A few days ago, Thibault Constant and Tolt were invited to board the inaugural Berlin-Paris trip, marking the grand return of the direct night train between the French and German capitals. In this article, we summarize everything you need to know about this route, which is making its comeback after several years of absence. You can also find more details in this video:
First, it's important to know that this route already existed a few years ago, with the CityNightLine 451, before it was discontinued in 2014. And with the Trans-European Express, which connected Paris and Moscow, making a stop in the German capital, but it was also suspended during COVID. Unfortunately, its return seems unlikely due to the current geopolitical situation.
The reason behind this comeback: the Austrian national railway company. In the 2010s, at a time when all other rail companies were abandoning their remaining night services, ÖBB decided to invest in night trains, notably by acquiring carriages and train paths from Deutsche Bahn. It was a visionary decision at a time when Greta Thunberg was not as popular as she is today, and when environmental issues were not as widely covered in the media.
Today, with the “flygskam” (Flight shame),the night train is regaining its popularity and is emerging as a real alternative to air travel for long distances. Unfortunately, many countries, including France, are currently lacking the equipment to truly revive sleeper trains and are now realizing the poor choices they made. So, a big thanks to ÖBB, because without them, the offer of international night trains in Europe would be even more limited.
The Paris-Berlin night train departs from Gare de l'Est at 7:12pm, with three departures per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It arrives at Berlin Central Station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof) at 8:26am the following day. In the opposite direction, trains leave Berlin on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:18pm, arriving in Strasbourg at 5:44am and Paris Gare de l'Est at 10:24am. It should be noted that with the arrival of the new Nightjets on the Vienna-Innsbruck and Vienna-Hamburg routes, ÖBB should be able to send the replaced trainsets on the Paris-Vienna and Paris-Berlin routes, potentially increasing the frequency to daily departures by September or October 2024.
Timetable for the Paris-Berlin night train, which runs 3 times a week in both directions before moving to daily frequency in autumn 2024
As with the Paris-Vienna, tthe journey is made using Nightjet trains, operated by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). The new service offers fares starting at €29.90, with a premium service including a private sleeper cabin with a shower and a meal at your seat for maximum comfort.
The train consists of 6 cars between Paris and Berlin, offering 312 seats across 3 comfort classes:
Reservations can be made online:
And also:
To get the best rates, you probably know the number one rule: book as early as possible. Ticket sales usually start 180 days before departure. However, travel dates after the annual schedule change in mid-December may be subject to shorter booking periods.
Seat car, night train Paris-Berlin
This is the cheapest option on board, as the compartment consists of 6 seats facing each other. So, if the compartment is full, you might not get much sleep. However, if you're traveling with 3 people, privatizing the compartment could be a good option, as reclining 2 seats facing each other can create an "almost-bed".
Breakfast is not included, but drinks and snacks from the menu can be purchased from the on-board staff in the sleeping and couchette cars.
Couchette compartment on the Paris-Berlin night train
These compartments, which accommodate 4 or 6 people, offer a higher level of comfort with:
Sleeping car on the Paris-Berlin night train
This is the most comfortable travel option on the ÖBB Nightjet, with compartments for one, two, or three people: