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How this tiny country won Europe's night train race

16:55

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Katharina Schantz
April 10, 2026

As Europe's rail giants scrapped their sleeper cars, one tiny country went all‑in. Austria's ÖBB has built the continent's largest night train network, carrying millions across borders while everyone else hit the brakes.

Night trains are making a comeback in Europe, led by Austria’s state railway ÖBB. The video follows an overnight journey from Germany to Vienna to explore why Austrian night trains remain popular while others disappeared. It looks at comfort, pricing and sustainability, compares trains with flights on emissions, and explains the political, economic and technical challenges of running sleepers — plus why private operators are now stepping in.

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