New sleeper train now lets UK rail passengers travel to Vienna with just one change

Rail passengers from the UK will now be able to travel to Vienna with just one change of train, following the launch of a new sleeper service.

Austria's state railway company ÖBB on Monday started running sleeper trains to Brussels - with onward connections for the Eurostar to London and Kent.

It means passengers can depart Vienna central station after dinner at 8.38pm and arrive directly in Brussels Midi station at 10.55am the next morning after a night's sleep, in time for a morning meeting.

Those continuing to London can board the 12.52pm Eurostar across the channel, arriving just after 2pm in the British capital in time for a late lunch.

In the opposite direction the sleeper train arrives in Vienna at 8.27am, in time for breakfast. Passengers will also benefit from direct services to the Bavarian capital of Munich, and the Austrian cities of Linz and Innsbruck.

Fares for the Brussels–Vienna portion of the journey start at €29.90 single for a seat, €49.90 for a basic "couchette" bed in a shared compartment, or €89.90 for a bed. Eurostar fares start at £29 each way if booked well in advance.

Crowds of interested onlookers and media welcomed the first train on Monday morning in Brussels, with passengers on the first service including MEPs arriving at the European Parliament, as well as and high-profile EU official Martin Selmayr. ÖBB officials handed out miniature Austrian flags.

The service will initially only run twice a week in each direction, but ÖBB has indicated that it is likely to become daily once more carriages have been secured.

"With the help of the Nightjet we're bringing night trains back to Europe," said Andreas Mattha, CEO of ÖBB. "We believe direct line to Brussels actively contributes to climate protection."

Belgian state rail company SNCB is providing the electric locomotive for the service on the Belgian section, because of compatibility differences on Austrian and Beglain infrastructure.

Sophie Dutordoir, SNCB's chief executive, said: "Making rail transport the backbone of short and medium-distance travel in Europe is an overarching project that involves mobility players: industry, infrastructure managers, lawmakers, governments, as well as the European Union. In this connection Brussels is a major node, all the more so with the arrival of the Nightjet."

The new service is an extension of an existing sleeper train from Vienna to Cologne. This route already made it possible for UK passengers to get to Vienna, but required them to take a train from Brussels to Germany to make the connection - increasing hassle and cost.

For years sleeper trains were being cut back in Europe, amid competition from low-cost airlines: sleeper trains previously operated from Austria to Belgium in the 1990s, for instance. But growing interest in greener low-carbon ways of travel have led to renewed interest in the mode and new investment in services.

Last week Swedish rail infrastructure manager Trafikverket announced details of plans for a sleeper that could allow passengers to travel from Sweden to London in time for lunch, with the service expected to start in 2022 or 2023.