I slept on Europe’s UNIQUE brand-new overnight train!

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Today it's finally time to take a look at the revolutionary new ÖBB Nightjet! I'll be taking this unique brand-new overnight train from Vienna (Wien) to Hamburg, in the comfort of a Mini-Cabin, just like a capsule hotel. Though, not everything went to plan, as you'll see... 😅

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Journey Details:
Origin: Wien Hauptbahnhof
Destination: Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
Company: Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB)
Train: ÖBB 1116 + DANI New Nightjet Set
Accommodation: Mini-Cabin Couchette Berth (C4)
Distance: 1,138 kilometres / 707 miles
Price: €75.40 (£65.00 / $80.00)
Time: 12 hours 37 minutes, arrived 183 minutes late

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Find me elsewhere:

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00:00 Introduction
00:48 Wien Hauptbahnhof - Vienna main station
02:29 Departure board - my train NJ 490 to Hamburg and Amsterdam
03:52 Surfshark sponsored segment
05:02 Here comes the NEW Nightjet!
05:49 Boarding the Couchette car to find my Nightjet Mini-Cabin
06:10 Today's route from Wien Hbf to Hamburg Hbf
06:32 Delay departure from Vienna
06:49 This is the Nightjet Mini-Cabin!
08:55 St.Pölten Hbf
09:20 Toilets
09:52 Accessibility compartment and level-boarding
10:49 Nightjet Sleeping Car (Schlafwagen)
11:24 Seating Car - wow it's busy!
11:37 Delays...
12:03 Mini-Cabin bed review
13:14 Problems in the night...
13:45 Good morning from Germany!
14:24 ÖBB Nightjet Breakfast for Couchette Car passengers
14:54 The German high-speed line from Göttingen to Hamburg
15:13 Finally a proper look at the new Nightjet seats!
16:09 Hannover Hbf
16:24 TIcket cost of my ride on the ÖBB Nightjet Mini-Cabin
16:56 Arriving in Hamburg

[pseudolullus]

I suspect the random announcements and lights may have been caused by the restarting of the electrical systems after the locomotive broke down

[GaryCresswell-ku]

I was in one of these last weekend, a few thoughts:
1. The cabins didn't feel very well ventilated, and smelled, to be honest, quite bad. Some HVAC controls would be nice, but at least they need to look at ways to improve airflow.
2. The roller doors at the end of each cabin rattle when the train is moving. I jammed a thin towel between the door and its track, which cut down on the rattling a bit, but hopefully they can find a proper fix for this, as it seems to be a common problem. (I had this problem both directions).
3. I think the sheets are just meant to be used like a sleeping bag liner, i.e. you just climb into it, you don't "make the bed" as such.
4. I suppose the huge luggage racks in the seating area are meant for the couchettes also. ÖBB need to communicate this better as lots of people seemed to be falling over their luggage given the small lockers in the couchette car.
5. They sell sleep masks (€2), and ear plugs (€2.50) on the train, I'd recommend these for a better night's sleep.
6. The key card holder next to the door is a nice idea.
All in all, I think the cabins are a huge improvement on previous couchettes, especially when travelling alone, as it means you can go to sleep at your own time, not worry about disturbing others when joining / leaving the train part way through, etc. I think it's a really cool idea, and respect to ÖBB for taking a risk here. I think the teething troubles will be worked through soon enough, and these can become a realistic, economic alternative to flying for some journeys.

[yugomonke]

I dont know if its just me, but my feed is filled with "New railjet overnight train" every week.

[JohnBand]

When I caught the Nightjet from Vienna to Brussels last year we were about five hours late - the EU compensation money really does make the whole experience that much more appealing! Ended up cheaper than a hotel rather than much more expensive. The lack of a bar car is a bit sad though, what's the point of a sleeper train if you can't flirt with mysterious widows and hatch murder mystery plans until being sent to your cabins at midnight?

[mindfulnessd]

Truly love how the channel shows every detail even including for wheelchair users unlike many other channels! Best review channel on YouTube!

[balexic]

I’ve travelled by rail in Europe many times as a child in the 1960-70’s, & then on my own 1984-1992. In 1985 I spent 6 months in Europe using trains from Ireland, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, Hungary, Austria, West Germany & East Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgium & Luxembourg. The trains have changed so much in all these years, especially from country to country. France already had TGV’s by this point & the rest of Europe quickly followed.

I wish they had sleeping compartments like this when I was there. I’ve had to share a couchette with 5 other people, and invariably I always got someone who snores! Plus personal possessions were in danger depending on who shared your compartment.

