The DB City Night Line sleeper train
Nov 23, 2012 | 4:18 pm
#1
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The DB City Night Line sleeper train
Just completed a "round trip" over two years on the Deutsche Bahn City Night Line sleeper train. It runs between several destinations but my focus is on the Munich-Rome line.
9 November 2010: CNL 484 Florence to Munich
Got to Santa Maria Novella from evidently the business restaurant to go to, only to find the train delayed by 30-60 minutes (exactly how much I forget now). Train is supposed to leave at 21:49 but was quite a bit past 10. No lounge facility so it's waiting on the platform. Train pulls in and we board, greeted by the carriage attendant.
The berth is a 3 bed affair that can be set up for anywhere between 1 and 3 beds. Spacing between beds when 3 are in use looks like it is a lot tighter with only two. Bedding is clean, with a thin duvet and pillow. Mattresses are a bit firm but o.k. for sleeping. There's a moveable ladder to get up to the 2 and 3rd bunks. Cooling/ventilation is adequate (at least when it's cold outside) and the small window does open. I seem to recall there was a power outlet by the wall. Lots of light switches for cabin, bed and night lights. Just have to try them all to see what powers what. There's a small little shelf and net to put your glasses and alarm clock or watch and what-else on. Surprisingly nothing falls off (more on this later).
The lower bunk can be converted to a 2 (or maybe 3) person day seat but not too comfortable. It's quite o.k. when you've woken up, dressed and are having breakfast waiting for the train to arrive.
Not much storage space if you have big heavy bags. There's a little space where the bathroom compartment curves around (with a door connecting to the next cabin if you're travelling as a family with 2 cabins), or on a netted shelf above the bathroom, though some use the shower stall. There's also a hanger on the door with 3 clothes hangers.
In this space, there is also a fold-down seat. No much of a table to put anything on.
The cabins are extra wide in the sleeper cars. The difference between the deluxe and economy is that the deluxe compartment has exclusive access to the egg-shaped bathroom plonked in the middle.
This bathroom is small but functional, a little bigger than an a/c toilet + add in a shower stall. Towels and a shower floor mat are supplied for 3 so there's more than enough if there's two of you. A bottle of water is supplied for each potential passenger for teethbrushing (or drinking). The toilet which is located nearer the corridor wall is the vacuum type - no more dumping on tracks (which I understand rots the rails and ties). The sink is a swing out type which you swing into the shower compartment if using the toilet, and swing out if washing your hands. Water comes from the showerhead which you have to push a button for the water to flow for a set amount of time.
The shower stall was small but spacious enough. There's a bar that you put down and is essential to stop you falling out if the carriage moves suddenly. I highly recommend its use. The shower gel/shampoo comes from a stall-mounted dispenser.
The shared bathroom at the end of of the carriage is actually quite spacious, but not as massive as those on the double-deck sleepers used between Berlin and the Rhine.
Overall, the carriages and compartments are very clean and nicely maintained, much as you would expect from the Germans.
Soon after we settle in, the attendant comes and asks us for our passport in case the authorities (usually the Austrians) decide to check on passengers so you won't have to be woken up (never mind the fact that the train runs only on 3 connected Schengen countries) as well as what time we want to have breakfast.
The train ride out of Florence is pretty uneventful and I had my shower before we go to Bologna. Somewhere also the way, some carriages for Vienna are detached. The ride up to the Brenner past is where the train ride gets interesting. Lots of side to side movement and the train sounds as though it is straining to climb. Much smoother ride on the train once it enters Austria and heads on to Germany.
Arrival in Munich Hbf is on time at 0630 which means an early breakfast. A clip-on table is brought too. It's evidently tapered to fit this side of the bathroom as it allows the jump seater, if there is one, to ingress and egress. Breakfast is a tray with a bread roll, pastry (or croissant), meat, cheese, butter and jam with tea of coffee. Also came with a container of liverwurst which ended up in a German cat's stomach with coffee (or tea).
26 October 2012: CNL 485 Munich - Chiusi/Chinciano Terme
At dinner with our German(-Italian) friends, they warned us about theft on trains headed to Italy! Not having seen a CNL compartment, they came with us to the Hbf and came to visit. They were quite impressed with it and the fact that there were two sets of locks on the door from the inside so it wasn't going to be easy to get into a compartment.
