Are night trains sustainable?

Since night trains are seen as an alternative to air travel, they can definitely be considered sustainable. Of course, railways also impact nature, but compared to cars and air travel, trains are the more environmentally friendly solution.

• For instance, according to the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), traveling by train from Zurich to Hamburg saves about 170 kg of CO2 per person compared to flying.
• According to its own figures, the European Sleeper is 12.5 times more climate-friendly than flying and 8 times better than driving on the route from Amsterdam to Berlin.
• Austria’s ÖBB night train (Nightjet) runs on 100 percent green electricity.
• The high comfort of new night trains (such as the new ÖBB Nightjets) with more space (= fewer passengers) and private bathrooms with showers is not necessarily an ecological plus, but it helps to make night trains attractive.
• Unlike cars and buses, trains do not emit microplastics into the air through tire abrasion. (There is not enough research on how harmful microplastics actually are, but it is clear that tire abrasion is the largest source of microplastic emissions).
• Night trains do not play a role in discussions and measures regarding noise pollution and noise emissions, as they are very quiet compared to freight traffic.

Night trains are growing in popularity

According to Tagesschau, in 2020 there were only 90 night train connections in Europe. In 2023, more than 200 connections. ÖBB recently announced that a further 24 Nightjets will be added by mid-2026.

The ÖBB Nightjet’s new night trains

At the end of 2023, the new ÖBB Nightjet trains started operating, offering even more comfort than the old ones and, above all, additional capacity! For us as passengers, this means more routes, more flexibility and more attractiveness. Reason enough for us to take a look at the facts:    

• The passenger cars for the 24 new trains will be developed by Siemens Mobility and delivered by mid-2026. They will be built in Vienna.
• The new trains are not intended to replace old trains, but to complement and expand new routes.
• New standards for smoothness, accessibility and bike transport.
• Another new feature are sleeping pods in the couchette cars, offering more privacy.
• Instead of 6 beds, there are only 4 beds per compartment in the couchette car.
• Each compartment in the sleeping car has its own bathroom with toilet and shower, which reduces the capacity considerably. Only 20 beds fit in a sleeping car.
• The new Nightjet trains are certified for a speed of 230 km/h. (This is slightly less than the speed of ICE high-speed trains, which travel at up to 300 km/h).

Why are night trains rightly becoming popular?

According to a survey conducted in 2024 by the German automobile club ADAC, 42 percent of Germans can imagine starting their vacation on a night train. The main reason: “Travel more relaxed and arrive refreshed.”

I’m a fan of night trains myself, and luckily I can sleep well anywhere. Personally, a night train has a touch of adventure to it and yes, I’m a big fan of “Tintin” (Les aventures de Tintin) where trains are often an important part of the adventure 🙂.

Another reason, of course, is sustainability, currently cited as one of the main reasons for the newfound popularity. This means that many travelers (like you?) prefer an environmentally friendly alternative to air travel. However, it is important to note that this is also supported by politicians. According to the Handelsblatt, ÖBB is profitable in Austria, but this was only made possible by subsidies from the Austrian government. The business is not considered “easy”. Deutsche Bahn, for example, discontinued its sleeping cars in 2016, and the French Thello night train followed suit in 2021. ÖBB is now filling the gap.

On the other hand, subsidies are also a problem when it comes to flying: while domestic and short-haul flights remain dirt cheap (due to factors such as a lack of taxation, etc.), a night train journey for the same route can quickly become very expensive.

New option: European Sleeper

In addition to the Nightjet, there is also the new European Sleeper. The initiative is organized as a cooperative and was launched in 2021 to great acclaim: the initial start-up capital of €500,000 was raised in just 15 minutes. There are now over 4,000 investors who have collectively invested more than €5 million. The European Sleeper already connects cities such as Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague—and more routes are in the pipeline.

In the next section, we take a closer look at what it’s like to travel through Europe in a sleeper car – with exciting night train routes and suitable sustainable accommodation.

“Traveling on our night train not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also gives you the opportunity to travel more slowly, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and connect with other travelers.” – European Sleeper

Across Europe by sleeping car – Four night train journeys + sustainable accommodation.

#1 By night train to Vienna (8 connections)

Vienna, the city of coffeehouses, parks and museums-a wonderful place for culture and surrounded by the most beautiful nature as well. Vienna is doing a lot when it comes to sustainability. The city aims to be carbon neutral by 2040 and is committed to zero waste, green mobility and sustainable construction. Due to its many parks, Vienna is also considered one of the “greenest cities in the world”.

