Brussels Vienna new night train link: A new night train connecting Vienna to Brussels arrived late Monday morning in the Belgian capital, an initiative of the Austrian public company ÖBB welcomed by the defenders of this non-polluting mode of transport, at the time of the "Green Pact" of the new European Commission.

Austria and Belgium had not had a direct rail link for 16 years.

The inauguration of this night train symbolizes Austria's desire to make a decisive contribution to the European ambition to reduce CO2 emissions.

The first train, bearing the slogan #loveyourplanet (# aimetaplanète), left Vienna on Sunday at 8:38 p.m. (7:38 p.m. GMT) carried by the notes of the European Union anthem, "The Ode to Joy", played by an orchestra.

He arrived at 10.54 am (09.54 GMT) on Monday at the Brussels-Midi station, where the owner of the Belgian railways (SNCB) Sophie Dutordoir welcomed the president of the Austrian company ÖBB, Andreas Matthä, to the platform.

Brussels Vienna new night train link

"I believe that rail can play a very important role in a context of road congestion and climate challenge both on short distances and on the medium distance", declared Mrs. Dutordoir to the Belgian French-speaking chain RTBF.

In Austria, ÖBB has embarked on a renewal of its night service for several years, of which it is today particularly "proud", according to Mr. Matthä.

A trip from Vienna to Brussels by rail emits less than a tenth of CO2 from that emitted by the plane.

SNCB, of which the Belgian state is the main shareholder, is criticized for its "lack of ambition" by the supporters of the night train.

Monday, the Belgian branch of the European collective "Back on track" described as "successful" the return of the Vienna-Brussels night link even if "it is not enough".

With elected Belgian, German and French environmentalists, this collective took the opportunity to demand the return of the Paris-Berlin night train, connection canceled in 2015.

"The day after the announcement of the European Green Deal (...), relaunching the Paris-Berlin line via Brussels is a necessary decision," said the text of a petition to be launched on Tuesday.

According to the Austrian company ÖBB, all the places in berths and sleeping cars had been reserved for this first Vienna-Brussels.

The connection is currently scheduled twice a week, Sunday and Wednesday evening, while the Brussels-Vienna leaves Monday and Thursday evening, with wagons that will separate to serve Munich (Germany) and Innsbruck (Austria) .

In October ÖBB reported an 11% year-over-year increase in its night bookings. The ticket starts at 19 euros, a price that easily rivals low-cost airlines, but only offers a seat, not a berth.

The Austrian company offers 27 night trains, and plans to add Amsterdam (Netherlands) as the next destination. At the end of 2016, it had taken the risk of buying the night trains subsidiary of its German competitor Deutsche Bahn.

Austria wants to become "carbon neutral" by 2040, said Austrian Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler.

As for the new European Commission, chaired by German Ursula von der Leyen, it has prioritized the continent's transition to carbon neutrality by 2050 from its agenda.