The impending cancellation of night trains between the French capital, Germany and Austria has triggered numerous reactions. While a petition has already collected more than 60,000 signatures, almost one hundred citizens and politicians gathered in front of the Gare de l’Est station in Paris on Friday 3 October. Accompanied by the sound of cellos, the demonstrators called for this Franco-German connection to be strengthened.
Among them were sympathisers and politicians, including Karima Delli, former Chair of the Transport Committee in the European Parliament. She lamented: “We are falling behind in terms of European dynamics, because night trains are currently being expanded everywhere in Europe. The authorities need to understand that night trains are not a niche market, but a real alternative.”
The demonstrators are calling for the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna night connections via Munich to be maintained and strengthened. The collective “Oui au train de nuit” (Yes to the night train) points out that these two trains should actually run daily and not just three times a week. According to the collective, a daily service would improve the financial balance and at the same time benefit the image of the operators in France, Germany and also in Europe.
This is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the Franco-German pairing in European rail transport: a locomotive that goes haywire instead of advocating a policy that facilitates the free movement of people in an exemplary manner.
David Belliard, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of transport and Green Party candidate for the municipal elections to be held in the French capital next year, was also present. He explained that “the night train must be a real alternative to the aeroplane: It is a comfortable means of transport that can become affordable. It’s a question of political choice.”
Democrat MP Frédéric Petit, who represents French people living in Germany, Austria and Central Europe, called on the government to “ maintainpublic support for the introduction of these rail routes and, above all, for the introduction of new, well-connected and adapted services with dynamic and appropriate marketing”.
Quotes
– David Belliard: “Paris must say yes to the night train, because the night train must be a real alternative to the aeroplane.”
– Frédéric Hocquard: “If we want to replace the aeroplane for travel within Europe, we need other transport options, especially the night train. ”
“The night train invents a different kind of tourism, slow tourism.”
– Karima Delli: “European citizens as well as French citizens want night trains, now it’s a question of political decision. Tomorrow we will also need connections like Paris-Barcelona, Paris-Malmö …”
To ensure that France continues to campaign for the reintroduction of night trains, “Oui au train de nuit” is calling on the citizens of Germany and all of Europe to sign the petition at agir.greenvoice.fr/p/berlin.