The pandemic in France and Austria brought attention to the debate between planes and trains. The French government's COVID bailout for Air France required the airline to stop domestic flights that had a rail option under 2 1/2 hours, which later became law. Similarly, the Austrian government demanded Austrian Airlines to end its 50-minute flight between Vienna and Salzburg, as passengers could take a three-hour train instead. The European Commission declared 2021 as the "Year of European Rail" to promote train travel, especially to younger people. Despite passenger traffic increasing before the pandemic, only 8% of European Union travel was by train. European leaders are not only focusing on public relations to promote cross-border train travel, but they are also working on reducing practical barriers by implementing new data-sharing systems, updating infrastructure, and constructing new high-speed routes, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Alberto Mazzola, executive director of the Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Companies, stated that the goal is for business travelers to choose trains for trips under four hours and for tourists to opt for trains for trips under six hours. He noted that government leaders are prioritizing railway infrastructure, particularly high-speed lines, which is a change from the past when similar promises were made but not followed through on. Night trains in Europe are also becoming increasingly popular as part of the growing trend in rail travel on the continent. Night trains have been on the decline since the 1990s due to the rise of low-cost airlines and high-speed trains. However, this trend has started to shift before the pandemic, and now there is a growing momentum behind night trains, with new sleeper connections emerging across Europe. Alain Krakovitch, the director of travel at France's SNCF, has noted a revival of night trains in France and Europe, driven by strong demand from customers, elected officials, and the government. SNCF recently reintroduced overnight services between Paris and Nice, offering tickets starting at 19 euros, compared to 31 euros for a short flight on EasyJet. SNCF provides overnight services between Paris and Toulouse and Paris and Lourdes in the southwest of France. Additionally, a night train to Hendaye, a coastal town near the Spanish border, will operate in July and August. Starting in December 2023, a change-free overnight service between Paris and Berlin, a journey that currently takes eight hours and requires at least one change, will be available as a collaboration between four European operators. According to Krakovitch, there has been a strong demand for these services, making them very appealing to passengers. Krakovitch stated that the concept of falling asleep in Paris and waking up in Nice eliminates the need for a night in a hotel, allowing travelers to arrive in Nice early and refreshed. Despite the benefits, a significant investment was required to relaunch this service, and the hope is to maintain its success. This trend is also evident in other parts of Europe, such as the Swiss Federal Railways introducing a new overnight connection from Zurich to Amsterdam, expanding their existing overnight services to various destinations including Berlin, Budapest, Prague, and Zagreb. European Sleeper, a Dutch Belgian company established by two entrepreneurs, is in the process of developing an overnight connection between Brussels and Prague, with stops in cities such as Amsterdam and Berlin. The company aims to launch this service in the upcoming summer, although the exact start date has not yet been finalized. In the meantime, ÖBB's Nightjet service has recently introduced an overnight route between Vienna and Paris, offering tickets ranging from approximately 30 euros for a regular train seat to over 200 euros for a first-class private cabin, depending on the travel date. Nightjet also operates overnight services to various other cities, including Rome, Milan, Brussels, and Amsterdam, providing passengers with the option to book private compartments. Some cabins even come equipped with private shower and toilet facilities. The cost of booking a private compartment for two people traveling from Vienna to Amsterdam on a weeknight in July, for example, totals 129 euros. Alternatively, travelers have the option to choose a two-bed sleeper cabin for 378 euros for both individuals, which includes breakfast. If they prefer a private shower and toilet, the price increases to 418 euros. Currently, all of the Nightjet's "rolling stock" is being utilized, but new services are expected to be introduced in the future, according to a spokesperson. Over 30 new sleeper trains are set to be delivered starting in 2023. Despite the benefits of night trains in providing new travel options, they are limited to specific routes. People who are seeking to travel between cities not connected by rail networks still encounter difficulties in booking tickets and facing high prices. Despite the European Union's support for rail travel, governments within the bloc continue to provide significant subsidies to airlines through bailout packages and low taxes on jet fuel. While bans on short-haul flights in France and Austria made headlines, they only affected a limited number of routes. In France, passengers are still permitted to fly on these routes as part of longer journeys. Herwig Schuster, a transport campaigner for Greenpeace’s EU Mobility for All campaign, believes that the French and Austrian measures are a good starting point. He suggests that the European Union should go further by prohibiting flights with a train alternative that takes less than six hours, rather than just two or three. This would eliminate about a third of Europe's popular short-haul routes. Schuster argues that consumers are ready for this change, citing a recent climate survey showing that 62% of Europeans support a ban on short-haul flights. However, he notes that the biggest challenge would be ensuring that rail options are as affordable as flights. Despite the environmental benefits, flying remains the cheaper option on many European routes, especially longer-distance trips that involve crossing multiple national borders. For example, a one-way flight from Zurich to Barcelona in July can cost as little as 45 euros, compared to 140 euros (and more time) to travel the same distance by rail. Flying is also usually more affordable for trips from London to Madrid, Copenhagen to Rome, and Paris to Budapest. Mark Smith, who manages The Man in Seat 61 website, pointed out that the lack of a unified ticketing system in Europe's extensive rail network is a significant challenge. Despite this, he believes that trains can offer better value than planes when factoring in baggage fees and transportation costs to and from airports. Smith suggests that booking train tickets in advance, similar to flights, can result in significant cost savings. He recommends reserving long-distance train journeys one to three months ahead to avoid last-minute price increases. Smith also suggests using websites like Trainline and Rail Europe for booking multicountry trips in Europe. He acknowledges that some travellers may have to pay more for train tickets, but many still choose this mode of transportation. Smith mentioned that when he first launched his website two decades ago, the majority of individuals interested in long-distance train travel were either afraid of flying or unable to do so for health reasons. However, nowadays he notices a shift in mindset. People are now looking for a less stressful and more engaging alternative to air travel, as well as wanting to reduce their carbon footprint.