He tested all the night trains in Europe: from worst to best

Written by Sophie Renassia

Published on August 13, 2025

For four years, Thibault Constant, creator of the YouTube channel Simply Railway and a former railway worker, took on a crazy challenge: to test all the night trains in Europe. Not every single route, but every company, across all levels of comfort — from simple seated coaches to the most luxurious sleeper cars.

“I wanted to be able to say: I’ve done all the night trains in Europe. So I took a map, drew an itinerary… and off I went.”

This railway marathon, which began in 2019 and wrapped up last autumn, took him about six months of travel in total, spread over several years. He documented the adventure in videos for his YouTube channel, which brings together tens of thousands of train enthusiasts.

In the 58th episode of our podcast “Je t’offre un rail ?” (the podcast that will get you hooked on trains), he shares this ambitious journey and gives us his impressions — from the top performers to the worst in Europe.

A Railway Marathon Between Passion and Challenge

A Lifelong Passion

You could say Thibault Constant fell into the “train pot” as a child. Growing up, he often took trains to visit family in southern France. A railwayman at heart, he first worked as an engineer at SNCF Voyageurs, then at Alstom, before devoting himself full-time to his YouTube channel to live his passion.

After publishing his first book, “Trains de nuit, 30 trajets inoubliables en Europe” with Gallimard, he went even further: at just 28 years old, he has co-founded his own night train company, Nox, with Janek Smalla — a story we cover in this article.

Testing All the Night Trains in Europe: A Multi-Year Challenge

The project began in August 2019, with a grand tour of Europe thanks to the FIP rail pass (railway staff discounts). It was completed in autumn 2024, after a final month-and-a-half sprint to cover the missing companies and revisit his favourites. In total, Thibault spent around six cumulative months travelling the rails, all thoroughly documented on his YouTube channel.

Lessons from a European Night Train Tour

The Best Countries for Night Trains According to Thibault

• Italy – A dense network, well-thought-out schedules, affordable fares, and plenty of availability. The Intercity Notte service reaches almost every major city, all the way to Sicily.

“For €80 to €100, you get a great sleeper cabin… and there’s always space.”

• Finland – Modern rolling stock, cabins with showers, impeccable service.
• Austria – Thanks to ÖBB’s Nightjets, which have saved night trains in Central Europe.

The Worst Performers According to Thibault

• Spain – No night trains since 2020, despite huge potential.

“They had magnificent routes… and they shut them all down, at the worst possible time.”

• Portugal – No active service today.
• Germany – Deutsche Bahn abandoned night trains in 2017, replacing them with overnight ICE services that are far from ideal for sleeping.

And What About France?

France nearly ended up among the worst performers. Between 2017 and 2021, only two lines remained: Paris–Briançon and Paris–Toulouse (via La Tour-de-Carol).

“It was a disaster… and it was saved just in time after Covid.”

Since then, several routes have reopened, and the State continues to subsidise night trains through public tenders. Renovations have been carried out on existing stock (“we botoxed old trains”), extending their lifespan at a lower cost — though delays still occur due to ageing equipment.

Prices remain attractive:

“Paris–Saint-Raphaël in a couchette, €44 return… that’s very competitive.”

However, Thibault strongly advises against a seated ticket for a full night:

“It’s always a lost night… better to pay €10 more for a couchette.”

His Tips for Travellers

• Avoid seated tickets for overnight journeys.
• Try ÖBB’s mini-cabins for more privacy at a reasonable price.
• Prioritise countries with modern or refurbished rolling stock.

Favourites and the Future of Night Trains

His Favourite Trains

Thibault struggles to choose just one, but two routes stand out:

• The Night Riviera (United Kingdom) – This train links London to Penzance, in Cornwall, at the far southwest tip of the country.

“It’s an old night train, recently renovated, where you never share a cabin with strangers. You’re always solo.”
In England, this is the standard — ensuring comfort and rare privacy.

• The Caledonian Sleeper (Scotland) – A railway institution connecting London to the Highlands.

“You wake up to incredible landscapes… it’s unique.”
Here too, privacy is the norm, with attentive service for an experience that perfectly blends travel and pleasure.

A Revival to Build On

Thibault emphasises that without Central Europe and Austria’s vision, night trains might not have survived.

“Without them, there wouldn’t be a Nightjet to Paris or Brussels today.”

He now hopes to see:

• Modern, accessible sleeper cars, like the €69 Nightjet mini-cabins for an individual space.
• More affordable offers to attract a wider audience.
• Ambitious public policies with financial support to maintain and grow the service.

Thibault Constant’s grand tour of Europe proves that night trains still have a bright future — provided we focus on comfort, reliability, and affordable pricing. Italy, Finland, and Austria are leading the way, while France is working to catch up. And perhaps the future of low-carbon travel lies in the simple pleasure of being gently rocked to sleep… and waking up already at your destination.