' ticket for 29euros, with the addition of 80.90euros for a 'sleeping car', but instead of a sleeping car its just an extra 30 euros for a couchette. I thought the couchette was the better option, so why is it so much cheaper? I'm finding the booking process a bit confusing

Secondly, Seat61 suggests if you book for just 1 person, you will probably get an extra person in your cabin, which i'm really not keen on. Is it worth booking for 2 people, and are you allowed to do this when travelling alone?

1. Couchettes are almost always 4/5/6 berth compartments and cheaper than sleepers, exceptions include SNCF whee you can pay about 70 euros on top of 1st class for sole occupancy (espace privatif)
2. Sleepers are 1/2/3 rarely 4 berth. Singles are nearly twice the price of doubles so worth considering inviting like-minded friends along for the ride.
3. If budget is an issue, central Europe likely to be cheaper, such as cheap flight to Kosice plus sleeper to Prague. Lots of other options. Booking out of season or unpopular routes might also get you a couchette to yourself but no guarantee.

 

[paddington]

I did Malmö to Stockholm in 2016 and found the experience better than my more recent trips on OEBB. I got sent to a local 5* hotel for breakfast which is much better than the OEBB breakfast offerings!

I only ever book private sleeper cabins unless travelling with my wife, and I don't understand how you could share with a stranger (well yes of course it's possible, but if I had to share I would rather just have a seat). There is very little floor space in there, and I want to unpack and repack my bags (if you put your bag on the bed there is no space to sleep) and I want to look at the stations we pass through overnight. Also charging is difficult as the only power outlets I've found were over the sink, so you can't charge things by your bed. Showering is difficult if the train is going through mountains as it twists and turns every few seconds so if you want to shower you really need to do it on the straight stretches or when the train is stopped for a few hours at one of the overnight stations.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I only ever book private sleeper cabins unless travelling with my wife, and I don't understand how you could share with a stranger (well yes of course it's possible, but if I had to share I would rather just have a seat).

I've done it in the absence of any other choice - the Wrocław-L'viv route used to be sleeper train only unless you wanted fun and games involving minibuses and a bit of a walk. Given that I was going to a conference there and the direct sleeper train took 14 hours while the indirect route meant relying on dodgy connections while taking the same time - it was a no brainer. With the top bunk in a 3 bed compartment, it wasn't so terrible - the only hard part was that the train left Wrocław at 15:00, so far too early when the cabin was already in night configuration. I had the cabin to myself until Kraków though, so it wasn't so terrible.

On the way back, I had the same, but I was so tired after a whole day of walking around and drinking in random pubs that I was out cold almost instantly. Border control on the Ukrainian side didn't bother waking me up, but the Polish guards wanted to know what I'd been doing in Ukraine. The answer of "uuggh...meh... nic się nie stało" (nothing has happened) left them completely bewildered. In my defence, I'd just been woken up and thought they'd asked me what was happening there.

 

[jamesontheroad]

I did Malmö to Stockholm in 2016 and found the experience better than my more recent trips on OEBB. I got sent to a local 5* hotel for breakfast which is much better than the OEBB breakfast offerings!

SJ Nattågett (night trains) in Sweden are really good. Scandinavia is obviously very expensive for foreign tourists, but if you book early, sole occupation of a second class compartment and even a first class compartment (with en suite WC and toilet) is surprisingly good value, and you’re saving a night in the usually expensive hotels.

Consider the SJ train from Stockholm to the Arctic Circle - daily to/from Narvik in Norway. Travel in summer time and most of your trip will be in daylight, so you won’t miss any scenery.

 

[MarcVD]

You could also consider trying the Paris Moscow sleeper. Nice train, but a bit difficult to interact with the train crew as they speak almost nothing besides russian. When I did it (in 2016) a good polish restaurant car was in the train consist between Paris and Warsaw, and a russian one between Brest and Moscow. You can lock your compartment door while going out, which is quite nice, and the rolling stock is clean and modern. The scenery of the journey is nothing to write home about, though...

On the russian network, sole occupancy of a compartment is not offered. You can buy two tickets, but the provodnik might still accept a last minute traveller and install him in the bunk next to yours.

I still find that my travel to Tachkent was a nice experience even if I was not alone. The guy I traveled with was a fine ouzbek gentleman, we managed to exchange together despite my limited russian knowledge, and we still exchange emails together 3 years after this adventure...

