France: the government is betting on the return of night trains

Sleeper car for the Corail Lunéa night train in 2008. André Marques / flickr.com

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The night train is making its big comeback in the region.

Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari will inaugurate two new railway lines this evening and tomorrow - Paris-Lourdes and Paris-Vienne.

Others will follow and a budget of 100 million euros has been allocated to the development of night trains.

But how to make them attractive at the time of the TGV and the plane?

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67 lines in 2000 against only 2 in 2018: the night train came close to death.

Too old-fashioned, too unprofitable and in competition with the TGV and the plane.

This makes Jean-Baptiste Djebbari's bet all the more risky: the Minister of Transport wants to open a dozen night rail lines nationwide by 2030.

Paris-Marseille, Paris-Bayonne or even Bordeaux-Nice: the minister does not skimp on the offer.

And for good reason, it is she who will ensure the rebirth of the night train.

The idea is to increase the number of possible connections and to guarantee travelers a variety of French and even European destinations.

Less polluting and affordable transport

For its big comeback, the night train also relies heavily on the willingness of users to travel without polluting too much.

On that side, it therefore competes with the plane.

But he also proposes to travel differently, as Adrien, member of the collective “Yes to the night train” explains: “ 

 "

Another advantage: the price compared to its cousin, the TGV.

A ticket from 19 euros for a Paris-Nice, reopened last spring, against about triple for the high-speed train.

See you in ten years to see if the bet has been won.

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