Prague is to get another night train from Switzerland, planned jointly by SBB and ÖBB
Austrian and Swiss carriers are preparing a major expansion of night trains across Europe.
The Austrian federal railways ÖBB and the Swiss federal railways SBB today announced major plans to expand night trains across Europe. The expansion of operations should also affect the Czech Republic.
According to the plans published today, the second night train from Zurich should arrive in Prague. In addition to the connection via Austria (currently interrupted due to the quarantine of passenger arrivals from the Czech Republic), a night train from Zurich via Germany, specifically via Frankfurt, Leipzig and Dresden, is to run to Prague from 2023. These will be direct cars that will disconnect from the Zurich – Berlin night train. In the past, direct night trains under the names Phoenix and Canopus, which were directed by Deutsche Bahn, used to travel to Prague in this way. However, they completely left the segment of night connections.
Both carriers’ plans include new direct trains from Zurich to Amsterdam, Rome and Barcelona. Carriers in Press Release at the same time they pointed out that it is a condition of a subsidy from the Swiss climate fund.
Ten lines from Switzerland
Night trains experienced an unprecedented increase in passenger interest last year, with ÖBB in particular trying to offer night services as an environmentally friendly alternative to flying. On the contrary, due to the coronavirus pandemic, demand has fallen sharply this year. Today, ÖBB is the largest operator of night trains in Europe. The connection with the Swiss railways is to contribute to further expansion under the Nightjet brand. According to the signed agreement between the carriers, a total of ten routes will be created from Switzerland, which will connect a total of 25 cities by 2024.
Today, both carriers presented their “timetable” for further routes: the connection to Amsterdam is to begin in December 2021, as well as the connection from Zurich to Berlin will be expanded, including a new extension to Prague via Dresden and Leipzig.
A year or two later, the repairers plan a new connection from Zurich to Rome and Barcelona. Passengers want to lure carriers with new vehicles ordered by ÖBB.
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