Extensive Nightjet (Germany) cancellations in spring 2025

[snowleopard]

Hello,
Nightjet.com has very recently added the following alert to its main page:

"Cancellations Vienna / Berlin - Paris / Brussels
Due to construction sites in Germany, Austria and France announced at short notice, the following trains will unfortunately not be running:

• NJ 468 from Vienna to Paris departing on
  27.03.; 01.04.; 06.04.-08.04.; 24.04.-08.05.; 20.05.-22.05.2025
• NJ 469 from Paris to Vienna with departure on
  28.03.; 02.04.; 07.04.-11.04.; 25.04.-09.05.; 21.05.-26.05.2025
• NJ 40424 from Berlin to Paris with departure on
  27.03.-10.04.; 24.04.-25.05.2025
• NJ 40469 from Paris to Berlin with departure on
  28.03.-09.04.; 25.04.-23.05.2025
• NJ 424 from Berlin to Brussels, departure from 26/03/2025
• NJ 425 from Brussels to Berlin, departure from 27/03/2025."

These are quite extensive cancellations, especially for Berlin<->Paris, and indeed for the Berlin<->Brussels the cancellation seems to be open-ended from 26/27 March, if I read the message correctly. I've been searching online to understand which "short notice" construction sites they mean but haven't really found much (or any) discussion or analysis. Does anyone have any more intel as to what's going on, and also why they would cancel trains for multiple weeks at a time rather than try alternative routes?

PS: The reason I was on nightjet.com in the first place that I've been unsuccessfully trying to book NJ 40424 Berlin-> Paris on 17 April 2025, which is outside the cancellation periods above, yet nightjet.com (and all other booking sites) still say it's not currently open for reservations yet. (An email enquiry with OEBB has confirmed that this is not to be understood as "fully booked" but as "we're not sure yet if the train can run hence we haven't opened sales"). So it looks like even outside the above periods, Nightjets crossing Germany this spring are a bit TBC...?

 

[signed]

https://www.sncf-connect.com/app/trafficInfo

SNCF reports track replacement works, between Karlshrue and Stuttgart, but that was known 2 months ago

 

[30907]

https://www.sncf-connect.com/app/trafficInfo

SNCF reports track replacement works, between Karlshrue and Stuttgart, but that was known 2 months ago

These also affect Zurich-Germany services on similar dates.

 

[MattSGB]

Last week I stayed up to 11PM to book Vienna to Amsterdam for late August as soon as sales opened to get the best prices. I'm glad that I did as by morning they had all gone off sale from early April. That might be due to a delay with the new carriages due on that route, or maybe NightJet have no appetite for risk with advanced bookings through Germany at the moment. It's strange that overnight they reduced the booking window from six months ahead to only one month.

 

[HS2isgood]

SNCF Réseau is managed by idiots. Thankfully from December 2027 they'll preserve night train paths properly.

 

[rvdborgt]

These are quite extensive cancellations, especially for Berlin<->Paris, and indeed for the Berlin<->Brussels the cancellation seems to be open-ended from 26/27 March, if I read the message correctly. I've been searching online to understand which "short notice" construction sites they mean but haven't really found much (or any) discussion or analysis. Does anyone have any more intel as to what's going on, and also why they would cancel trains for multiple weeks at a time rather than try alternative routes?

I suspect that, although most engineering works are known well in advance, the possibilities to get a sensible path have only become clear recently.
As to Berlin<>Brussels, I heard last week that ÖBB were thinking about stopping that route. I didn't know they would already stop it now, with booked passengers. They don't make a good impression by hiding this announcement under engineering works. Although you could still ask them when this NJ comes back.

 

[popeter45]

I suspect that, although most engineering works are known well in advance, the possibilities to get a sensible path have only become clear recently.
As to Berlin<>Brussels, I heard last week that ÖBB were thinking about stopping that route. I didn't know they would already stop it now, with booked passengers. They don't make a good impression by hiding this announcement under engineering works. Although you could still ask them when this NJ comes back.

as far as I know it’s really the only route with competition for sleeper trains and guess OBB are losing that competition to European sleeper.


if I were OBB I would be looking at what else could be done with that rolling stock, Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam-Hamburg or Paris-Cologne-Hamburg Maybe?

