Luxury European Night Trains Offer Eco-Friendly Travel at Airline Prices
▼ Summary
– Berlin-based startup Nox Mobility plans to launch a night train service with private cabins across Europe, priced competitively with short-haul flights.
– Nox aims to address current night train issues like cramped cabins, high costs, and unreliability by offering modern, comfortable, and affordable options.
– The service will feature three cabin types, including loft-style and luxury options, with amenities like soundproof doors, bike storage, and wheelchair access.
– Nox targets launching its first route in 2027 and expanding to 100 routes by 2036, connecting major European cities like Paris, Berlin, and Rome.
– The startup faces challenges in Europe’s heavily regulated rail industry but aims to improve customer experience through in-house booking and new, standardized trains.
Luxury overnight rail travel is getting a modern makeover as new players enter Europe’s sleeper train market with fresh ideas and competitive pricing. A Berlin-based company called Nox Mobility recently unveiled plans to transform cross-border train travel with private cabins, contemporary amenities, and fares comparable to budget airlines.
Unlike existing services that often rely on outdated carriages, Nox promises a redesigned experience featuring three cabin types tailored for comfort and privacy. The Single Loft and Double Loft options include elevated beds with separate seating areas, while the premium Double Vista cabins boast panoramic windows and beds aligned with the train’s movement. All rooms come with full-length mattresses, and some may even offer soundproof connecting doors for groups.
Founder Janek Smalla, who previously worked with FlixTrain and Bolt, believes sleeper trains could become a viable alternative to short-haul flights, if done right. “Flying means security checks, cramped seats, and wasted time,” he says. “With night trains, you board, sleep, and arrive rested. It’s simpler, more sustainable, and far less stressful.”
Nox plans to launch its first route in 2027, eventually expanding to 100 connections across major European cities by 2036. Destinations include Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, and Milan, with single cabins starting at €79 and doubles from €149. The company also intends to provide onboard dining, bike storage, and accessible coaches.
However, the path forward won’t be smooth. Europe’s rail industry is notoriously slow to change, bogged down by fragmented regulations and aging infrastructure. Previous startups like Midnight Train have already folded after struggling to secure funding. Nox hopes to avoid these pitfalls by designing new, standardized carriages and managing bookings internally to streamline operations.
Despite the hurdles, Smalla remains optimistic. “This isn’t easy, but if we succeed, we could shift how people travel,” he says. “Getting more passengers out of planes and onto trains would benefit everyone, passengers and the planet alike.”
The company is currently finalizing cabin designs and preparing for its first major investment round later this year. If successful, Nox could redefine overnight rail travel, proving that comfort and sustainability don’t have to come at a premium.
(Source: The Next Web)
