- Title: First night train connecting Brussels and Berlin starts operations
- Date: 26th May 2023
- Summary: PASSENGER AND DOCTOR FROM BRUSSELS, LAURENCE COUVREUR WAITING TO BOARD THE TRAIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSENGER AND DOCTOR LIVING IN BRUSSELS, LAURENCE COUVREUR, 49, SAYING: "I think it's the best (means of transport). It's the best for the climate but it's also a nice way to travel. It's a nice way to meet people, to meet people from the country, to take time. For me, it
- Embargoed: 10th June 2023 00:57
- Keywords: Belgium Brussels Company EU Emissions Environment European Commission European Sleeper European Union Germany NMBS Netherlands Railway Railways SNCB Station Sustainability Train Transport cross-border overnight passenger rail route service sleeper train travel
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: European Union,Europe,Government/Politics,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA005554726052023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: An overnight direct train service connecting Brussels and Berlin was launched this week by Dutch-Belgian railway firm European Sleeper, reflecting a push in Europe to bolster less polluting alternatives to air travel.
The sleeper train is the first direct, overnight route between the two capitals since 2009.
The first train departed Brussels at 7:22 p.m. (1722 GMT) on Friday (May 26) and was due to arrive in Berlin at 8:01 a.m. (0601 GMT) (May 27). Eager passengers were served champagne on board to mark the occasion.
"I think it's the best (means of transport). It's the best for the climate but it's also a nice way to travel. It's a nice way to meet people, to meet people from the country, to take time," Laurence Couvreur, a doctor from Brussels, told Reuters as she was waiting to board the train.
European Sleeper was set up in 2021 and Brussels to Berlin will be its first overnight route. The line will be extended to Dresden and Prague in 2024 with more routes in the works.
"It's a nice way to travel - especially by night train, it is a very pleasant way, it's very comfortable and it's also an adventure. Your holidays start when you are boarding," said Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper.
He added setting up the service had been difficult due to the inexistence of cross-border slots and the lack of coordination between national railway networks.
"We think there is a major challenge in the administrative and bureaucratic processes on the track access... The rules are all different. The regulations are terrible," Engelsman said.
Engelsman said he received Belgian subsidies to develop the service, while an upcoming night service train from Amsterdam to Barcelona, due to start up in spring 2025, would be one of the 10 pilot cross-border train services set to receive financial support from the European Commission.
"Well, we have to love night trains. Nowadays, it's the mantra so we do," EU Transport Commissioner Adina Valean told a news conference on green mobility in December 2021.
Subsequently, the EU executive announced in January 2023 it would help develop cross-border train services between Germany and Scandinavia, France and Italy, Spain and Portugal.
(Production: Bart Biesemans, Clement Rossignol) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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