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Missing cars, delays and cancellations. The night train to Amsterdam is a well-booked route, but problems are mounting. What’s going wrong?
Author: Luc Marolf and Jürg Brandenberger
It’s tight in Marleen Hengeveld’s compartment. The Dutchwoman often travels from Switzerland to her homeland by night train – and has already experienced a lot: “Once our sleeping car broke down. We had to make do with just one seat all night.” Nevertheless, she remains loyal to the night train. “It’s romantic and better for the environment than the plane.” Shortly after 11 p.m. the train leaves Basel – and Marleen Hengeveld tries to sleep.
SBB sees a need for action
Among rail experts, the night train to Amsterdam is considered a “problem train”. It is operated by the SBB in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Railway ÖBB. The rented rolling stock is outdated and prone to breakdowns. There is a lack of spare parts, which is why sleeping cars keep breaking down. A car is missing that night too. Robér Bormann, project manager for night traffic at SBB, knows the problem: “We are not at all satisfied with it and apologize to all travelers.”
Shortly before midnight, the light is still on in a couchette compartment. Six young people are just getting to know each other here. Student Nathan Soer uses the connection regularly. «I have bad experiences every time. The last time I was late was six hours late.” The other young people are amazed. “So far I’ve had more problems with the plane than with the train.” The ecological idea plays an important role for the young passengers: “There are good train connections so you don’t have to take the plane.”
Legend: Despite cancellations and delays: night train travel is a trend. SRF
In fact, traveling by night train is currently experiencing a renaissance. The SBB recorded a new record with 600,000 passengers last year. Swiss politicians want to subsidize night trains and other international train connections with 30 million francs annually thanks to the new CO₂ law. Compared to airplanes, night trains are of little importance. According to the LITRA traffic figures for 2022, 1.4 million passengers traveled by plane from Switzerland to Amsterdam.
Comeback at risk?
The night train arrives in Cologne early in the morning – already 40 minutes late. Niklas Hoth gets on here. The journalist and rail expert uses the night train to Switzerland several times a year. On his last trip in February, a sleeping car broke down. “This train has been around for over two years now and these problems have been occurring again and again for the last two years.” He sees this as endangering the comeback of night trains. “You scare away a lot of passengers. This is not good news for the transport transition.”
SBB night train boss Robér Bormann admits: “There are customers who are jumping ship. However, we also have a lot of new customers.” Bormann speaks of a change in consciousness. The need for environmentally friendly travel is great. However, he sees a need for action. «We are working very intensively with all partners in Europe and are only at the beginning. It will still take some time.” In fact, new rolling stock will not be used on the route to Amsterdam until 2026.
Night train adventure
Breakfast is served shortly after the Dutch border. Student Nathan Soer takes a photo of the sunrise: “The night was good so far. We talked late into the night.” Marleen Hengeveld, on the other hand, didn’t sleep well. “I’m not a good sleeper,” she says. “It was cold and noisy.” Nevertheless, she will take the night train again. The journey through the night is always an adventure.