The attendant did the same thing as the one coming up north, but confirming that we were disembarking before Rome and confirming what time we wanted to be woken up and have breakfast. Not sure who might want to see the passports this time but it was either the Austrians or Italians. She also offered a beverage so we took two 1/4 bottles of red wine to have a nice digestif after dinner at the Augustiner Keller.
As it was a long weekend in Austria, the train was completely sold out. We had come from Innsbruck where this train would pass through as we preferred to board at 9p rather than wait until 11p. Quite a few passengers boarded in Rosenheim (trains between western and eastern Austria have to pass here), Kufstein, Woergl and Innsbruck. Had some noisy and drunk Austrians come onboard at the last two stops but they settled in and went to sleep pretty fast.
The ride down from the Brenner pass was like on the way up, but seemed a lot faster. It sort of felt like you were riding on a runaway train, or rollercoaster. Smoother once you got onto flatlands where I think the train for Vienna is enjoined. I'm surprised nothing we put in the nets of shelf rolled or slid off during the night.
The wakeup call is some speaker with a off button. We were awake already so just waited for breakfast (and of course out passports back).
Additional detail: I was hoping to track the train's route on a GPS but the carriage was constructed like it was a Faraday cage - couldn't even get one satellite.
Fares: Definitely buy the tickets in advance. This run costs about €238-258 for 2 (maybe even less) if you buy in advance, and more than double that if when the low fares are sold out. Looking at a random date in the new year, I see that 2 seats in a compartment car (sitzwagen) cost more than what we paid for 2 in the deluxe sleeper (schlafwagen)!
The 1st class compartments, which sleep between 1 and 3 come with private WC and shower. At the lower fare, it is a good way to get from Munich to Rome (9p departure, 9a arrival) given accomodation and transportation costs. Not so much the other way due to the earlier departure and early morning arrival in Munich.
9 November 2010: CNL 484 Florence to Munich
Got to Santa Maria Novella from evidently the business restaurant to go to, only to find the train delayed by 30-60 minutes (exactly how much I forget now). Train is supposed to leave at 21:49 but was quite a bit past 10. No lounge facility so it's waiting on the platform. Train pulls in and we board, greeted by the carriage attendant.
The berth is a 3 bed affair that can be set up for anywhere between 1 and 3 beds. Spacing between beds when 3 are in use looks like it is a lot tighter with only two. Bedding is clean, with a thin duvet and pillow. Mattresses are a bit firm but o.k. for sleeping. There's a moveable ladder to get up to the 2 and 3rd bunks. Cooling/ventilation is adequate (at least when it's cold outside) and the small window does open. I seem to recall there was a power outlet by the wall. Lots of light switches for cabin, bed and night lights. Just have to try them all to see what powers what. There's a small little shelf and net to put your glasses and alarm clock or watch and what-else on. Surprisingly nothing falls off (more on this later).
The lower bunk can be converted to a 2 (or maybe 3) person day seat but not too comfortable. It's quite o.k. when you've woken up, dressed and are having breakfast waiting for the train to arrive.
Not much storage space if you have big heavy bags. There's a little space where the bathroom compartment curves around (with a door connecting to the next cabin if you're travelling as a family with 2 cabins), or on a netted shelf above the bathroom, though some use the shower stall. There's also a hanger on the door with 3 clothes hangers.
In this space, there is also a fold-down seat. No much of a table to put anything on.
The cabins are extra wide in the sleeper cars. The difference between the deluxe and economy is that the deluxe compartment has exclusive access to the egg-shaped bathroom plonked in the middle.
This bathroom is small but functional, a little bigger than an a/c toilet + add in a shower stall. Towels and a shower floor mat are supplied for 3 so there's more than enough if there's two of you. A bottle of water is supplied for each potential passenger for teethbrushing (or drinking). The toilet which is located nearer the corridor wall is the vacuum type - no more dumping on tracks (which I understand rots the rails and ties). The sink is a swing out type which you swing into the shower compartment if using the toilet, and swing out if washing your hands. Water comes from the showerhead which you have to push a button for the water to flow for a set amount of time.
