Night trains are making a comeback in Europe, and new companies are also joining the movement due to environmental awareness and convenience.

[Brussels Current Affairs] Europe's night trains, which had temporarily declined due to the spread of high-speed railways and the rise of low-cost airlines, are starting to come back to life. As the convenience of being able to travel while you sleep and the low environmental impact are once again attracting attention, there is a growing movement to open new international routes. In addition to JNR, emerging companies are also increasing their presence as key players in the revival.

"I had a good night's sleep." Shortly after noon on September 10th, Canadian university student Naomie Bashan (23) looked tired as she landed at Brussels Midi Station in Belgium after a 19-hour journey from Milan in northern Italy. He chose to travel by train with his friend Leah Ballard, 24, because ``it was more environmentally friendly and cheaper than flying.'' He particularly talked about the appeal of night trains, saying, ``You can enjoy the day you arrive to the fullest.''

The two people were transported on the Milan-Brussels line, which began operating on the 9th by European Sleeper, a new railway company headquartered in the Netherlands. The company will open a Brussels-Berlin route in 2023 and extend it to Prague the following year. It has been rapidly expanding its route network, including joining the Paris-Berlin route in March of this year. In the future, there are plans for routes starting from Brussels to destinations such as Copenhagen in Northern Europe and Barcelona in Southern Europe.

In addition to the private sector, Austrian National Railways has been gradually introducing new night trains on routes connecting Vienna and Amsterdam since 2023. Last December, Polish National Railways also launched a new night train service from the south of the country to Prague and other destinations. The popularity of night trains is also fueled by the growing interest in ``slow travel,'' where people enjoy not only the speed to their destination but also the journey itself.

However, the road to recovery will not be smooth. The Paris-Vienna line, which was operated by French National Railways and other companies, was discontinued in December last year after the French government cut off subsidies. The opening of European Sleeper's Milan-Brussels line was also delayed by about three months due to track construction and certification procedures. The company's co-founder, Elmer Van Buuren, cited issues such as funding for rolling stock and securing operating slots in each country, but emphasized that the popularity of night trains is "not a temporary trend, but a structural movement." He expressed confidence that it could once again become a powerful means of transportation in Europe.