Bold new plans to launch a 20,660-mile sleeper train that will whizz passengers around Europe in stylish private cabins have been announced, but there’s one big catch for Brits
Ambitious plans to connect 100 major European cities together with sleek sleeper trains could become a reality by 2027. Berlin-based start up Nox has revealed its blueprints for an epic route covering a whopping 20,660 miles* to curb the need for short-haul flights. It aims to launch night trains with entirely private rooms that will sleep one or two guests.
Each stylish cabin will feature two meter-long beds, separate seats with tables, and enough space to stand up and store your luggage. Nox also has plans to offer double beds with panoramic window views.
“Our room design allows us to fit more people into our trains than traditional operators can,” said founder Janek Smalla who co-launched FlixTrain, and until 2024 led the German ridesharing market for Bolt. “This, paired with a strict focus on standardisation and operational excellence will allow us to offer affordable fares on over 35 European routes.”
The company says it has already reserved train coaches and is ‘finalising the approval’ of its interior design. It is now preparing the next large financing round for autumn, but did not wish to comment on how much the project is slated to cost.
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With sustainability and affordability central to its mission, single rooms will start as low as €79 (£67) while double rooms will cost €149 (£127) but this could fluctuate based on demand. However, there is one big catch for Brits – who have been left out of the proposals.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Nox explained how it originally ‘intended’ to serve London and make it one of its hubs for night trains. “Our route network is data-driven, and based on our analysis, starting in London made sense from a passenger demand perspective,” a spokesperson said.
However, once the company started looking into the ‘technical and regulatory challenges’ of operating such a service, it deemed bringing the sleeper trains to the UK a ‘near -impossibility’. After speaking to experts, concerns were raised over axle load and technical limitations on HS1, a lack of available capacity at St Pancras International, limited space for maintenance facilities, and Eurotunnel safety requirements.
“Following this setback, we revised our route network and adjusted departure and arrival times in Paris and Brussels to ensure smooth connections with Eurostar services — making it easier for UK travellers to access our network,” Nox added. “Of course, with such strong demand for night trains from the UK, we would love to establish a presence in London.
“However, significant policy changes are needed — including reforms around track access charges, slot availability on HS1 and at St. Pancras (including infrastructure for train servicing and storage), Eurotunnel access, and the regulatory framework for border controls.” Some of these issues have already been challenged by the likes of Virgin, who recently made a punt to apply for access to the Temple Mills depot in north-east London – potentially ending Eurostar’s monopolisation of the tunnel.
But Nox is not setting up to try and disrupt St Pancras. Instead, it’s on a mission to offer a ‘real alternative’ to short-haul flights and make night trains an ‘essential part of European travel’. “Before launching Nox, we conducted extensive research and interviewed over 100 frequent travellers,” the start up told the Mirror.
“We asked them why they chose to fly rather than take night trains. In most cases, the main reasons were a lack of privacy and high prices. That’s why we decided to prioritise both operational efficiency and privacy — through smart room design, streamlined operations, and standardisation across our network — to offer night train tickets at prices comparable to airline fares. For us, it’s the only way to truly encourage people to fly less and choose rail instead.”
*Nox’s longest route is 932 miles, while the shortest is 310 miles. Based on rough averages, this means the proposal will cover a whopping 20,660 miles. You can learn more about Nox here.
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