I will have to make the trek back to Europe soon. I’m in my 60’s now, and many of my relatives in Ireland, UK and Serbia are getting old and passing away now.

I will definitely take advantage of these new trains (where I can).

Thanks for posting this.

Brian Toronto Canada.

[povridesyou]

i am glad to feature in this video with my long legs haahahahha

[Umweltliteratur]

Technical issues with the new train stock and even worse technical deficiencies and lack of availability with the old stock on all the other routes is really what's plaguing the ÖBB Nightjet service. Frankly, in combination with the now dynamic prices and the massively increased price to take a bike with you (thank you for mentioning it by the way, this is often overlooked, it was only 10€ or so before), it no longer is an option for me and my partner (with two bikes) and we're unfortunately back to travelling by day.

[mdhazeldine]

If it weren't for the random announcement and lights coming on, this would be a pretty good option at that price if you're single or travelling with mates. Probably doesn't work as well for couples and families or older people who need more comfort and less climbing. It's good to have the choice though!

[gbtraintripreports]

Great video! But I had a different experience.
I travelled on this just a couple of days ago from Hamburg to Vienna. It was a bizarre experience too, at 7am, the host knocked on my door with breakfast, and didn’t hand it over until I’d given him the bedsheets, and as you could imagine, in such a small space, it was very difficult while he was just standing there. Then an hour before arrival at 8:30am, the host took my key card so I couldn’t get back into the room after I’d left, so I couldn’t go to the toilet for the last hour, so I was generally very uncomfortable. In terms of the nights sleep, I had a very comfortable sleep, and only arrived 40 minutes late. The boarding process was all a mess and I found everything apart from the sleep itself, very awkward.
I really enjoyed your take on it though and what you found positive and negative, I look forward to the next one!

[mcharrisment]

Wow - €75 - about £63 / 64 pounds = superb value this is for that length of journey - and with a cabin. Unheard of in the uk.

Excellent video keep em coming

[petewiggins]

I did this journey (and back) 2 weeks ago. On the way to Hamburg the lights also came on randomly during the night and a couple of announcements. Although I was not next to the bathroom (33) you could hear the very loud beeps everytime someone entered the bathroom and the sound isolation in the corridor was none existent. That being said I did get some sleep. The journey back was much better and was actually on time?! Which is the first on time I had with the Nightjet from 6 trips in the last 12 months

[davidlegard]

The only travel blogger who takes the trouble to learn how to pronounce the names of places that he goes to.

[markg]

Pricing for Europe is indeed very good and it seems they upped their comfort level a bit. We used one of their trains 2 years ago and for me being over 190cm it was a horrible experience. I couldn't pull up my knees without hitting something and I couldn't lie all out without noticing the bed space was 2-3cm short, so I slept about 30 min out of pure exhaustion. Judging from your review that spacing issue, hasn't changed. Thank you for your review, the plane it is.

[imsbvs]

The only time I've slept overnight on a train it was 1992, the motorail service from Santander to Malaga. Slept fine for most of the way, but do recall being woken by the sound of a train going slowly over points somewhere near Madrid. This was the time before internet, so I used the Thomas Cook book to identify the train & booking office then I called them for their fax number. I don't speak Spanish so they had to read the number very slowly ... luckily numbers are similar to French! I booked by fax, to meet the ferry from the UK. Many of the fellow pasengers were British who lived in Spain. Drove back for the return, sadly this service does not operate anymore.

[buzzukfiftythree]

Those tiny capsule sleeping compartments are great from young fit people but no good for us older less mobile folk. They also rather remind me of the drawers in morgues/mortuaries used to house cadavers.

[xrlad]

The pods are a perfect example of fancy glossy looks over practicality. The paper thing dividers between pods means if next door snores, talks on a phone etc there is no sound proofing. And the entry doors rattle open and closing so again people coming and going will wake you.

[AnnabelSmyth]

Last time I took a sleeping car, it was over 7 hours late - makes your 3 hour delay seem practically on time!

[dearseall]

I travelled from Vienna to Dornbirn in a Mini Cabin. I would not recommed that, especially given that I am disabled and these "coffins" are barely usable for me. They are very noisy (you can here the person next to you breathe) and the light controls are really loud (you can definitely hear them in the cabins next to you. Also the roller shutter is *VERY* loud - you can hear them through the whole of the waggon!
Next time I would take a "traditional" rest cabin. Unfortunately I am not disabled enough to be allowed to book the disabled cabin. It is a dream to travel in them!

[lindalove]

How incredibly clean and well maintained this station is. Nothing like you see in New York or San Francisco !