When I booked my 12-hour overnight train from Berlin to my next stop, Vienna, I had two options: a bunk in a shared cabin for three to six passengers or a reclining chair in a seating carriage for six.
I went with the latter for $40. It was the cheapest overnight train trip I’d ever booked — once I boarded, I saw why.
Enclosed spaces with sliding glass doors lined both sides of the car’s narrow corridor. Inside each, two sets of three seats faced each other.
I found it impossible to sleep while sharing a tight space with five strangers and their luggage filtering in and out through the night.
Though my seat deeply reclined, there wasn’t enough leg room for everyone to stretch out. Regret consumed me as I sat awake until morning.
After my trip, a representative of the rail-line operator, Austrian Federal Railway’s OBB Nightjet, told Business Insider in an email that seating carriages are not recommended for overnight rides.
This only confirmed to me that I should’ve paid more to book the bunk.
Next time I go to Berlin, I’ll make smarter choices that prioritize rest in transit and maximize my time.