Night train connections to Vienna

… on the Austrian Nightjet:

• Amsterdam – Münster – Nuremberg – Vienna
• Berlin – Dresden – Vienna
• Brussels – Cologne – Passau – Vienna
• Hamburg – Würzburg – Vienna
• Paris – Strasbourg – Passau – Vienna
• La Spezia – Milan – Vienna

… with the Polish PKP:

• Munich – Vienna – Warsaw

… or with Hungarian Railways MAV:

• Stuttgart – Vienna – Budapest

Sustainable accommodation near Vienna: Gut Guntrams 

Gut Guntrams is not in Vienna, but 60 kilometers away on the edge of the Bucklige Welt. However, the unusual floating accommodation is well worth a visit. Gut Guntrams is its own organic retreat with a small nature museum, crystal garden, farm shop and a farm specializing in the preservation of old fruit varieties. If you’re looking to relax in nature after a day of culture in Vienna, this is the place to be

To find out how to reach Gut Guntrams from the Vienna train station (continue to Pitten station), click here.

#2 Awake in Munich (10 connections)

The Bavarian capital of Munich offers a combination of big city and nature. The Isar River flows right through the city and there is the famous English Garden. The historic old town, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and Nymphenburg Palace are all must-sees. Unfortunately, Munich plans to wait until 2050 to become carbon neutral. But at least there are climate-friendly projects underway.

Night train connections to Munich with

… the Austrian Nightjet:

• Amsterdam – Munich – Innsbruck
• Brussels – Aachen – Munich
• Hamburg – Würzburg – Munich
• Milan – Padua – Salzburg – Munich
• Paris – Munich – Salzburg – Vienna
• Rome – Munich 
• Venice – Munich – Stuttgart

… the Hungarian Railway MAV:

• Budapest – Munich – Stuttgart

… the Croatian Railways HZ:

• Zagreb – Ljubljana – Salzburg – Munich – Stuttgart

… or the Polish PKP:

• Warsaw – Krakow – Vienna – Munich

Eco-friendly accommodation near Munich: Gut Sonnenhausen

Munich is home to the Ecological Education Center, but if you want to see the ideas put into practice, head to Gut Sonnenhausen (about 30 kilometers southeast of Munich). Here, eco-pioneer and art collector Georg Schweisfurth has transformed a 120-year-old stud farm into a unique hotel surrounded by nature. Gut Sonnenhausen runs its own organic farm according to permaculture principles and uses only organic produce in the kitchen. However, the estate is difficult to reach by public transportation, so you will probably need to rent a car in Munich. You can choose to drive an electric car, as there are two charging stations on the property’s parking lot.

#3 Sleeping car to Milan (2 connections)

From the two cities mentioned above – Vienna and Munich – you can sleep throught to Milan. Italy’s fashion capital also has many famous addresses for sustainable vintage lovers. There is the Bosco Vertikale (Vertical Forest) – a green skyscraper in the middle of the city that stands for modern urban greening and biodiversity.

Nightjet connections to Milan:

• Munich – Padua – Milan

European Sleeper connection to Milan:

• In planning

Sustainable accommodation in Milan: Hotel Milano Scala

The Hotel Milano Scala is located in the center of Milan (within walking distance of the famous La Scala Opera House and other attractions). It is the first zero-emissions hotel in Milan and powered by green energy from its own geothermal probes. The roof terrace is particularly beautiful, where you can enjoy a wonderful end to an eventful day.

By night train to Paris (2 connections)

The French capital has once again used the 2024 Summer Olympics as an opportunity to showcase its green initiatives – even cleaning up the water in the Seine, with new bathing-corners in 2025. You can now enjoy a relaxed (!) bike ride in Paris, with a 10-kilometer running route along the banks of the Seine. For an alternative Paris, Barbara Tascijevic-Porwoll, owner of Green Spirit Hotels, recommends a visit to the REcyclerie. A café, repair shop, gardening project and cultural center all in one.

The Berlin-Paris route is one of the brand new Nightjet routes launched in December 2023. Since then, you can wake up in France’s capital three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). You board the train at 6:55 p.m. at Berlin Ostbahnhof or 7:08 p.m. at Berlin Hauptbahnhof and arrive at Paris Gare de l’Est at 9:38 a.m.

Nightjet connections to Paris:

• Berlin – Frankfurt – Paris
• Vienna – Mannheim – Paris
• Paris – Munich – Salzburg – Vienna
• Paris – Strasbourg – Passau – Vienna

Eco accommodation in Paris: Green Spirit Hotels

There are two Green PearlsⓇ accommodations in the lively 7th arrondissement: Hotel Le Pavillon and Hotel Amélie. These small boutique hotels are not only centrally located (the Seine, Eiffel Tower, etc. are within walking distance), but they are also ecological and individual. You can nevertheless enjoy your breakfast in the quiet inner courtyard.

By the way, Belgian reporter Tintin and his companion Snowy were also in Paris! So you have a good chance of experiencing an adventure…

This is an update from July 26, 2024.

