There currently are a variety of options to travel by night train from St Pölten (Austria) to Katowice (Poland), taking between approximately 7 and 9 hours: Namely the IC 40416, the IC 416, the IC 406, the IC 40406, the EN 406 and the EN 416. These lines are operated by PKP Intercity, ÖBB and České dráhy.
PKP Intercity is Poland's national long-distance railway operator, running domestic and international train services throughout Poland and to neighboring countries.
The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) operate the Nightjet and Euronight trains (the latter together with other national railway agencies).
ÖBB night trains typically feature four types of carriages: seats, couchettes, the compact Mini Cabin, and sleepers.
While seats are only for the bravest, couchettes, Mini Cabins, and sleepers offer a more comfortable journey. The couchettes usually feature simple and rather narrow berths, while the Mini Cabin provides a compact private space for one person. Two adjacent Mini Cabins can be combined for couples. Sleepers boast beds with duvets and pillows and sometimes even a private bathroom. Couchettes accommodate up to six people, Mini Cabins are designed for one person each but two can be combined for couples, while sleepers are private compartments for one to three people.
Sleepers may include a private bathroom or shower, or sometimes just a sink. The Mini Cabin bridges the gap between couchettes and sleepers, offering solo privacy at a lower price point.
ČD, the Czech national railway, operates domestic and cross-border passenger trains linking the Czech Republic with its neighbors.