- Reinstating the Paris to Vienna night train could reduce flight emissions equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of almost 4000 people, according to findings from Back on Track and Stay Grounded.
- The Paris to Vienna night train was permanently cancelled in December 2024 after the French government withdrew key subsidies.
- The decision to cancel the service was met with public outcry, with almost 100,000 people signing a petition demanding it be saved.
- These new findings mark a wave of international actions in 14 countries across the world demanding ‘Night Trains, Not Night Planes’.
13th September 2026 – Reinstating the Paris to Vienna night train could reduce flight emissions equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of almost 4000 people, according to new research released today.
Analysis, provided by climate groups Back on Track and Stay Grounded, found that reinstating the previously axed route, with small changes, could save 30,565 t CO2e per year—3869 times the annual emissions of the average citizen of the countries served by the route.
The previous Paris-to-Vienna night train, which had been running since 2021, was permanently cancelled in December 2024 after the French government withdrew key subsidies—despite outcries from climate organisations, members of the public, and train companies.
The new research calls for reinstating the night train, proposing it could replace flights from Paris to Munich and Paris to Vienna. Running as a daily service on larger carriages, with a 75% occupancy rate, would accommodate approximately 280,000 passengers per year.
These findings coincide with a day of coordinated international protests calling for a ban on night flights and more investment in night trains. More than 18 actions are taking place in 14 countries under the banner ‘Night Trains, Not Night Planes’ highlighting the unnecessary burden of night flights on those living around airports and the urgent need for more government investment in night trains.
According to opinion polls, 7 out of 10 Europeans would be willing to take a night train instead of a plane if the conditions were reasonable.
Juri Maier, Back on Track spokesperson, said: “Reinstalling the Paris to Vienna night train will most likely need government support. This time, local and national governments should jointly award the support as a cross-border public service obligation (PSO) in a competitive manner, ideally on a long-term basis. This would allow the purchase of new rolling stock which would decrease the financial support needed, making the service a very efficient decarbonisation measure.”
Hannah Lawrence, Stay Grounded spokesperson, said: “This year’s heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and floods give a clear warning that we need to switch to sustainable modes of transport now. That’s why we need a ban on the most damaging – such as night flights that burn up our planet and place an unnecessary burden on those living around airports. Instead we need investments in solutions such as night trains which protect life for us and future generations.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
- For more information or an exclusive quote please contact: Hannah Lawrence, +436706504192, press@stay-grounded.org
- Back-on-Track is a European network campaigning for more affordable night trains and a more joined up cross-border train service.
- Stay Grounded is a global network of over 200 member organisations campaigning for the just reduction of aviation.
- 13th September has been founded by the Stay Grounded network as the International Day for the Ban on Night Flights at Airports. To mark the third year, Stay Grounded and Back on Track have joined together for an international day of protests under the banner ‘Night Trains, Not Night Planes’. Demonstrators are demanding an end to harmful night flights while showing support for an existing alternative: night trains.
- Flight emissions reduction methodology:
- A night train from Vienna to Paris could replace flights on these relations (passenger numbers for 2023 from Eurostat): Vienna-Paris (AT_LOWW_FR_LFPG): 753,586 passengers per year, Munich to Paris (DE_EDDM_FR_LFPG): 774,302 passengers per year, Munich to Paris (DE_EDDM_FR_LFPO): 774,302 passengers per year.
- GHG emissions from these flights are (according to atmosfair.de):
- Vienna-Paris (AT_LOWW_FR_LFPG): 218kg per passenger
Munich to Paris (DE_EDDM_FR_LFPG): 149kg per passenger
Munich to Paris (DE_EDDM_FR_LFPO): 157kg per passenger - A next generation Nightjet operating daily with a 75% occupancy rate would accommodate approx. 280,000 passengers per year. To avoid competing with long-distance buses we would not include seats that don’t fully recline, therefore we would only consider the 180,000 places in a lying position (mini-cabins, couchettes and beds).
- Assuming 50% of these passengers come from flights from Vienna to Paris and another 50% from flights from Munich to Paris, this train would avoid aviation GHG emissions of an equivalent of 32,780 t CO2 per year. The night train operation itself would generate 2,215 t CO2e per year, according to ecopassenger.org.
- Therefore, reinstalling a daily night train service using modern rolling stock would save 30,565 t CO2e per year.
- Average carbon footprint methodology:
- Per capita consumption-based CO2 emissions were 8.4t in Austria, 6.1t in France, and 9.1t in Germany (2023 emission data from https://ourworldindata.org). The passenger average thus equals 7.9t.
- The amount of 30,565 t CO2e equals the yearly consumption-based GHG emissions of 3,869 Europeans.