About the latest generation of Nightjet sleeping and couchette cars reported RAILMARKET.COM in July this year. Now ÖBB and Siemens Mobility have presented the interior design of the next-generation Nightjet. The new cars are designed to optimally accommodate the needs of customers and score points with modern design, greater comfort, and increased privacy.
The trains will be built at the Siemens Mobility plant in Vienna. The first trains are scheduled to be deployed by the end of summer 2023 on the routes from Vienna and Munich to Rome, Venice, and Milan. By the year 2025, a total of 33 new Nightjet trains will be in service in Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, replacing a majority of the existing rolling stock. The trains, which will connect European cities overnight, will travel at speeds of up to 230 kilometres per hour in a climate-friendly way.
“Night trains are gaining momentum throughout Europe, because they’re the climate-friendly alternative to short-haul flights. With ÖBB’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: Traveling with the Nightjet is around 50 times more climate-friendly than an airplane,” said Leonore Gewessler, Austria’s Federal Minister of Climate Action.
The seven-car Nightjet trains of the new generation consist of two seating cars (control car and multifunction car), three couchette cars, and two sleeping cars. The maximum capacity of each train is 254 passengers. The lower occupancy (two-person compartments in sleeping cars; four-person compartments in couchette cars) and the new mini-cabins for people traveling alone give passengers more privacy, but at the same time, they give them the comfort they need.
All compartments are equipped with their own toilet and shower. Fixed beds make sleeping more restful; comfortable seating is provided for reading, working, or eating during the journey. In the future, the multifunctional car should offer space for storing bicycles or ski and snowboard equipment.
Passengers can also look forward to a number of technical innovations. They will be able to use free Wi-Fi during their journey. A modern information system has been integrated into all cars to help ensure that passengers are kept up-to-date with the latest travel information. In addition to conventional power outlets, the new Nightjet also features charging options for a range of electronic devices via USB and inductive charging stations. Thanks to the control panels, passengers can configure the lighting and call for service from onboard staff whenever they need them. In addition, the compartments are equipped with an electronic access system that makes use of NFC cards, and all cars have video surveillance to help passengers feel even safer.
“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 travelers and their sustainability and flexibility. One particular highlight of the interior is the innovative mini cabins that offer travelers 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,” commented Albrecht Neumann, CEO of Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility.
