railfan99
Established Member
Overall, many of us would compliment Austria's OBB for saving (and enhancing) European overnight sleeping car routes.
However, there seem to be some problems at outstations (not at Vienna).
In October 2022, on the Venice to Vienna overnight train, most loos were inoperative. In the morning, I found a sleeping compartment whose passengers had left the train, and asked if I could use the toilet. The Newrest (contracted company) staff member agreed, but as soon as I came out, he locked the compartment door, oblivious to how others may want to use that toilet.
On 28 June 2023, a friend was on the La Spezia to Vienna NightJet. At La Spezia, the cars were incorrectly numbered, so passengers for Vienna ended up in the Munich section and vice versa. They then had to move between four and eight car lengths: apparently the Newrest or other staff ensured the gangway was open between the two sections.
This to me is a very basic, avoidable failing.
My friend had a deluxe sleeper. He was by himself (sole occupancy of a deluxe compartment).
His car lacked aircon, lights and working water/toilet/shower. There was no communication from the staff, except that one told my mate that the problems would be fixed: they were not. I didn't ask if he had a torch.
The car had not been cleaned: there was rubbish in the bathrooms.
Nor had the towels been laid out, or other housekeeping done. Is this the fault of FS staff in La Spezia?
Apparently two young people from the USA abandoned the train in Milan, and instead decided to fly to Vienna. There were three other Australians in the car, and four others who'd apparently not been on a NightJet, all of whom bar my friend having not previously used a NightJet.
He and I agree the cars ride excellently, with tracks usually in great condition. Even going over points and crossovers is normally smooth as silk.
His train was 40 minutes late: to me, not disastrous.
He'd previously had a flawless journey by NightJet from Vienna to La Spezia, but it seems based on our experience, there's a problem with almost complete lack of servicing of the cars at outstations, which of course being Europe are normally in a different country.
Both he and I have observed that these sleeping car trains are generally full in the sleepers; he even said last night's from La Spezia was chockas (Australian word, that was once never used in polite company, for 'full')in the sitting cars. Great to see.
I hope others don't suffer from similar occurrences as overall, both of us believe in sleeping cars and enjoy them very much. It's great to be able to now travel on so many routes: highly recommended.
Can OBB address this outstations difficulty?
However, there seem to be some problems at outstations (not at Vienna).
In October 2022, on the Venice to Vienna overnight train, most loos were inoperative. In the morning, I found a sleeping compartment whose passengers had left the train, and asked if I could use the toilet. The Newrest (contracted company) staff member agreed, but as soon as I came out, he locked the compartment door, oblivious to how others may want to use that toilet.
On 28 June 2023, a friend was on the La Spezia to Vienna NightJet. At La Spezia, the cars were incorrectly numbered, so passengers for Vienna ended up in the Munich section and vice versa. They then had to move between four and eight car lengths: apparently the Newrest or other staff ensured the gangway was open between the two sections.
This to me is a very basic, avoidable failing.
My friend had a deluxe sleeper. He was by himself (sole occupancy of a deluxe compartment).
His car lacked aircon, lights and working water/toilet/shower. There was no communication from the staff, except that one told my mate that the problems would be fixed: they were not. I didn't ask if he had a torch.
The car had not been cleaned: there was rubbish in the bathrooms.
Nor had the towels been laid out, or other housekeeping done. Is this the fault of FS staff in La Spezia?
Apparently two young people from the USA abandoned the train in Milan, and instead decided to fly to Vienna. There were three other Australians in the car, and four others who'd apparently not been on a NightJet, all of whom bar my friend having not previously used a NightJet.
He and I agree the cars ride excellently, with tracks usually in great condition. Even going over points and crossovers is normally smooth as silk.
His train was 40 minutes late: to me, not disastrous.
He'd previously had a flawless journey by NightJet from Vienna to La Spezia, but it seems based on our experience, there's a problem with almost complete lack of servicing of the cars at outstations, which of course being Europe are normally in a different country.
Both he and I have observed that these sleeping car trains are generally full in the sleepers; he even said last night's from La Spezia was chockas (Australian word, that was once never used in polite company, for 'full')in the sitting cars. Great to see.
I hope others don't suffer from similar occurrences as overall, both of us believe in sleeping cars and enjoy them very much. It's great to be able to now travel on so many routes: highly recommended.
Can OBB address this outstations difficulty?
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