"There are high costs, but a lot is down to attitude, willingness and management focus," says Smith, who praises ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä, who took over in 2016,

"There are high costs, but a lot is down to attitude, willingness and management focus," says Smith, who praises ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä, who took over in 2016, for "making night trains wash their faces commercially." Well that is an understatement. Last time I checked to get a night train to Vienna they started at €200 per person. You can fly there for €30. It's nice that they're expanding, sure. But at this rate you're not going to convince the masses of going electric on their middle-distance travels.