The Past
Wagons-Lits's Nord Express
One of the famous luxury night trains operated by the glamorous Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) was the Nord Express, introduced in 1896. Originally this train connected Paris with Saint Petersburg. In the Danish Railway Museum in Odense one of the former Dining Cars of the Nord Express, car No 4247 is on display. As indicated on the sign, the Nord Express was later shortened for the Paris to Copenhagen run operating via Hannover, Hamburg and Fredericia.
CityNightLine to Copenhagen
In 2006, CityNightLine established a new connection between Central Europe and Denmark with three trains starting from Prague ("Orion"), Basel ("Aurora") and Amsterdam ("Borelais"). These trains ran until 2014 when German Railways (DB) started cutting down all its night train operations.
Traveling by night train back in 1974
Fascinating documentary (in German) by Swiss National TV on traveling by sleeper from Zurich to Rome back in 1974. I like the fact that back then even business man were still using the night train instead of flying. Also, as mentioned in the documentary flying back then was still more expensive than traveling on the first class sleeping car. Interesting are also the back then still rising demand for overnight train journeys and the even new built of sleeping cars!
Night train Basel to Budapest in 1991
Another fascinating documentary (in German) by the Swiss National TV on the "Wienerwalzer" back in 1991 after the iron curtain had come down. Interesting is especially to hear why different people back then were using the night train, where they come from, where they are going to and what kind of expectations they have towards the journey and life in general.
Night trains across the King's Line
A famous rail-sea-link established in 1909 was the so-called King's Line allowing the shortest crossing between Germany and Sweden. For more than 100 years, ferries had been carrying trains between Sassnitz and Trelleborg across the Baltic Sea. With outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the train ferry was discontinued. On this line famous night trains such as the "Balt-Orient-Express", the "Sassnitz-Express" and until 2019 the "Berlin-Night-Express" had crossed the sea while carrying sleeping passengers in their train compartments.
The Dolomiten-Express in 1997
Another night train documentary (in German) that appears to be coming from long gone times! People traveling on the Dolomiten-Express to their skiing holiday. A fascinating account from a time before there were all the budget airlines criss-crossing the European skies and night trains were still in.
EuroNight "Roma" arriving in Bern in May 2000
A short video of the EN 313 "Roma" arriving at Bern station back in 2000. Back then there were still regular overnight services between Switzerland and Rome and Swiss Railways SBB still had its own sleepers and couchette cars in operations.
Belgium night train to Narbonne with motorail in 1998/2000
Another nice example of a past time when traveling by motorail overnight was still the norm. A simple concept, you park your car on the train, go to sleep on board the train and the next morning you are at your destination saving many hours of driving and one night on accommodation costs.
Night train 242 Berlin-Paris in 2004
Another well made documentary (in German) from 2004, telling the story of three night train conductors working on the Night Train 242 from Berlin to Paris. It is interesting to hear their stories and all they have experience over the years working on night trains.