DB ( Germany ) is announcing that it will no longer support sleeper and preminium overnight service after December 2016 . If someone wlse wants operate it ..... ? ?
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/main-line/db-to-withdraw-all-remaining-sleeper-trains.html?channel=524.
Comment
Keith Fender, Germany regional editor The focus in recent years on cost reduction appears to have left DB with a much poorer overnight product. Longer-distance services such as Copenhagen - Amsterdam were lost due to the cost of operating in multiple countries; the service level onboard was deliberately run down, for example the removal of restaurant cars from trains with journeys of over 12 hours, and there was a complete failure to add value or create any kind of premium service. This led to a spiral of losses as revenues stagnated. In fact, given the pursuit of passenger volume, the average revenue per passenger probably declined. Industry observers have pointed out that track access charges in Germany are much lower at night, reflecting overall traffic levels at these times, and many of the vehicles used are more than 20 years old so depreciation costs are low. This indicates the operating cost base should have beneficial. Had management been more positive and market-focussed, the network may have had a future. Equally, the lack of explicit government support for sleeper services compared with other European countries such as Britain or Sweden also contributed to their eventual decline.
The focus in recent years on cost reduction appears to have left DB with a much poorer overnight product.
Longer-distance services such as Copenhagen - Amsterdam were lost due to the cost of operating in multiple countries; the service level onboard was deliberately run down, for example the removal of restaurant cars from trains with journeys of over 12 hours, and there was a complete failure to add value or create any kind of premium service.
This led to a spiral of losses as revenues stagnated. In fact, given the pursuit of passenger volume, the average revenue per passenger probably declined.
Industry observers have pointed out that track access charges in Germany are much lower at night, reflecting overall traffic levels at these times, and many of the vehicles used are more than 20 years old so depreciation costs are low. This indicates the operating cost base should have beneficial.
Had management been more positive and market-focussed, the network may have had a future. Equally, the lack of explicit government support for sleeper services compared with other European countries such as Britain or Sweden also contributed to their eventual decline.
Appears that the US, pre-Amtrak, is not the only place service got downgraded.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Several friends have used the CNL (previously also including DB NachtZug and Urlaubs Express) international and domestic overnight trains for years and liked them. I used the Munich-Venice train twice. It was OK, but I noticed the main patrons were groups of young people. Few business people used it and friends reported the same on other routes. The service was fairly comfortable.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
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