kellymarieh17
Traveller
6 comments
Posted 2 weeks ago
I'm not a seasoned traveler and could use some help. Several months ago I booked and paid for a sleeper car on the OBB Nightjet NJ 40468 train on August 21, 2025 from Salzburg to Brussels. The train has several stops, but no changes. Today, I received this cryptic email from OBB:
Updated timetable:
Your connection from Salzburg Hbf (21.08.2025, 21:18) to Bruxelles Midi has either changed or been removed from the timetable. Please check the online timetable for alternative connections.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
I can't seem to find this train on their website, but I'm not sure if that means that it's canceled or full. I'm not interested in transfers in the middle of the night and trying to sleep in a standard seat. I paid $538 and would expect better communication and a refund for a canceled train. Thanks for your thoughts!
Arend7
Traveller
692 comments
I see that train on their website, but it goes only to Aachen (probebly track works), you have to change train there (around 8am),
kellymarieh17
Traveller
6 comments
Thank you so much! Is it safe to assume I still have my sleeper car for the route to Aachen? I don't have to make any changes with OBB? I'm willing to do the 2 transfers in the morning.
Arend7
Traveller
692 comments
The only change is an earlier stop. Nothing more.
kellymarieh17
Traveller
6 comments
Awesome! And will my ticket be good for the connection from Aachen to Brussels (my original destination) or should I book a new fare for that leg?
Arend7
Traveller
692 comments
Normally valid
kellymarieh17
Traveller
6 comments
Thanks again!
MisterSteve
Traveller
1138 comments
I too would have expected more specific info - and possibly the option of a refund. I'm wondering whether the email also had a lot of german in it? Or whether there is a booking agent in the middle? The DB journey planner definately says it terminates at Aachen on a total of 5 Thursday night trips (which is odd, why only Thursdays?) - it's their track as far as Aachen. The ÖBB journey planner says it goes to Brussels (it's their train). The Nightjet website (the ÖBB brand for night trains) says it is running to Brussels but has blocked ticket sales and when you click for full schedule won't show anything, although if you ask for Aachen it will sell tickets and behaves normally.Anyway, if you do have to change at Aachen they will put you on the ICE that should overtake you so you will get to Brussels about 20 minutes earlier than planned.
kellymarieh17
Traveller
6 comments
Thanks so much for looking into this. The email didn’t have any other information and I did book directly with ÖBB. I managed to get in contact with their customer service and there is construction between Aachen and Brussels, so I will need to change trains at that point.
Arend7
Traveller
692 comments
Yesterday ÖBB said the train should stop in Aachen. Today the same site says this train goes to Brussels. Looks lile they reconsidered
kellymarieh17
Traveller
6 comments
Oh goodness! Keeping me on my toes!
MisterSteve
Traveller
1138 comments
I've just worked out from the Belgian rail site that the line is closed between Verviers and Liege that week, local trains are only running from Aachen to Verviers then bus to Liege. ÖBB appear clueless, yesterday they were showing Nightjet as ending at Aachen but Friday evening return service was still running from Brussels and they were still selling tickets. The high speed route between Aachen and Liege will be open as normal but Nightjet don't seem to be able to run on it.
kellymarieh17
Traveller
6 comments
I suppose they have 6 weeks to straighten it out. ;0 what a mess!
MisterSteve
Traveller
1138 comments
even the Belgian website is unreliable, keeps shutting down if you touch the wrong thing and then won't reload stuff you've already seen.
The bottom line is that the line is closed as I said. But, the work is around Verviers and there is, in the moments when the website works, a notice that the Eupen-Oostende IC trains will run, but not call at Verviers. This is interesting because they join the line at Welkenraedt between Aachen and Verviers. bahn.de shows them running, not calling at Verviers and taking about 25 minutes longer between Welkenraedt and Liege which means one thing, they are being diverted over what is normally a freight only route to loop round north of Verviers. The next obvious question is why can't Nightjet go that way? There may be a technical reason, there may be a lack of capacity. Or they might be going that way but back in Austria they don't undertand what is going on. So go for the train and expect to be either 25 minutes early in Brussels changing at Aachen or 25 minutes late after a diversion of the direct train.