AARP Hearing Center
Europe is more affordable now than it has been for 20 years, thanks to the favorable value of the euro to the dollar. In addition, travel by overnight sleeper train on the Continent is becoming more available than ever.
Sleeper trains are making a comeback after being sidetracked by low-cost airlines for nearly two decades, when cheap, intra-European flights essentially derailed train travel.
Today, the decline of those budget airlines, along with factors including environmental concerns and government initiatives, have led to Europe experiencing something of a rail renaissance.
Overnight trains offer passengers notable benefits, including avoiding the hassle of airports and flight delays, reducing their carbon footprint and saving on hotel costs.
Here are five new services and/or routes that are providing more options than ever.
Orient Express
Leading the pack is the iconic Orient Express — of Agatha Christie fame — which will debut in Italy with six new trains. The service will start welcoming passengers in 2023 with itineraries that go beyond the legendary Paris-to-Istanbul route that started it all in 1883. The new Orient Express La Dolce Vita (not to be confused with Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express rail service, a separate operation) will offer six scenic routes in 14 regions that explore Italy’s best landscapes, from the dramatic Alps to the bucolic countryside to the popular beaches.