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Both together result in a major challenge that not only the fast-growing Asian, African and Latin American metropolises are facing, but also the European and North American cities. Thus, many urban developers (and ourselves) are looking at the task of making the growing urban spaces sustainable.

What is sustainable development?

Sustainable urban development aims to minimize the barriers for us residents to live an environmentally friendly and socially responsible lifestyle. This means, first and foremost, that infrastructure is designed for pedestrians and cyclists and that public transport is expanded so that it is easy to stop using the car.

Environmentally friendly projects are promoted and new green spaces are created, improving not only the microclimate and air quality in the city. You probably are familiar with this from your home town: These green oases also serve as meeting places and create space for a picnic with friends, for sports, music or simply for recreation.

Building affordable housing is also part of sustainable urban development, as is the efficient use of existing land. The latter prevents the city from expanding further into the surrounding countryside, which would destroy ecosystems there. This means that abandoned inner-city areas are used for new buildings and vacant buildings are converted. In some cities, especially in Asia, some buildings are even built on top of existing structures, e.g., housing on flat roofs of parking garages. When building new constructions, sustainable urban planning focuses on recyclable, preferably renewable materials. This avoids waste and protects the environment.

Cities of the future

Of course, there is much more to the sustainable development of urban areas than what we have touched on here. Where many people come together and face challenges, new ideas are born. Large cities and metropolitan areas have always been drivers of innovation and new developments, also in terms of sustainability. A sustainable city provides a high quality of life. But there is no such thing as a universal solution. Keep your eyes open at home. You’ll see that different approaches are being experimented with everywhere. Sometimes they are profound and overarching, sometimes they are individual actions, projects or places, and sometimes the future is already here. 

Sustainability on all levels in Milan

Porta Nuova with Bosco Vertikale

The Porta Nuova district has reshaped Milan’s skyline. On an industrial site that had long been out of use in the middle of the northern Italian metropolis, a completely new district was created that invites people to stroll, relax and socialize. The empty, crumbling factory buildings have been replaced by high-rises designed by various architects. Not very sustainable, you might think, except for the fact that they were built inside the city limits and not outside. But: one of these skyscrapers is a model for biodiversity in urban spaces: Bosco Vertikale, the vertical forest.

The twin towers are 110 and 76 meters high and completely covered with vegetation. In the photo, they look more like a photomontage, don’t they? Almost 800 trees, 4500 shrubs and thousands of other plants, specially selected and prepared for this project, green the skyscrapers and provide a habitat for birds and insects in the middle of the metropolis. They bind CO2 and dust particles from the air, generate moisture and produce oxygen. The plants also have a positive physical and psychological effect on the residents. A piece of nature in the middle of Milan.

The Hotel Milano Scala

On the roof terrace of our Green Pearls® partner Hotel Milano Scala you will also find a green oasis. Above the rooftops of the vibrant city, you can end the evening surrounded by fruit, vegetables and herbs.

Green roofs, rooftop gardens, balconies and the like improve the city’s microclimate in a similar way to the Bosco Vertikale and thus truly form a kind of oasis. By the way, staying at the Milano Scala does not produce any (pollutant) emissions that would have to be bound by the plants. The entire hotel is supplied with energy via heat pumps and geothermal energy.

Navigli Quarter

If you take the train from Milano Scala for about half an hour, you will find yourself in a different world. Everything is a little slower, a little quieter and a little more relaxed. The Navigli district slows down even the normally hectic Milanese and gradually draws visitors under its spell.

This part of Milan is characterized by the two canals, remnants of a time when Milan, like Venice or Amsterdam, was crisscrossed by waterways. Between them, artists and craftsmen, restaurants and bars have settled. Here you can buy souvenirs directly from the people themselves and thus support the local scene. The neighborhood is also known for its vintage and second-hand stores and markets. So even sustainable fashion fans get their money’s worth.

By the way, the Navigli district is only as tranquil as we have just described during the day. In the evening it turns into a party mile. We can only recommend that you spend the whole evening wandering from one bar to the next and at some point simply settle down by the canal to wait for the morning with a drink in your hand.

Best practice for sustainable urban development in Freiburg

The Vauban District

Similar to Porto Nuova, no new area was developed for Vauban, but an existing one was converted. The transformation of the former military site began in the early 1990s. In 2006, it was completed: the energy-autonomous, practically car-free and sustainable Vauban district. An active community is still working to incorporate and implement the wishes of the residents and to further shape the neighborhood. Participation is the norm, and even as a guest, you can sense this in the interaction between the residents.

The houses are all passive, low-energy or even plus-energy houses. Almost no one has a car, and if they do, it is parked on the edge of the area in the parking garage. Cars may only go in for loading and unloading. The connection to public transportation and the well-developed network of bike paths make a car expendable for most people anyway.

In Vauban, great attention has been paid to the efficient use of renewable resources. Together with the traffic concept and the energy-efficient buildings, a real jewel of sustainable urban planning and a source of inspiration for private builders has been created here. So if you are currently building a house, a visit is worthwhile in multiple ways.