 

[30907]

I've been doing a fair bit of research in connection with a trip to CZ and SK in a couple of months, and my thoughts are:

1. if you want/need your own space, then a single berth sleeper is a must; at my age, an ensuite is preferred(!), and doesn't usually cost much extra.
2. in terms of Nightjet the Duesseldorf/Hamburg/Innsbruck/Wien group of services are more expensive than the Zurich/Bregenz ones (haven't checked Zurich-Germany), and IIRC Milan-Vienna is cheapest.
But the best value by far is the single Czech car for Prague attached to the Zurich-Vienna, costing something like EUR139 in DeLuxe.
That said, for me the real treat is DeLuxe in a Nightjet doubledecker (Vienna-Zurich or Zurich-Berlin).
3. consider your departure and arrival times - I would go for the longest night possible. The classic is the single Slovak sleeper that leaves Bratislava at 8, sits half the night at Zilina, and gets to Kosice 12 hours later - and with a restaurant car at first.
And as Alfonso has said, CZ and SK are good for cheap sleepers, and if you are (un?)lucky you may get one with the traditional form of aircon aka opening window!

 

[Bald Rick]

Consider the SJ train from Stockholm to the Arctic Circle - daily to/from Narvik in Norway. Travel in summer time and most of your trip will be in daylight, so you won’t miss any scenery.

And the scenery is almost entirely pine forest!

 

[sheff1]

Certainly agree about Swedish sleepers. The prices are very competitive when you consider the average price of a reasonable hotel and the 'scenery' on many routes is probably best passed whilst you are asleep ..... unless you are particularly keen on trees !

 

[rg177]

Can vouch for Swedish sleepers. With my Interrail it was £65.30 in First Class and that included an en-suite plus breakfast at the Scandic Kramer in Malmö.

It was a pleasant nights sleep from Stockholm, and the shower worked well. Staff just showed you your room and you were left alone for the night.

 

[alex397]

Thank you very much for the useful replies.

I have had quite a few other priorities recently so haven't had chance to try and book anything. I will hopefully try and book something this afternoon, for the week after Easter weekend.

DEE-DE, I followed your advice and have selected the 'compartment with 1 bed' selection, which is 139 euros (seems a fairly reasonable price for a bed to sleep and train ride to another country). I am a little cautious about booking it, as it doesn't explicitaly say its a completely private cabin and that I'm guaranteed to get a private cabin. We shall see! I'm sure after my first sleeper train I shall be more confident about booking one again.

 

[Alfonso]

Thank you very much for the useful replies.

I have had quite a few other priorities recently so haven't had chance to try and book anything. I will hopefully try and book something this afternoon, for the week after Easter weekend.

DEE-DE, I followed your advice and have selected the 'compartment with 1 bed' selection, which is 139 euros (seems a fairly reasonable price for a bed to sleep and train ride to another country). I am a little cautious about booking it, as it doesn't explicitaly say its a completely private cabin and that I'm guaranteed to get a private cabin. We shall see! I'm sure after my first sleeper train I shall be more confident about booking one again.

You wil not have to share a compartment with one bed with anyone else: they won't sell the floorspace or luggage rack to someone else.

 

[30907]

Thank you very much for the useful replies.

I have had quite a few other priorities recently so haven't had chance to try and book anything. I will hopefully try and book something this afternoon, for the week after Easter weekend.

DEE-DE, I followed your advice and have selected the 'compartment with 1 bed' selection, which is 139 euros (seems a fairly reasonable price for a bed to sleep and train ride to another country). I am a little cautious about booking it, as it doesn't explicitaly say its a completely private cabin and that I'm guaranteed to get a private cabin. We shall see! I'm sure after my first sleeper train I shall be more confident about booking one again.

If the site doesn't ask for your gender, it's a single-berth! It's also a very good price for Duesseldorf-Innsbruck less than a month away if that's your route.
Be aware that the service can have problems loading the car-carriers in time for a punctual start, especially if loads of bikers have booked, so don't book a tight connection at the other end.

 

[alex397]

Thank you for the further info. My concern is asking for a single-berth cabin, but having the booking changed for a bed in a shared cabin - as quoted 'deviations from your reservation request are possible'

 

[30907]

Thank you for the further info. My concern is asking for a single-berth cabin, but having the booking changed for a bed in a shared cabin - as quoted 'deviations from your reservation request are possible'

I think this means "the offer below may not be exactly what you asked for,"
The details of your booking will be displayed in full, and you can even cancel immediately after you have paid.

