Switzerland’s most popular overnight rail connection to Austria has been upgraded: the next-generation Nightjet, already operating between Zürich and Hamburg since December, began running on the Zürich–Vienna route on Monday, 15 June 2026.
This will bring significantly improved comfort, more privacy and higher capacity to one of Europe’s most-travelled night train corridors.
The inaugural journey from Vienna to Zürich ran overnight, from Sunday into Monday, with the new trains now operating the route daily. The service is operated jointly by SBB and ÖBB, the Austrian Federal Railways.
“The modern design, the increased comfort, and the new features such as the Mini Cabins are particularly appreciated,” says Matthias Bütler, member of the Executive Board and Head of Passenger Transport at SBB.
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Capacity Of 254 Passengers Per Trainset On Zürich-Vienna Night Train
The next-generation Nightjet consists of seven carriages: two seating cars, three couchette cars and two sleeping cars, offering a total capacity of up to 254 passengers per trainset. The trains travel at up to 230 km/h.
Passengers can choose from several comfort categories:
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Seats — the most affordable option
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Couchette berths — traditional shared compartments with improved fittings
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Mini Cabins — a new format aimed at solo travellers, offering a private enclosed sleeping space at lower cost than a full sleeping compartment
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Sleeping car compartments — private rooms, some with their own WC and shower
Prices start from CHF 34. The trains feature an electronic access system, video surveillance throughout, and significantly more space for luggage, bicycles, prams and sporting equipment than the older rolling stock they replace.
Kurt Bauer, Head of Long-Distance Services at ÖBB Passenger Services, said, “The Vienna–Zurich route is an ideal deployment area for the new generation Nightjet. It connects two of the most important cultural and tourist cities in the Alpine region and meets a strong demand for comfortable and sustainable travel options.”
The Zürich-Vienna launch is the latest step in a phased deployment that began in December 2023, when the new trainsets first entered service on the Hamburg–Vienna corridor. They reached Switzerland for the first time in December 2025, when SBB and ÖBB introduced them on the Zürich/Basel–Hamburg line, with the first train christened “City of Zurich.”
The Zürich-Vienna service is the ninth route on which the next-generation Nightjet now operates. The Zürich–Amsterdam route is expected to follow later in 2026.
