The secret of the night trains: how Schaffner make the trip an experience!

The secret of the night trains: how Schaffner make the trip an experience!

What's going on in the world of night trains? While the rail travelers settle comfortably in their compartments, the staff ensures that everything runs smoothly. The renaissance of night trains in Europe brings a breath of fresh air to the travel industry and lets many travelers breathe a sigh of relief. But what exactly does passengers expect and what does the everyday life of the conductors look like?

Today Petra Klinger, conductor of the Austrian Federal Railways, tells us about her exhausting but fulfilling job. After a trip from Vienna to Hamburg, she got just four hours of sleep. Her layer begins at Hamburg Central Station, where most of the passengers get on. Klinger looks after two wagons - a sleeping car with compartments for up to four people where the prices are over 400 euros, and a couch car with innovative mini cabins that are available from 80 euros. The demand for comfortable sleeping options is in the upward, not least because night trains are considered a climate-friendly alternative that cause up to 96% less CO₂ emissions per person kilometer than flights, such as arcadiamagazin reported.

The challenges of night trains

But the everyday life of a night train worker is anything but cozy. Klinger is not only a waitress, but also a problem solver and pastor for her guests. For example, she recently gone to a Danish family without toilet paper. The marriage proposal, which took place during a delay on the train, was also remembered in the best way. The train had to be diverted due to an accident, which extended the delay to over two hours. Klinger nevertheless managed to calm the situation, even if a passenger became failing because he wanted a single compartment even though he had booked a place in a mixed compartment.

The travelers report different sleeping qualities. Some enjoy the calm and the nostalgia factor of the nightly train journey, while others have to deal with track noises and the tightness. The sleeping cars offer more comfort with their own bathrooms and breakfast service, but the couch car also has its advantages, such as the fact that you can sleep while driving and at the same time save hotel costs, what arcadiamagazin emphasized.

night trains on the advance

Nonetheless, the night trains are getting going. They are considered romantic, efficient and sustainable - more and more European rail companies are taking night connections. The offer continues to grow with connections such as the Nightjet from Berlin to Paris, which has been running since 2023, and the European Sleeper from Brussels to Prague, which is to be introduced from 2025. Despite these progress, there are also challenges such as the lack of accessibility and the lack of a uniform European booking system, so that bookings can often be frustrating.

At the end of the day, the train reaches Vienna Central Station at around 11 a.m., and for Klinger it is time after more than 15 hours of work. But relaxing hours are rare because she goes straight to the preparations for her daughter's children's birthday. A new chapter of family life begins again after she took care of the well -being of your guests until late into the night.