A “pyjama party” protest on the platforms of Paris Gare de l’Est has culminated in a “partial victory” for French rail advocates. The group, ‘Oui au train de nuit!’, organized the protest and a 91,000-signature petition in response to the shock cancellation of ÖBB’s Nightjet services. Now, their efforts have been validated, as the Dutch cooperative European Sleeper has announced it will save the vital Paris-Berlin route.
The new service, launching on March 26, 2026, is a testament to the strong public demand that the activists successfully highlighted. The original Nightjet, which also served Vienna, is being axed in December after the French government ended its subsidies. Nicolas Forien, a spokesperson for the protest group, hailed the new service as a win for the tens of thousands who signed the petition, proving that sustainable travel options are worth fighting for.
The new operator is not just filling the gap but is also bringing a new, high-capacity strategy. The service will run three times a week, with evening departures from Paris Gare du Nord on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and return trips from Berlin on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This reliable schedule aims to capture the market of travelers who were set to be abandoned.
European Sleeper’s co-founder, Chris Engelsman, is confident the service will be a success, thanks to its superior capacity. The new train will run 12-14 coaches, all dedicated to Berlin, allowing for 600-700 passengers. This is a significant increase from the Nightjet, which had to split its 12-coach train between two destinations. The new service will also forge a new path via Brussels.
While the Vienna route remains un-replaced, the saving of the Berlin line is a major achievement for the activists. The new service will be pragmatic, using 1990s-era German coaches and launching without a dining car due to profitability “challenges.” But the victory lies in the route’s survival, proving that even in pyjamas, public protest can help keep the wheels of progress turning.