Green City Hotel Vauban

The Green City Hotel Vauban is located on the edge of the district, making it the ideal starting point for exploring the sustainable neighborhood on foot. Alternatively, get on your bike and follow the tour along the “Green Spots” (sustainable projects in Freiburg). Very convenient: The hotel is such a Green Spot, so you can start cycling directly from there.

The hotel itself is a prime example of sustainability in action. Architecturally, it relies on resource-conserving and green practices paired with a clean, no-frills design. Heating and cooling are designed to be energy efficient, and electricity comes from a photovoltaic system integrated into the roof. It is also an inclusive business: half of the employees are people with disabilities. In general, the training and further education of the team is of great importance. The focus is clearly on the social aspect, both within the company and with external suppliers and producers.

Keen for a sustainable city trip? Then have a look at our tips for sustainable city trips in Europe. And if you are looking for a certain city: In this article we took a closer look at Paris, Freiburg and Milan.

Micro forest and other plans in Erlangen

„Statt-Plan“ Erlangen

The city in northeastern Bavaria is working hard on its image of a sustainable destination. Initiatives such as “Fairlangen” and the “Education for Environment and Sustainability” network are making their mark on the scene with informational offerings, discussion groups and other events. These include Fairlangen’s FairFinder and the so-called Statt-Plan, an alternative city map that presents sustainable stores, restaurants, cafés and much more. On the back, you’ll find additional tips for an environmentally and socially responsible lifestyle. So if you’re in the mood for a different kind of tour through Erlangen, we can highly recommend the Statt-Plan. 

The garden of the Creativhotel Luise

The starting point for your excursion could be the Creativhotel Luise. Not only will you get a delicious, ecological zero-waste breakfast, you can also take a look at the hotel’s huge garden. On a part of the almost 1500 square meters large area, a so-called micro forest is being created based on the Japanese model. A wide variety of trees and other plants are growing in a very confined space and should develop into an extremely diverse habitat over the next ten years.

Since the 1980s, the Creativhotel has been operating according to ecological principles. Today, it is one of the first climate-positive hotel in Germany. In addition to the large garden, you can also relax on the green roof terrace and if you want, you can spend the night in a completely Regrowing Hotel Room®. Only natural and renewable materials were used for the interior design, thus demonstrating: It’s possible!   

Paris at the forefront of sustainable urban planning

Green architecture in the ÉcoQuartier Clichy-Batignolles

The Paris region has been strongly committed to sustainable development in the urban region, not just since the 2015 climate agreement. Environmentally conscious projects are promoted, social measures are taken and green building projects are supported. Among other things, there is the “EcoQuartier” quality seal, which focuses not only on the environmental friendliness of the neighborhood but also on the satisfaction of the residents. The development and construction of the corresponding urban area are monitored from the planning stage through the construction phase to completion and beyond, and are judged according to strict criteria.

One such EcoQuartier is the Clichy-Batignolles district, located in the northeast of the city and developed on a former railway freight yard. If you walk through the streets with an attentive eye, you will notice the different styles of the buildings (a must for all architecture fans!), which nevertheless create a harmonious overall picture. The facades are greened, made of wood or other resource-saving materials, and the houses all have a very low energy balance, some of which is comparable to that of passive houses. There are new metro stations and a large park in the center, providing a green balance for the residents. Besides, it was not only housing for the well-off population of Paris that was created here. Social buildings, residential and retirement homes, and public facilities were also built.

Other green building projects are in the pipeline, including the reinvention of the Porte Maillot transport hub with the glass and planted “Mille Arbres” building, reminiscent of a ship. Completion is scheduled for 2023, just in time for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The green Hôtel Le Pavillon

But also outside the sustainable neighborhoods, there are still green havens. This definitely includes the Hôtel Le Pavillon, which is completely dedicated to sustainability. The former monastery offers a quiet retreat thanks to its somewhat hidden location, yet it’s right in the middle of the action. Eiffel Tower, Seine or Champs-Elysées, everything is within walking distance. The rooms are individually decorated and offer relaxation without disturbing electromagnetic radiation. Locally and organically produced food comes from the own small garden.

Our best practices show that sustainable urban development does not always happen on a very large (or high) scale. It can be driven by individual businesses as well as yourselves. A greened balcony makes for a better microclimate, supporting sustainable and regional stores and initiatives helps make it easy to create a low-impact lifestyle for all, and giving up your car means a reduction in environmental and air pollution. Our Green Pearls® partners are leading by example.

And you? How do you support sustainable development in your hometown or city? Tell us in the comments or on Instagram

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Der Beitrag Green facades and roof gardens: Sustainable Urban Development in Paris, Milan, Freiburg and Erlangen erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.