 

[alex397]

I think this means "the offer below may not be exactly what you asked for,"
The details of your booking will be displayed in full, and you can even cancel immediately after you have paid.

Thanks. Also, 'deviations from your reservation request are possible' might mean that the customer will be able to change the booking, rather than the operator changing the reservation. Didn't think of that. Either way, I shall book anyway and find out!

I will be travelling on the 23rd April, on Eurostar to Brussels, then another (two or three) trains to Dusseldorf. With everything that's going on, lets hope the first leg won't let me down!

 

[Please Explain]

Would it not be easier and faster with just one change to pickup NJ 421 from Köln?
ICE 19 leaves Brussel Zuid at 18:25 and arrives into Köln Hbf at 20:15, the NJ is at 21:21 from there giving you over an hour to play with there "just in case time".
Then there is the last THA 9473 at 19:25, arriving at 21:15 but is probably a bit risky as this only gives you six minutes connection time.

 

[30907]

Would it not be easier and faster with just one change to pickup NJ 421 from Köln?
ICE 19 leaves Brussel Zuid at 18:25 and arrives into Köln Hbf at 20:15, the NJ is at 21:21 from there giving you over an hour to play with there "just in case time".
Then there is the last THA 9473 at 19:25, arriving at 21:15 but is probably a bit risky as this only gives you six minutes connection time.

I wouldn't want to risk the 15.04 from London, because of the tight connection, so if the OP travels earlier, they have plenty of leeway - and could if need be head direct to Koeln to make up lost time.

 

[alex397]

I will be getting the morning Eurostar train from Ashford to Brussels, which arrives 10.05 so should have plenty of time to reach Düsseldorf. I could go to Koln but would like to see a bit of Düsseldorf, and would quite like to travel 'end to end'. Will be a good back up plan though to go straight to Koln

 

[30907]

I will be getting the morning Eurostar train from Ashford to Brussels, which arrives 10.05 so should have plenty of time to reach Düsseldorf. I could go to Koln but would like to see a bit of Düsseldorf, and would quite like to travel 'end to end'. Will be a good back up plan though to go straight to Koln

You've plenty of time then! And if your ticket shows a change at Aachen onto a Regional train, then you can use either Regional route thence (Koeln or Moenchengladbach) and break your journey as you like.

PS IIRC there's a decent enough trad German restaurant in one of the passages under Duesseldorf Hbf, if you can't find anywhere good in the city.

 

[tasky]

I'm a fairly regular user of the Nightjet and usually get a four-bed couchette. Sometimes, if you're lucky, nobody else is in with you! You can usually tell early in the night if someone is going to join at a later stop by how many bottles of water the attendant has put out, though once or twice there has been what I assume was a late booking joining us.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Do current NightJet couchettes have bars/straps to stop you falling out? I've done OEBB Nightservices from Ulm to Vienna and Salzburg to Venice about 10 years ago and I would've been seriously concerned if I hadn't had a few ales

 

[tasky]

Do current NightJet couchettes have bars/straps to stop you falling out? I've done OEBB Nightservices from Ulm to Vienna and Salzburg to Venice about 10 years ago and I would've been seriously concerned if I hadn't had a few ales

The ones I've been in don't have them - it can feel a big precarious the first time, though I've got used to it now

 

[paddington]

If you book a sleeping car for 1, only the lowest bed will be out and there won't be straps. In December I travelled with my wife on the OP's route (Duesseldorf-Vienna) and there was a huge tangle of straps around the upper bunk, which we could not work out how to attach in a coherent manner, but they did form a sort of net that would have stopped me rolling off.

On the Prague to Austrian border route, it wasn't rolling off the bed that I was afraid of, but slamming my head into the headboard area and my feet into the window with every twist and turn.

 

[EAD]

Think you have had all the info you need. Parents live in the Tirol so I often use the Innsbruck portion of the train as it makes for a convenient overnight journey. It is a very civilised way to travel.

Depending how long you will have in Düsseldorf you could hop into the old town too (only a couple of stops to Heinrich-Heine-Allee on the Stadtbahn (U)). If you do then www.brauerei-kuerzer.de is unusual in that it is a young Alt brewery, but I have used it before for a quick bite to eat and a couple of their Altbier before hopping on the sleeper. Just remember to put your Deckel (mat) back on top of the beer when not drinking or the top ups will keep coming once you are getting low