 

[duesselmartin]

I suspect that, although most engineering works are known well in advance, the possibilities to get a sensible path have only become clear recently.
As to Berlin<>Brussels, I heard last week that ÖBB were thinking about stopping that route. I didn't know they would already stop it now, with booked passengers. They don't make a good impression by hiding this announcement under engineering works. Although you could still ask them when this NJ comes back.

in the past that route was just a stop in Brussels going onwards to Paris. I was therefore surprised that it is ran as a final destination in its own right.

 

[popeter45]

in the past that route was just a stop in Brussels going onwards to Paris. I was therefore surprised that it is ran as a final destination in its own right.

main reason is the Paris-Vienna route, to go via Brussels would be a massive Diversion (that ironicly means the Brussels-Berlin train needed to take a massive diversion itself)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Mar 2025 ==

afaik its really the only route with competition for sleeper trains and guess OBB are lossing that competition to European sleeper

if i were OBB i would be looking at what else could be dont with that rolling stock, Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam-Hamburg or Paris-Cologne-Hamburg Maybe?

looking at the timings on vagonweb such a idea could work if mixed in with the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper if IC 60470/60741 is spun off as its own night ICE

Zurich 21:59-Frankfurt Hbf 03:00 with carriages to Paris and Hamburg
Hamburg 20:52-Frankfurt Hbf 03:00 with carriages to Paris and Zurich
Paris 20:00-Frankfurt 03: with carriages to Zurich and Hamburg

reform and depart at 4:00 ish
Frankfurt Hbf 4:00 - Hamburg 10:00
Frankfurt Hbf 4:00 - Zurich 9:00
Frankfurt Hbf 4:00 - Paris 9:30

 

[30907]

SNCF Réseau is managed by idiots. Thankfully from December 2027 they'll preserve night train paths properly.

Karlsruhe to Stuttgart is DB

I suspect that, although most engineering works are known well in advance, the possibilities to get a sensible path have only become clear recently.
As to Berlin<>Brussels, I heard last week that ÖBB were thinking about stopping that route. I didn't know they would already stop it now, with booked passengers. They don't make a good impression by hiding this announcement under engineering works. Although you could still ask them when this NJ comes back.

The man in Seat61 also reckons it's permanent.
Berlin-Brussels was always going to be a makeweight connection even before European Sleeper opened.

The stock would be best used strengthening existing services.

 

[BahrainLad]

Annoying if it is cancelled, as I was considering a London/Brussels/Berlin for this summer.

 

[danshrimp]

Rumour has it European Sleeper Brussels-Prague will go daily soon (alongside expansion to Barcelona) so I guess ÖBB, not unreasonably, are cutting their losses.

A shame because the Brussels-Berlin timings are not ideal on the ES route but I imagine covering Amsterdam and Prague as well brings a lot more demand - it was a great choice for their first route.

 

[Austriantrain]

Rumour has it European Sleeper Brussels-Prague will go daily soon (alongside expansion to Barcelona) so I guess ÖBB, not unreasonably, are cutting their losses.

A shame because the Brussels-Berlin timings are not ideal on the ES route but I imagine covering Amsterdam and Prague as well brings a lot more demand - it was a great choice for their first route.

There is also a rumour going around that the Vienna - Amsterdam NJ - which will, as also rumoured, switch over to the new sets two months later than planned - might in the future consist of a new set plus 4 classic cars (a sleeper, two couchettes, a seating car). If true, it seems they are juggling around their cars to where the demand is (not unreasonable either). But yes, an honest info that the Brussels - Berlin is gone for good would be more professional.

 

[MrJeeves]

I'm thankful my Florence - Vienna NJ hasn't yet been cancelled. Only about a month to go now, so I pray they've confimed it's running to a decent likelihood.

There was a rather lengthy period where reservations were unavailable, then they became available and I booked a few weeks ago, and now they're all unavailable again...

 

[Austriantrain]

if i were OBB i would be looking at what else could be dont with that rolling stock, Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam-Hamburg or Paris-Cologne-Hamburg Maybe?

That won't happen, it would get much too complicated logistically. I expect the NJ network to be pretty much fixed by now (apparently, Zurich - Rome and Barcelona will also not happen, even though I think not running to Rome is a mistake) and the priority will be to improve performance. If more international night services are desired, other operators must step in.

