Paris–Berlin night train: European Sleeper relaunches the route (and adds Hamburg)
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Published on 11/12/25, modified on 3/31/26
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Unfortunately, despite its success, the Paris-Berlin night service ÖBB x SNCF Voyageurs - like the Paris-Vienna service - was discontinued in December 2025 due to a lack of government funding (we explain it all in this article).
But at the end of 2025, the situation changed again: just a few weeks after the announcement in December that the two lines would be withdrawn, and while the petition the collective Yes to night trains approached 100,000 signatures, the mobilization paid off. The company European Sleeper has decided to take up the torch, with the relaunch of the Paris-Berlin night service scheduled for March 2026. This is unhoped-for news for Europe's railways. Of course, the mobilization must continue for the French government to maintain its subsidy, to support the European Sleeper teams in their recovery, and why not, to help them position themselves on the Paris-Vienna line, which remains cancelled to this day. But this news is a strong signal for European rail. We therefore refer you to this article for all the info on this new Paris-Berlin line signed European Sleeper 👇 👇 👇
Article
Paris–Berlin night train: European Sleeper relaunches the route (and adds Hamburg)
A look back at the inaugural Berlin-Paris journey, which marked the return of the night train between the two capitals, aboard the Nightjet ÖBB, operating from 2022 to 2025. This article documents this historic line: timetables, fares, comfort classes. For full details of the line in operation today, see the European Sleeper guide above.
Article
The ultimate guide to night trains in France and Europe
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In 2024, Thibault Constant and Tolt were invited to climb aboard the inaugural Berlin-Paris journey, which marked the return of the overnight, no-change train between the French and German capitals. In this article, we summarize everything you need to know about this line, which is making a comeback after several years' absence. You can also find out more in this video:
First of all, this link already existed a few years ago, with the CityNightLine 451 before being abolished in 2014. Or with the Trans-European Express which used to run between Paris and Moscow, stopping off in the German capital, before it too was suspended at the time of the COVID. And unfortunately, its reinstatement seems unthinkable given the geopolitical situation.
The Austrian national rail company is behind this comeback. 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. A visionary choice at a time when Greta Thunberg is not as popular as she is today, and when ecological issues are not given the same level of media coverage.
Today, with the "flygskam" (ashamed to fly), the night train is back in the limelight as a genuine alternative to air travel for long-distance journeys. Unfortunately, many countries, starting with France, are now lacking the equipment to really revive sleeper trains, and are realizing the very poor choices they made in the past. So we can say thank you to ÖBB, because without them, the supply of international night trains in Europe would be even weaker.
The Paris-Berlin night train leaves the Gare de l'Est at 7:12pm, with 3 departures a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It arrives at Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 8:26 a.m. 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. Thanks to the arrival of new Nightjets on the Vienna-Innsbruck and Vienna-Hamburg lines, ÖBB should be able to send the replaced trainsets on the Vienna-Innsbruck and Vienna-Hamburg lines. Paris-Vienne and Paris-Berlin and thus move to a daily frequency by September or October 2024.
Timetable for the Paris-Berlin night train, which runs 3 times a week in both directions before becoming a daily service in autumn 2024.
As with the Paris-Vienne The trip is made with Nightjet trains, operated by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). With fares starting from €29.90, this new offer features a premium service with a private bed cabin including shower and meal for maximum comfort.
The train has 6 cars between Paris and Berlin, with 312 seats in 3 comfort classes:
Reservations can be made online:
And also :
To get the best fares, you probably know rule number 1: anticipate as much as possible. Ticket sales generally begin 180 days before departure. However, travel dates after the annual mid-December schedule change may be subject to shorter booking periods.
Seating compartment Paris-Berlin night train
This is the least expensive option on board, and for good reason: the compartment is made up of 6 seats facing each other. So if it's full, you might not sleep very well. But if you're traveling with 3 passengers, privatizing the compartment can be a good option, as reclining 2 seats facing each other creates a "quasi-sleeper".
Breakfast is not included, but drinks and snacks are available on the day. menu can be purchased from on-board staff in sleeper and couchette cars.
Sleeper compartment on the Paris-Berlin night train
These 4- or 6-person compartments already offer greater comfort with :
Sleeper Paris-Berlin night train
This is ÖBB Nightjet's most comfortable travel option, with compartments for one, two or three people:
Benjamin Martinie - aka Tolt en voyage - est réalisateur, Youtubeur et auteur spécialisé dans le voyage depuis plus de 10 ans. Il s’est d’abord fait connaître avec sa série "Don’t go to…”, tournée caméra au poing aux quatre coins du monde. Ces vidéos, visionnées plusieurs millions de fois et saluées par la critique, ont été relayées dans de nombreux médias (France Info, Nat Geo, Le Point...) et distinguées par plusieurs prix ou nominations (Travel Video Awards, Resistance Film Festival...).
En 2019, il prend un virage décisif et renonce à l’avion pour se consacrer au voyage responsable. En 2023, il fonde HOURRAIL !, le média communautaire de référence sur le voyage bas carbone qui rassemble aujourd'hui plus de 500 000 passionnés sur ses différents réseaux sociaux.
A travers ses articles, ses vidéos et interviews d'experts, il décrypte avec rigueur et pédagogie les enjeux liés au tourisme, au climat et au transport ferroviaire. Son objectif : prouver qu’on peut voyager et être heureux, sans prendre l’avion.
