I didn't find out about this until now, but here's a flash sale for today with European Sleeper. I didn't have time to check, but you should have overnight trips from Brussels and Cologne to Milan for €49 on selected travel dates in November and December.

European Sleeper

Good Morning Flash Sale | European Sleeper

Night train tickets from €49 between Brussels, Milan, Paris, Berlin and Prague. Limited places, book before 9 October.

HARGITA - MAV CLASS M440, 1940s, from the Hungarian Railway Museum (Magyar Vasúttörténeti Park) in Budapest. It was built by the Hungarian engineering firm Ganz & Co. in Budapest, and it was powered by a V12 Ganz-Jendrassik diesel engine, so the train could reach speeds of up to 120 km/h. The Hargita served both domestic and international express routes and was also used as a special government train.

The third train presented by Austria's ÖBB is the Railjet M (Rh 4884) Siemens is developing its first long-distance variant of the Mireo, originally designed for regional transport. The four-car trainset is tailored to ÖBB's requirements and its use on long-distance routes in the Alps. With a top speed of 160 km/h, these trains are the slowest in the Railjet family, but since speeds higher than 160 km/h are never possible on the routes used, this is not a disadvantage. (Exception: Unterinntal Railway Innsbruck - Wörgl) 31 units have been ordered as part of a framework agreement for up to 540 trains. This same agreement also includes an order for 36 three-car and 33 four-car trains for the regional version (Cityjet M), which will have up to 317 seats. Unlike the previous Mireos, these ÖBB trains are slightly wider and have conventional bogies instead of Jacobs bogies. Technical data and highlights: • Manufacturer: Siemens Mobility • Series designation: 4884 • Platform: Mireo • Maximum speed: 160 km/h • Train length: 106.05 m • Seating capacity: 257 • Wheelchair spaces: 2 • Bicycle parking spaces: 14 • Restrooms: 3, one of which is accessible • Multi-purpose compartment • Ski and snowboard racks • Catering zone: Vending machines with snacks and drinks • Family zone with play area and interactive driver's cab • Economy and First Class The Railjet M is scheduled to be deployed on Interregio lines from 2028. The passenger information system indicates that these trains will likely operate under the RJR (RailJetRegio) designation. Initially, the Railjet M is only approved for operation in Germany and Austria, but this is expected to change with approval for operation in Italy and Slovenia, targeted for 2029. This means the vehicles can also be used on a planned InterRegio (IR) line from Salzburg via the Tauern Pass and Villach to Tarvisio Boscoverde. The line is planned to run every 120 minutes and replace the InterCity (IC) trains currently operating there.

Today, the details for the second train presented by Austria: the ÖBB Railjet Double-Decker (Rh 4706). It is manufactured by Stadler for ÖBB, and it is based on the KISS 200 design with six carriages. It will be the third generation of the Railjet family and the first double-decker Railjet. Just as in the first and second generation trains, there will be quiet zones and family areas, as well as First and Economy Class, but Business Class will not be offered. Technical data and highlights: • Manufacturer: Stadler Rail • Series designation: 4706 • Platform: KISS 200 • Maximum speed: 200 km/h • Train length: 159.86 m • Seating capacity: 486 • Wheelchair spaces: 2 • Bicycle parking spaces: 10 • Restrooms: 8 (one of which is accessible) • Luggage storage with NFC security • Snack zones • Family and quiet zones • Economy and First Class Fourteen trainsets have been ordered and are expected to be deployed from July 2027 on the Western Railway line between Vienna and Salzburg on the slower Railjet services. With the commissioning of the Semmering Base Tunnel, deployment on the Southern Railway line is also planned. The question remains whether there will be cross-border deployments to other countries in the future. After all, the trains are equipped for 15 kV 16.7 Hz (for Austria, Germany and Switzerland) and 25 kV 50 Hz (for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, etc.).

We have a few more details about Nox Mobility from Thibault Constant, one of the co-founders, who's known among train enthusiasts as "Simply Railway". View quoted note →

Now we have more data from the new Austrian ÖBB trains, and today I'll present the details for the first one. ÖBB Cityjet Akku (Battery) - Rh 4750 - is Stadler's FLIRT battery-powered train in the Cityjet version. Initially, 23 units have been ordered from a framework agreement for up to 120 such trains. Sixteen of these are earmarked for the Kamptal Railway (Krems - Sigmundsherberg, entering service from 2028) and the remaining seven for the Erlauftal Railway (Pöchlarn - Scheibbs, entering service from 2029). The three-car battery-powered train can travel at 160 km/h under overhead lines and 140 km/h in battery mode. While travelling under overhead lines, the train can be simultaneously driven and charged. Alternatively, the battery can also be charged at charging stations. The trains are wheelchair-accessible and equipped with power outlets, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, tables, and a modern passenger information system (features that the 5022 and 5047 series and the Cityshuttle trains largely lack). Technical data and highlights: • Manufacturer: Stadler Rail • Series designation: 4750 • Platform: FLIRT Akku • Maximum speed: 160 km/h (140 km/h in battery mode) • Train length: 63.2 m • Seating capacity: 160 • Wheelchair spaces: 2 • Bicycle parking spaces: 12 • Accessible toilet • Multi-purpose areas for bicycles, strollers and wheelchairs • Power outlets/USB-C ports

It seems that there was a retro train ride from Germany (no exact details) to Vienna. Old-school Deutsche Bundesbahn BR 103. While the images are a joy for my soul, I need to dig deeper to see what this was about. #trainstr

It seems some people don't know what a rack railway is and complain that they don't get Emirates first-class comfort on a 10 km (6 miles) journey. That being said, now look through the windows in the first picture. View quoted note →

Pininfarina released a "teaser" with the new rack railway trains for the Rochers-de-Naye (Switzerland). These cogwheel trains, built by Stadler, are scheduled to enter service in 2029, replacing the 40-year-old fleet on the route from Montreux to the Rochers-de-Naye. 🤌

On Wednesday, September 30, SNCF will start selling tickets for the winter holidays. Take a look, because now the tickets tend to be the cheapest.

The last ÖBB presentation, with fewer details than expected, is Railjet M for 2028. View quoted note →

Another presentation from Austria's ÖBB is an electric train for short-distance service to supplement S-Bahn routes. Pretty much what we already have, but it's always pure pleasure on every ride.

The Austrian ÖBB presented a few images of the new double-decker that will be introduced next year. My guess is that it will be for shorter distances, no more than 2:30 h.

I kept my eyes on Nox Mobility for about two years, and today they revealed the results at the Berlin Messe. Their mission was to change night train travel in Europe, and I was quite surprised to see that they chose an approach closer to air travel. The first route is in Germany and can already be booked for March 23, 2027, on the route Hamburg - Bremen - Augsburg - Munich, for €149. I'll probably post more about in the next days.

Nox | Overnight train travel, reimagined

Travel overnight between Hamburg and Munich. Arrive ready for the day. Book your journey from March 2027.

SNCF has a flash offer for today and tomorrow: 50k tickets for €19 each. National routes, with travel dates between November 3 and December 12.

A Coradia Stream, in a livery for Trenitalia InterCity, arriving at InnoTrans 2026. I travel quite often with the older ones, so this will be a nice upgrade.

Getting from Italy to Austria

In Vienna, for whatever reason, you can rent an old-school tramway. (In Austrian German, a tram is called a "Bim")

TIL that in Wuppertal (Germany), there also exists an Imperial Car for their suspended railway. I need to do some homework. Beautiful!

Old school charm (Australia, so not my video)