They're the definition of cattle class. They're slow, expensive, and you're sleeping in a tiny room with total strangers. Any sleeper route can be better served by a low-cost airline, and cheaper to boot. Sleeper trains made sense in the 19th century when they were the only option, but they make absolutely no sense today.

>>2049551 (OP)
Because when you're going on a sleeper train route, you're not doing it for cost (driving is cheaper) or speed (flying is faster), you're doing it because you want to, because there's something about rail travel that people still like and will pay money for (it's more of a "land cruise").

>>2049551 (OP)
They exist because there are still massive countries where it is still way cheaper to travel by it than a plane. Look at ukraine, russia, china and whatnot. 90% of the population are still to poor to fly.
Also lying in bed and travelling hundreds of miles while you sleep is pretty time efficient.

>>2049551 (OP)
In modern sleeper trains you can book a private room. I travelled to Czechia with my wife on a sleeper, we had a private room. It cost about the same as flying, but it was comfy and no airport hassle, we just woke up and arrived in the main station.

>>2049551 (OP)
first of all, it's only at all comparable when fuel is subsidized and relatively low volume. in japan, the plane is more expensive because the fuel is expensive. in russia, fuel is cheap but prices are still very similar. in india, planes are simply unfeasible.
second, sleeper train's worth is not just transportation, it's also accomodation- in many cases the entire journey is cheaper than a hotel room for a night.
third, talking with strangers is a part of the experience, and if you don't want that, you pay a bit more and take a coupe.

In EU there is a huge demand for slow sleeper train travel since it is considered a sustainable alternative to driving/flying and considered an adventure. It's also an alternative to daytime high speed train hassle as having to switch 5x and missing the connection train 4x.
Current demand can't be fulfilled, prices are high and trains are booked out months prior (at least everytime I checked). Various train operators plan to order more slepper coaches and expand sleeper schedule.

>>2049560
he gets it

>>2049578
Somehow Italy refuses to buy more (but thats because Italians don't take public transport)
Tourists want them though

I'll be going from Prague to Budapest in a sleeper train.
>cheaper than flight+accomdation
>can sleep most of the trip
>avoid airport hassle
>well rested in the morning
>sounds cool to sleep on a train
It was an easy decision for me.

When you factor in getting to the airport, airport hassle, and getting from the airport into the city, you'll arrive in the evening even for moderate distances. Then you need a place to sleep.
With a sleeper train you arrive well-rested in the morning and save a night of accomodation.

>>2049576
This, you only end up in a barracks-style compartment if you book a seat/bed in a couchette. If you want privacy, you can go on a vagon-lit a.k.a. Pullman (yes, the guy who invented the sleeper car was American).

>>2049551 (OP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=tSMRAEvsRE8

What do you mean? You sleep private?
There different tier of private cars and it's booked out through the year you can't get a ticket.

>>2049576
>czechia
Tranny shit
It's the Czech Republic