French budget woes are putting a cramp in the growth of the popular network of night sleeper trains across Europe; December 14 will be the last date for the routes between Paris and Berlin and between Paris and Vienna.
The trains, operated by the Nightjet service of the Austrain rail operator ÖBB, have had subsidies to cover costs while the services establish themselves, and hopefully grow from three times a week to daily. As France struggles to come up with a budget and address a debt crisis, the government has said it won’t offer the subsidy for next year. The service to Berlin was one of only two rail routes between the capitals that does not require at least one train change.
ÖBB also operates a Brussels to Vienna route that will continue to operate, as will one from Brussels to Berlin operated by European Sleeper.
