In France and Austria, the pandemic highlighted the debate between planes and trains. The French government's COVID bailout for Air France stipulated that the airline must stop domestic flights if there was a train option under 2 1/2 hours, which became law. Similarly, the Austrian government required Austrian Airlines to discontinue its short flight between Vienna and Salzburg, a route easily accessible by train in three hours. The European Commission declared 2021 as the "Year of European Rail" to promote train travel, especially to younger individuals. Despite passenger traffic increasing steadily until 2019, train travel only accounted for 8% of all passenger travel in the European Union before the pandemic. 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, believes that with these improvements, businesspeople will choose trains for trips under four hours and tourists for trips under six hours. Government leaders are now backing railway infrastructure, particularly high-speed lines, which marks a significant change from 20 years ago when similar promises were made but not fulfilled. The rise of night trains in Europe is contributing to the increasing popularity of rail travel on the continent. Night trains have been on the decline since the 1990s due to the growth of low-cost airlines and high-speed trains. However, there has been a recent resurgence in interest in night trains across Europe, with new sleeper connections being introduced. According to Alain Krakovitch, the director of travel at SNCF, France's state-owned railway company, there is a strong demand for night trains from both customers and government officials. SNCF has recently relaunched overnight services between Paris and Nice, offering tickets starting at 19 euros, compared to 31 euros for a short flight on EasyJet. SNCF also provides overnight services between Paris and Toulouse, as well as between Paris and Lourdes in the southwest of France. During July and August, there will be a night train to Hendaye, a coastal town near the Spanish border. Additionally, a direct overnight service without any changes between Paris and Berlin is set to start in December 2023 through a collaboration of 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, with hopes of maintaining its success. This trend is also seen in other parts of Europe, such as the Swiss Federal Railways introducing a new overnight connection from Zurich to Amsterdam, with stops in Basel and Cologne. This adds to existing overnight services connecting Zurich to various other cities like Berlin, Budapest, Prague, and Zagreb. European Sleeper, a company started by two entrepreneurs from the Netherlands and Belgium, is working on creating an overnight train route connecting Brussels to Prague with stops in cities like Amsterdam and Berlin. They are aiming to start the service in the summer, although the exact launch date is still uncertain. At the same time, ÖBB's Nightjet service has recently introduced an overnight connection between Vienna and Paris, offering a variety of ticket options ranging from 30 euros for a regular seat to 200 euros or more for a first-class private cabin, depending on the travel date. Nightjet also operates routes to other cities such as Rome, Milan, Brussels, and Amsterdam, with the option for passengers to book private compartments, some of which include a private shower and toilet. Prices vary based on the amenities provided, with a couple traveling from Vienna to Amsterdam on a weeknight in July able to book two seats in a private compartment for a total of 129 euros. In another option, they have the choice to select a two-bed sleeper cabin for 378 euros for both passengers, which also includes breakfast. If they prefer to have a private shower and toilet, the price increases to 418 euros. Currently, all of the Nightjet's trains are being utilized, but there are plans to introduce new services in the future, with over 30 new sleeper trains expected to be available starting in 2023. Despite the benefits of night trains providing new travel options, they are limited to specific routes. Challenges persist for individuals seeking to travel between cities not connected by rail networks, as booking tickets and pricing can be problematic. Despite the European Union's backing of rail travel, governments within the bloc continue to provide significant subsidies to airlines, including bailout packages and low taxes on jet fuel. While recent bans on short-haul flights in France and Austria garnered attention, the actual impact was limited to only a few routes. In France, passengers can still fly on these banned routes if they are part of a longer journey. Herwig Schuster, a Greenpeace transport campaigner, believes that the recent measures taken by France and Austria to limit short-haul flights are just the beginning. He suggests that the European Union should ban flights that have a train alternative taking under six hours, rather than just two or three. This could eliminate about one-third of Europe's popular short-haul routes. Schuster argues that consumers are ready for this change, as a recent survey showed that 62% of Europeans support a ban on short-haul flights. The main challenge would be ensuring that train options are as affordable as flights. Despite the environmental benefits, flying remains cheaper for certain European routes, such as Zurich to Barcelona, London to Madrid, Copenhagen to Rome, and Paris to Budapest. Mark Smith, who operates The Man in Seat 61 website providing train travel resources, mentioned that Europe's extensive rail network lacking a unified ticketing system is a challenge. Despite this, he believes that trains can offer good value compared to planes, especially when factoring in additional costs like baggage fees and airport transportation. Smith suggests booking train tickets in advance, similar to flights, to save money and avoid last-minute price increases. He recommends using websites like Trainline and Rail Europe for booking multicountry trips in Europe. Although some travelers may pay more for train tickets, many still choose this mode of transportation. Smith started his website two decades ago and found that most individuals interested in long-distance train travel were either afraid of flying or unable to do so for medical reasons. Nowadays, he notes a shift in perspective, with people expressing a desire for a less stressful and more intriguing travel experience, as well as a desire to reduce their carbon footprint.