Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains • Hacker News Board

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#71

Post by ckanesan » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:23 PM UTC

sschueller wrote: post #14

Don't take the ÖBB night-train from Zürich HB to Amsterdam and back. They sell you the premium package online with fancy pictures of their new trains but the train that shows up is an old 1970 rail car with both toilets locked (broken for weeks I found out), broken doors, broken heater, missing ladders, broken window blinds etc. At this time if they can't even clean the toilets then it is not worth the steep price. H…

We took the Zürich to Amsterdam connection on Thursday evening and were told that the couchette wagon that we had booked was not available once we were on the platform. It was replaced by an SBB first class coach. Those are usually nice but not for an 11 hour ride. Furthermore, the lights don't dim that much so it was hard to sleep. My pregnant wife resorted to sleep on the floor. The breakfast that comes with a couchette booking was also missing. We were not offered any compensation and were told to write to OeBB.

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#72

Post by nologic01 » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:24 PM UTC

train travel is almost always the most expensive option compared to car, bus or plane alternatives. from a sustainability perspective an insanely lobsided state of affairs, the result of a century long of distorted incentives and policies.

what could be more pleasant than being able to criss-cross Europe in night trains that are affordable, comfortable and sustainable? makes sense both for business and tourism. you cover a large distance overnight and you make best use of the day.

lifting half of the continent's population into near-orbital trajectory for its annual "sun vacation" migration just because it can be done and is "cheap" might come to be seen as a prime example of how human economics can float far away from any reality.

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#73

Post by betaby » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:25 PM UTC

jakear wrote: post #57

albert180 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it's unprofitable. We need to either accept that we need to subsidise these kind of services for climate protection or ban flights inside the European Union

Rather, the answer (as always) is carbon tax.

Didn't work in Canada.

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#74

Post by rubicon33 » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:26 PM UTC

Reason077 wrote: post #69

OfSanguineFire wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some countries (China is the most notable example) have security checks prior to boarding a train comparable to flying. In Poland, if you buy your ticket for an Intercity train online, the conductor will ask for your ID to ensure the names match. The state, or perhaps just the operator, seems to be concerned about who is paying and traveling in this case. One can still buy tickets with cash, though.

Eurostar also has airport-style security between London and continental Europe.

Not quite as bad. Yes they scan your luggage but shoes stay on and it’s not some crazy full body X-Ray scan

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#75

Post by flopbob » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:28 PM UTC

albert180 wrote: post #52

omnibrain wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The trouble lies in the old rolling stock. They bought all that from Deutsche Bahn who suddenly stopped all sleeper train services a few years ago. Deutsche Bahn had neglected that segment for years and did not invest into more than the bare maintenance to keep the stock rolling.

Because it's unprofitable. We need to either accept that we need to subsidise these kind of services for climate protection or ban flights inside the European Union

Afaik did ÖBB manage to reach net zero with night trains pre covid. That would be good enough for me

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#76

Post by novaRom » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:28 PM UTC

MrJohz wrote: post #46

telesilla wrote: post #5

I'm following this awesome new train company, sleepers from east to west Europe. Haven't tried it yet but a trip is in the planning stages. It's been years since I took a sleeper. They also support Interail, which many of us probably enjoyed in our youth. https://www.europeansleeper.eu There is also a startup in the works: https://www.midnight-trains.com

My partner and I tried that this year, the Berlin to Brussels route, with mixed results. It definitely works, we got to our destination on time and we were mostly happy with the result. However: * We booked a sleeping compartment, but then they emailed the night before the trip to say they didn't have sleeping compartments, so we got a private couchette instead. That's not a huge downgrade, but the communication was…

> They were loud! Also not hugely comfortable either. We didn't really sleep at all

We tried Munich-Rome once and it was not really good experience, especially because windows were dirty, beds are small and not comfortable. Narrow space, poor sound isolation.

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#77

Post by user_7832 » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:30 PM UTC

sandworm101 wrote: post #45

srameshc wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unrelated, but there is something special about design in Europe in general. I can find it in space, form, color, texture etc. There is something that makes European design so original and special.

Yes. I think it is the light and the language. Modern European design exists in a work of long nights during winter, and gets more "European" the further north in Europe you go. So it is stark lines and bright solid colors that stand out from the background (think Ikea). The diversity of languages also encourages simplicity, with form communicating meaning. Compare Asia or North America where days are longer/brighter…

> languages less diverse

Probably in some places but definitely not everywhere

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#78

Post by dheera » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:31 PM UTC

kaffeeringe wrote: post #61

I love travelling by train. You are not treated like a criminal before you can board a train. You can sit and watch the landscape pass by. It's comfortable.

I've travelled all over Europe and Asia by train and I fully agree. Even for night trains where you don't watch the landscape it's awesome that you can just fall asleep and wake up in another country.

The only thing I hate about arriving in a new place in the morning (by train or flight) is that hotels don't let you check in till afternoon, so if you by any chance feel slightly underslept you have to wait it out.

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#79

Post by kdmccormick » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:33 PM UTC

ddejohn wrote: post #67

kaffeeringe wrote: post #61

I love travelling by train. You are not treated like a criminal before you can board a train. You can sit and watch the landscape pass by. It's comfortable.

> You are not treated like a criminal before you can board a train. Is this a reference to airport security? Edit: not sure why I was downvoted -- I genuinely don't understand this statement.

Yes

Re: Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains

#80

Post by dheera » Sun, Oct 08, 2023, 4:34 PM UTC

OfSanguineFire wrote: post #68

kaffeeringe wrote: post #61

I love travelling by train. You are not treated like a criminal before you can board a train. You can sit and watch the landscape pass by. It's comfortable.

Some countries (China is the most notable example) have security checks prior to boarding a train comparable to flying. In Poland, if you buy your ticket for an Intercity train online, the conductor will ask for your ID to ensure the names match. The state, or perhaps just the operator, seems to be concerned about who is paying and traveling in this case. One can still buy tickets with cash, though.

You're right that China has security checks for trains but I don't consider them comparable to flying. The train security checks are much faster. I've rarely had to wait more than 5 minutes in line. You don't have to take off your shoes, don't have to take out laptops and things from your luggage, and drinks and liquids are generally allowed. I've only on a couple occasions been asked by security in China to take a sip of an already-opened drink or reusable water bottle to prove that it's a drink.

The more annoying thing about rail in China is that many of the newer high speed rail stations are being built slightly outside of cities, and it often takes an extra hour to get to the station. Most of Europe's train stations are smack in the middle of downtown.