The shower stall was small but spacious enough. There's a bar that you put down and is essential to stop you falling out if the carriage moves suddenly. I highly recommend its use. The shower gel/shampoo comes from a stall-mounted dispenser.
The shared bathroom at the end of of the carriage is actually quite spacious, but not as massive as those on the double-deck sleepers used between Berlin and the Rhine.
Overall, the carriages and compartments are very clean and nicely maintained, much as you would expect from the Germans.
Soon after we settle in, the attendant comes and asks us for our passport in case the authorities (usually the Austrians) decide to check on passengers so you won't have to be woken up (never mind the fact that the train runs only on 3 connected Schengen countries) as well as what time we want to have breakfast.
The train ride out of Florence is pretty uneventful and I had my shower before we go to Bologna. Somewhere also the way, some carriages for Vienna are detached. The ride up to the Brenner past is where the train ride gets interesting. Lots of side to side movement and the train sounds as though it is straining to climb. Much smoother ride on the train once it enters Austria and heads on to Germany.
Arrival in Munich Hbf is on time at 0630 which means an early breakfast. A clip-on table is brought too. It's evidently tapered to fit this side of the bathroom as it allows the jump seater, if there is one, to ingress and egress. Breakfast is a tray with a bread roll, pastry (or croissant), meat, cheese, butter and jam with tea of coffee. Also came with a container of liverwurst which ended up in a German cat's stomach with coffee (or tea).
26 October 2012: CNL 485 Munich - Chiusi/Chinciano Terme
At dinner with our German(-Italian) friends, they warned us about theft on trains headed to Italy! Not having seen a CNL compartment, they came with us to the Hbf and came to visit. They were quite impressed with it and the fact that there were two sets of locks on the door from the inside so it wasn't going to be easy to get into a compartment.
The attendant did the same thing as the one coming up north, but confirming that we were disembarking before Rome and confirming what time we wanted to be woken up and have breakfast. Not sure who might want to see the passports this time but it was either the Austrians or Italians. She also offered a beverage so we took two 1/4 bottles of red wine to have a nice digestif after dinner at the Augustiner Keller.
As it was a long weekend in Austria, the train was completely sold out. We had come from Innsbruck where this train would pass through as we preferred to board at 9p rather than wait until 11p. Quite a few passengers boarded in Rosenheim (trains between western and eastern Austria have to pass here), Kufstein, Woergl and Innsbruck. Had some noisy and drunk Austrians come onboard at the last two stops but they settled in and went to sleep pretty fast.
The ride down from the Brenner pass was like on the way up, but seemed a lot faster. It sort of felt like you were riding on a runaway train, or rollercoaster. Smoother once you got onto flatlands where I think the train for Vienna is enjoined. I'm surprised nothing we put in the nets of shelf rolled or slid off during the night.
The wakeup call is some speaker with a off button. We were awake already so just waited for breakfast (and of course out passports back).
Additional detail: I was hoping to track the train's route on a GPS but the carriage was constructed like it was a Faraday cage - couldn't even get one satellite.
Fares: Definitely buy the tickets in advance. This run costs about €238-258 for 2 (maybe even less) if you buy in advance, and more than double that if when the low fares are sold out. Looking at a random date in the new year, I see that 2 seats in a compartment car (sitzwagen) cost more than what we paid for 2 in the deluxe sleeper (schlafwagen)!
The 1st class compartments, which sleep between 1 and 3 come with private WC and shower. At the lower fare, it is a good way to get from Munich to Rome (9p departure, 9a arrival) given accomodation and transportation costs. Not so much the other way due to the earlier departure and early morning arrival in Munich.
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Nov 23, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Nov 24, 2012 | 9:45 am
#5
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FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Posts: 22,946
Sorry but photos are one thing I neglected to take. Not easy given the confines (and lighting) of the compartment and I didn't bring my fisheye lense with me on either trip.
Nov 24, 2012 | 1:04 pm
#6
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB PLT again afater a decade as plebian
Posts: 22,946