Overnight train safe?

My recollection is that she could get a couchette (bunk) in a female-only compartment. Compartments lock from the inside. Cheaper seats (sleep sitting up) are in mixed cars. When we took Munich-to-Paris train three years ago, at least one person who had a couchette reservation chose to move to the reclining seat car.

I can't comment on that train but I wouldn't worry about her too much. Though it is hard not to. Europe, over all seems pretty safe. Coming from a mom with a daughter who has spent 4 of the last 5 years studying/living in 4 different cities in France and tends to tell me the things she does alone after the fact, as not to worry me. From couch surfing all over, using the carpools to get around France, using all types of public transportation alone, going to Marseille, Lisbon and Barcelona alone, camel riding in Morocco and camping out in the desert(with friends) paragliding off a mountain outside Grenoble. Night buses all over Ecuador this past summer alone, bungee jumping off a bridge in Ecuador with friends.....
It's hard but I slowly learned to accept her adventures.

I have taken a lot of overnight trains, some many years ago in college and some a few years ago. Never had any reason to be concerned. Couchettes are segregated and can be locked from inside. General coach seating is like sleeping on an airplane.

Hi,

That night train going from Munich Hbf. to Berlin Hbf. is a CNL, Germany's top of the line night train. The CNL Munich - Berlin offers the Ruhesessel option, (sleeperette, ie, a reclining seat). That's the option I use. It's safe. I see ordinary people, both guys and women take this option, young and middle age, couples, pairs, solo, including solo young women. I took the ride on a Friday at the end of May Munich to Berlin solo. Except for a few, all the passengers in this Ruhesessel coach were German. It was a pleasant, amicable atmosphere. The question is would I do this night train option again with the sleeperette option? Yes, no problem.

Thank you so much for your comments. I feel much better about the overnight train now, having heard from those of you who've used them!

I'm not sure there are female-only compartments on those trains anymore-- if not, no big deal. A shared couchette compartment is basically a public place, people don't undress (a man might take his shirt off, but usually not). There are attendants on duty all night in the carriages if any kind of problem arises.