The statement comes as national operators are looking at the possibility of reintroducing or launching new overnight services, which they say will not be possible without government subsidies.

A study by the Institute of Mobility Policy (KiM), part of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure, released on July 17 concluded that there is a strong case for the reintroduction of overnight services from the Netherlands to other European countries. However, the study found success would be dependent on a level playing field for train operators with fair track access charges and allocation of train paths.

Netherlands Railways (NS) is in discussions with Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), which operates overnight services in Austria, Germany and Switzerland under the Nightjet brand, about extending the Innsbruck/Vienna - Dusseldorf Nightjet to Amsterdam.

The operators are discussing the proposal with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure, but say that a subsidy will be required as passenger revenues will not cover all operating costs.

The Swedish government has also directed infrastructure manager Trafikverket to investigate the prospect of launching daily overnight services, which would allow onward connections to several European cities. Under the government’s proposal, it would look to launch the service before finding a commercial operator to take over it over as soon as possible.

AllRail says there is proven demand for overnight services, with growth in the overnight bus market, but warns there is a risk that Europe could “revert back to the failed models of the past” if governments began subsidising the services.

“We notice that Europe’s market dominant night train operator, ÖBB Nightjet, has been telling Dutch government researchers that new night trains to and from the Netherlands will only be possible with taxpayer subsidy,” AllRail says.

“Seeing as ÖBB already receives directly-awarded taxpayer subsidy for night trains in its home market, Austria, we assume it is pushing for this all over: in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and more. Swiss rail incumbent SBB is now even copying the Austrian model, lobbying to set up its own new night trains also with directly awarded subsidy.”

AllRail says open access operators such as RegioJet, Snälltåget and Leo Express have shown that it is possible to operate overnight services without a subsidy which instead focus on a customer-focussed approach and the product offering.

AllRail secretary general Mr Nick Brooks says there are other ways governments could encourage overnight services, including:

  • subsiding track access and station stop fees instead
  • facilitating integrated ticketing with other trains, to ensure a broad feeder network, and
  • providing equal financing opportunities to lease or purchase rolling stock.

“Under these conditions, innovators will come, bringing better quality, lower prices & modal shift; much in contrast to the historical model of taxpayer subsidy for the dominant rail operator,” Brooks says.

Open-access operator Flixtrain is reportedly considering launching overnight trains into the Netherlands, while Swedish national passenger operator SJ is planning to invest SKr 12bn in its rolling stock fleet over the next few years, including the upgrading of coaches used on overnight services.