If you’re an avid Secret London reader, you’re probably well aware that we will never pass up the opportunity to talk about trains. We just love them, you see? And so the prospect of yet another shiny new sleeper train throwing its hat into the ring has certainly piqued our interest.
The new train on the block track comes courtesy of Berlin-based startupNox, who plan to create a sprawling network of overnight trains that could – if all goes to plan – connect a whopping 100 cities across Europe.
Founded by Thibault Constant and Janek SmallaNox (which means ‘night’ in Latin – see what they did there?) has recently revealed plans to launch a locomotive that’ll whizz passengers around the continent, in a bid to offer a viable alternative to short-haul flights.
Designed to be a whole lot more comfortable than other sleeper service offerings, Nox trains will exclusively offer private cabins; each of which will boast an armchair, a table, storage space, a 2-metre bed, and – in some cases – panoramic windows, offering some pretty spectacular views. That’s right, folks – gone soon could be the days of an uncomfortable night spent in an upright seat next to a stranger.
When could this new network launch?
Nox plans to launch the first of its services in 2027. But by 2035, they’re aiming for the network to connect 100 European cities across 35 routesin a bid to have a sleeper train alternative to every short-haul flight across the continent. I mean, you certainly can’t knock their ambition, can you?
One of the founders, Thibault Constantcertainly knows his way around a sleeper train. Known as ‘Simply Railway’ across his various social media platforms; Constant shares his travels online to a rather sizeable audience – and has documented his journeys onboard around 400 night trains. Fellow founder, Janek Smallaholds some pretty impressive transport-related accolades, too, having co-launched FlixTrain and led the German ridesharing market for Bolt.
What are the next steps?
A financing round is set to take place this autumn to confirm plans, and then it could be full steam ahead. The first cities set to be served by Nox include the likes of Stockholm, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Berlin. I can only assume that London’s invitation got lost in the post.
Thibault Constant said: “Sleeping while a train gets you across Europe is a great concept. But today people have to share their cabins with strangers, beds are tight, and it’s often more expensive than air travel. We want to change that and make night trains an essential part of European travel.”
Janek Smalla added: “Our room design allows us to fit more people into our trains than traditional operators can. This, paired with a strict focus on standardisation and operational excellence will allow us to offer affordable fares on over 35 European routes.”
You can have a peruse of the potential timetables and discover detailed views of what the cabins will look like here.
