The Return of the Night Train
Night trains, which many European rail companies cut in the 2000s because they lost money, are making a modest comeback. Their supporters argue that an overnight journey turns travel time into sleeping time: you board in the evening and arrive in the city centre the next morning, avoiding both the airport and an extra hotel night.
Demand has grown partly because some travellers want to reduce their carbon footprint, although price remains a serious obstacle. A bed in a shared compartment can cost more than a budget flight, and operators say the trains are expensive to run, since each carriage carries far fewer passengers than a daytime train. Whether the revival lasts may depend less on enthusiasm than on whether governments are willing to share those costs.