I bunked with 3 strangers in a shared cabin on an overnight train in Europe. It was bumpy, cramped, and I wouldn't do it again. --[Reported by Umva mag]

What are 11 hours on an OBB Nightjet train from Austria to Italy in a shared sleeper cabin like? Bumpy, uncomfortable, and not recommended.

Oct 10, 2024 - 15:49

I bunked with 3 strangers in a shared cabin on an overnight train in Europe. It was bumpy, cramped, and I wouldn't do it again. --[Reported by Umva mag]

A blue train with a red stripe stopped at a platform at night — Business Insider's reporter took a Nightjet train from Venice, Italy, to Vienna, Austria.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent 11 hours in a shared cabin on an overnight train from Vienna, Austria, to Venice, Italy.
For less than $100, I got a bunk in a room of six beds with three other people.
I've traveled overnight on Amtrak but in private rooms. I didn't adjust well to the shared space.

In October 2022, during a two-week trip through four European countries, I spent 11 hours bunking with three strangers in an overnight sleeper train from Vienna, Austria, to Venice, Italy.

While it was my first time traveling in a sleeper car in Europe, I'd spent 60 hours on overnight Amtrak trains in the 20-square-foot roomette and 45-square-foot bedroom accommodations, where I had private rooms.

I thought an overnight train would be the best way to travel through Europe so I could explore more during the day. But the bumpy ride made sleeping hard, and I didn't feel rested when I got to Venice.

I booked my ride with the Austrian Federal Railway's OBB Nightjet — a rail line that operates overnight routes between Austria, Italy, France, and the Netherlands and can go as fast as 143 miles per hour.

Outside of the Nightjet train as it arrives in Venice — The OBB Nightjet train as it arrives in Venice in 2022.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Nightjet trains have regular assigned seats, couchette cars (seats that fold out into couches in shared cabins), and sleeper cars with bunks of four or six, which is what I booked. Some routes have private cabins, but mine didn't.

This overnight leg of my European train trip, which came with breakfast, cost $44 with a Eurail pass. Without the pass, the ticket would have been about $84.

The author's Eurail pass on a European train.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

To travel by train, I bought a Eurail pass for $477, which gives access to most European trains for a set number of days. Some trains only require a Eurail pass, while others, including overnight trains, incur an additional discounted price.

My journey began in Austria's Wien Meidling train station.

The station where the Nightjet took off from — Inside Wien Meidling train station in Austria.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I arrived about an hour and a half before my 9:35 p.m. train so I'd have ample time to find the platform.

The departure screens said my train was going to Zurich. At the information desk, I learned that, unlike Amtrak, the train's cars detach at various stations to go to different locations.

A train car on the Nightjet — Train car number two on the Nightjet.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I'd need to board my assigned train car; each has a number.

While waiting, I noticed OBB had a lounge. It's free for first-class OBB passengers traveling during the day and costs about $10 for all other OBB passengers. Since I didn't see any empty seats in the rest of the station, I paid for it.

Inside the OBB Lounge — Inside the OBB Nightjet lounge at Wien Meidling train station.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I was surprised to find I was the only one inside the lounge since the rest of the station was full of people. There were plenty of tables and chairs available.

The lounge served complimentary refreshments and snacks, from coffee to nuts and seeds.

refreshments in the OBB lounge — Refreshments in the OBB Nightjet lounge at Wien Meidling train station.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

It was a smaller selection than I've seen at Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge, which I've visited in New York, but I wasn't hungry, so I just got a water bottle.

I went to the platform about 20 minutes before my train's 9:35 p.m. departure.

Platform where the train takes off in Austria — The train platform the author used at Wien Meidling train station.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When the train arrived, I didn't have time to check the car number before boarding. I just went to the closest car and asked an attendant for help.

Inside the sleeper cars, I saw narrow, dimly lit corridors full of small cabins with bunk beds.

The corridor inside the Nightjet train — A corridor inside an OBB Nightjet sleeper car.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

An attendant led the way to my shared cabin.

My room had six bunks and a large window with a curtain. During my leg of the journey, one traveler was already there when I boarded, and two others arrived within an hour.

Inside the author's shared Nightjet cabin. — The author gets settled inside her shared cabin.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Two got off around 5 a.m., and the other stayed past my stop.

At 74 square feet, it felt like a tight space — especially with everyone's luggage around. There was space for bags above the beds, but not enough for everyone.

Storage space in the shared cabin.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I couldn't image six people squeezing in there.

While my cabin was assigned, the beds were first come, first served.

A view of the top bunks from the train's bottom bunk — A view of the top bunks from the author's bottom bunk.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Since I've experienced more bumps on higher bunks on Amtrak trains, I chose a bottom bunk.

The train provided bed sheets and a pillow.

Bunks inside the Nightjet train — Sheets for the beds inside the cabin.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Although they weren't as soft and cozy as the sheets on Amtrak trains, they were better than nothing.

Temperature and shared lighting controls were above the curtained door to enter the room.

The curtains and controls in the Nightjet bunk — The door to the cabin with dials to control temperature and lighting above.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My fellow passengers and I agreed to turn off the lights once everyone was settled into bed.

There was an outlet and a tiny nightstand on the side of each bunk, as well as night lights above the bed. Without curtains around each bunk, I thought I had no privacy.

Lights and outlets on the Nightjet — Lights and outlets in the Nightjet cabin.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I longed for a way to close off my bunk for more personal space.

Other passengers in the room said hello to each other upon arrival, but other than that, the room was quiet.

Inside the shared cabin.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Some of us watched our devices, while others went right to sleep.

Before bed, I used one of two bathrooms for everyone in my sleeper car. I thought it was a typical train bathroom with a toilet and a sink.

The bathroom inside the Nightjet train — A bathroom inside the sleeper car.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

According to Nightjet's website, only private sleeper cabins come with a shower.

When I was ready for bed, I watched TV before going to sleep. The bed was stiff and uncomfortable, in my opinion.

The author watches TV at night from her bunk. — The author's view from her bed in the evening.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I woke up several times during the night to other travelers entering and exiting the room, or due to the bumpiness of the train.

An attendant woke me up with breakfast at 8 a.m., about 20 minutes before my stop in Venice. I got two rolls of bread with butter, jam, and coffee to eat in my bunk.

Morning breakfast on the Nightjet train — The author's view with her breakfast in the morning.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

There was no café car or common area on board for passengers.

When I got off the train in Venice, I was exhausted from the lack of sleep. I thought it made my first day in the city less enjoyable.

"Offering our passengers a high level of travel comfort is an important concern for us," a representative for OBB Nightjet told Business Insider. "We are constantly working on improvements to our product and also take into account the requirements of our customers."

Next time, I won't pick a shared overnight train. While sometimes it's about the journey, not the destination, in this case, I'd rather arrive feeling refreshed so I can enjoy where I'm going.

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