Thread by @seatsixtyone

The Nightjet reveal event begins at 10, and I’m here. Must be Europe’s first 230km/h sleeper train? #excited? Nope, make that #hoppingupanddownexcited.

Here today are (1) a sleeping-car with 1 & 2 berth compartments, all with shower & toilet, (2) couchette car with three 4-berth compartments & 24 minisuites and (3) a seats car. I sneaked a peek at the compartment side of the couchette car with its distinctive window arrangement.

The event has started, with Leonore Gewessler, Austrian Minister of Climate Action & Energy and Andreas Matthä, head of ÖBB…

The on-board reveal of ÖBB’s new Nightjet begins! First up, the 4-berth couchettes. Note the wireless phone charging points. (Compartment door removed for today’s event to make photography easier)

4-berth couchettes

And now for the greatest innovation on these new sleeper trains: The minisuites, individual privacy at couchette prices.

Each minisuite locks with a card key which also locks shoe locker & cabin-bag-size locker.

Before anyone mentions claustrophobia, they’re fine - I tested it personally, of course. I can even sit up in it. There’s a window & wider bit at the head end. Plus opening to next minisuite if you were travelling with someone else. Length enough for me at 6’2” if I remove shoes.

I can also confirm there are tip-up seats in the corridor outside the minisuites.

And now, the 1 & 2 bed sleepers. 9 standard compartments like this, 1 more spacious deluxe (note doors removed for today’s ease of viewing)

These sleepers are a complete departure from 100 years of the classic European sleeper layout, they make great use of the space.

Again I tested bed length- just enough for me at 6’2” with shoes off. The table can be lowered & a cushion put on it to create a sofa for 2 ppl instead of single seat + table.

The sleeping-car also has one ‘deluxe’ compartment with transverse beds, extra space, and a separate shower cubicle as well as WC.

And finally…. All compartments do THIS at the touch of a button on the compartment control panel. This I was NOT expecting…

Each 7-car unit has 2 sleepers, 3 couchette cars, 1 multi-function car (seats & accessible 4-berth couchette compartment with lo-floor entry), 1 seats car. Each couchette car has 28 minisuites & three 4-berth compartments. First deployment Vienna/Munich to Venice/Florence/Rome.