 

[DanielB]

There is also a rumour going around that the Vienna - Amsterdam NJ - which will, as also rumoured, switch over to the new sets two months later than planned - might in the future consist of a new set plus 4 classic cars (a sleeper, two couchettes, a seating car).

That composition was in documentation submitted by NS as part of the application for open access services in the Netherlands. I've linked it before in some other topic regarding Nightjet on this forum.
It was combined with running the Innsbruck Nightjet separately, with the Vienna service rerouted via Bad Bentheim (which is the route it already takes in 2025)

 

[popeter45]

I'm thankful my Florence - Vienna NJ hasn't yet been cancelled. Only about a month to go now, so I pray they've confimed it's running to a decent likelihood.

There was a rather lengthy period where reservations were unavailable, then they became available and I booked a few weeks ago, and now they're all unavailable again...

took that one this time last week from Rome, defintly notice how much time it adds taking the classic lines, think reservations were shut as Munich side isnt running due to long term track works after the Split

also zero idea on why they start from Rome Tiburtina rather than Rome Termini

 

[erk]

I am booked on NJ 469 (Paris - Vienna) on 2 May. ÖBB wrote to me (email) on 1 March to say that the arrival time had moved from 10:13 to 11:09. Today that have written to say the arrival time has changed again, to 10:13. The message on their web site still says the train cancelled that day (specifically "25.04.-09.05").

Uncertainty reigns!

 

[eaet]

I am booked Munich-Brussels on the 20th March, had an email today cryptically saying something has changed. Following the timetable link, it looks like NJ40468 is now finishing in Aachen (although there's nothing there to suggest that this is an alteration to the timetable).
Does anyone know if my ticket will be valid on the ICE 18 suggested for Aachen-Brussels? Is there any way to check that out other then phoning ÖBB?

I tend to only travel by train in Europe, and have used nightjet services several times before. I haven't had a single NJ trip without disruption yet...

Edit: I think the ICE connection will be covered under rail passenger rights, I just wish this was clearer/easier to confirm in advance...

 

[rvdborgt]

ÖBB are obliged to propose an alternative to reach your destination without extra costs. They'd probably propose the ICE.
Now for this case, where the NJs are supposedly ending/starting in Aachen for a few weeks, I've heard from a quite reliable source that they should still run to/from Brussels. ÖBB are apparently having some kind of technical problem with the timetable data. I'd advise to phone ÖBB to ask what's really happening.
IMO they should put a notice on their NJ website about this: either that these NJs are indeed starting/ending in Aachen, or that they will still run to/from Brussels despite what the online planners say.

 

[Harpo]

SNCF reports track replacement works, between Karlshrue and Stuttgart, but that was known 2 months ago

Two months to plan a UK track renewal would be seriously quick unless it was an emergency event.

 

[rvdborgt]

I just heard from the same reliable source that ÖBB have now updated their timetables, so the NJs are showing again as running from/to Brussels and not just Aachen. It will take another 1-2 days for tickets on those dates to become available again on those dates.

 

[eaet]

I just heard from the same reliable source that ÖBB have now updated their timetables, so the NJs are showing again as running from/to Brussels and not just Aachen.

Ah that's great news, thank you for your insight! I haven't had a corresponding update email but possibly they're not immediate, nice to see it back in the timetable at least

 

[Wuffle]

I've had some messages from OBB about the following services
NJ40421 (Amsterdam to Vienna) service booked for 7th April with moving the departure from 19:03 to 19:00
NJ40490 (Vienna to Amsterdam) service booked for 12th April moving arrival from 09:50 to 09:58 and then back, however this morning the arrival time was changed to 12:18
I assume the engineering works have been the cause
On another note the original booking for NJ40490 was for the new stock but has now been changed to the old stock and our tickets transferred
Really looking forward to next week

 

[camhef]

I have NJ40425 (Brussels to Vienna) booked on 2nd May. On 2nd April ÖBB changed the departure time from 19:07 to 16:54. The train was set to take over 2 hours to dawdle between Liege and Aachen. Today ÖBB tell me the departure is back to 19:07 although the Rail Planner app currently shows departure at 17:25.

Happy days (for now).

 

[rvdborgt]

Today ÖBB tell me the departure is back to 19:07 although the Rail Planner app currently shows departure at 17:25.

What the Rail Planner app says is irrelevant.
DB say the train will start in Aachen. ÖBB indeed have the regular timetable.
There may be more messages following from ÖBB.