Latest news with #ThibaultConstant
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
New sleeper train ventures plans to connect 100 European cities by 2035
A new sleeper rail company has proposed a network of night trains connecting over 100 European cities by 2035. Berlin-based startup Nox aims to offer an affordable alternative to short-haul flights, operating overnight trains in Europe from 2027. Thibault Constant, co-founder of Nox, 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.' Route plans currently include connections to Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Warsaw and Budapest. According to the Nox website, rail passengers will board in the evening, sleep in their rooms and 'arrive well-rested at their destination in the morning'. The sleeper trains plan to feature private rooms – single and double loft rooms and double vista rooms – for one or two people for the same price as a flight. Single rooms will start from €79 (£67), with double rooms available from €149 (£127). All three proposed room categories will be fitted with 2m long beds and separate seats with tables, luggage storage and window views. Nox founder Janek Smalla said rooms will be designed to fit more people than traditional operators. Mr Smalla added that 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 interior design plans. Some are sceptical about the delivery of the proposed night train connections. Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent, said: 'I hope that Nox proves me wrong, but unless the business has a handy £1 billion to invest in new rolling stock, I cannot see much hope of a network of the proposed scale ever taking shape. 'It's 30 years since the no-frills revolution in the skies began – and sadly, since then, the railways of Europe have proved largely incapable of competing with the budget airlines.'
Euronews
a day ago
- Business
- Euronews
New night train to connect 100 European cities by 2035
Sleeper trains are enjoying a booming renaissance in Europe at the moment, but some travellers are still put off by the idea of sharing a cabin with strangers. While many night services offer two-bed or single cabins, they are usually an expensive option and tend to sell out quickly.. Now, a new company is launching sleeper trains with entirely private rooms - and they promise tickets won't be more than the price of a flight. Nox, a Berlin-based startup, says its mission is to offer a real alternative to short-haul flights in Europe. From 2027, the company plans to operate its first Europe-wide overnight trains with cabins designed for one or two passengers. '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,' says Thibault Constant, co-founder of Nox. 'We want to change that and make night trains an essential part of European travel.' Constant, who is known as 'Simply Railway' to his over half a million social media followers, has more than 400 night train trips worldwide under his belt. He says this experience has been a crucial influence on the design of the new sleepers. There will be three room categories: a single loft for one passenger with an upper-level bed and a seat and table; a double loft with a double upper-level bed and two seats and a table; and a double vista with easy-entry beds, the lower of which converts into seating. All three room categories will have two-metre-long beds, and enough space to stand up and store your luggage. Some cabins will also offer windows with panoramic views. Fellow founder Janek Smalla says the room design allows them to fit more people into their 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,' he adds. The aim is to offer night train connections between 100 European cities by 2035. These include Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Budapest and Rome. The company wants the network to become a viable alternative to short-haul flights, saying it aims to 'offer ticket prices as low as air fares'. Interested travellers can already explore planned timetables and prices on the Nox website. Single rooms will start at €79 and double rooms at €149. There will be a food and drink service on board, space for bikes, and wheelchair-accessible coaches. Travellers can join the free Early Bird Club to stay updated, receive discounted rates, and gain early access to bookings.
Metro
a day ago
- Business
- Metro
New sleeper train will connect 100 European cities — with private rooms from £67
Travelling by train can often be more expensive than hopping on a short-haul flight, but a new company is hoping to change that. Nox, a Berlin-based startup, is working to create an alternative travel option in Europe, with plans for overnight sleeper trains that cost the same price as a plane ticket. They're hopeful the first route will launch in 2027, with a goal of connecting more than 100 European cities by 2035. Destinations will include Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, Warsaw, Frankfurt and Brussels. And the best part? If successful, the overnight trains will have private rooms for passengers, with prices starting from £67 (€79) for a single room and £127 (€149) for a double. The plan is for the rooms to feature 2m long beds, as well as armchairs and tables at which people can work, eat, or relax, plus windows where you can enjoy the views outside as you travel. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. There will be three different types of room available – a single or double loft room and vista rooms. The loft rooms have upper beds which you have to climb a ladder to get to, while the vista rooms, the beds are low to the floor or at chest-height for easy access and can be converted into seats. According to Nox, their trains will differ from other sleeper trains as they 'focus on privacy, good sleep and affordable prices'. They continue: 'You will not need to share your room with strangers and can lock it from in and outside. On top, we aim to offer ticket prices as low as air fares.' The idea behind the private rooms was born from personal experience, as co-founder Thibault Constant has taken more than 400 night train trips. He's been sharing his journeys on social media as Simply Railway. His co-founder Janek Smalla brings experience from the operational side of things, having previously worked at Flix, leading the operational launch of FlixTrain. He also led the German ridesharing market for Bolt until 2024. Janek adds: '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.' On X (formerly Twitter) people are already excited about the prospect of the new overnight trains, although some have branded Nox's plans as 'ambitious' and 'optimistic'. More Trending Mark Smith, who runs travel site said: 'Ambitious plans for all-private-room sleeper trains, first route to be launched in 2027. I like the look of those comparments, the demand is there, and these guys know their market: It'll be tough, but can they do it? We'll see!' Doug Smart was keen, saying: 'Shut up and take my money!' And Jakub Krupa commented: 'That's brilliant, particularly now that the OBB NightJet Brussels to Berlin remains suspended.' @JB500125 said they 'love it' in response to the Nox designs, while @trainficionado felt similarly, adding: 'I love it, though I have my doubts on feasibility. But all the best for the endeavor. And fingers crossed!' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Northern Powerhouse Rail set for comeback after Rachel Reeves announces £3,500,000,000 upgrade MORE: On holiday in Albania, I discovered the price of paradise MORE: Adult throws tantrum at airport gate after being told her hand luggage was too heavy
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New 'affordable' night train service to link European cities in 2027
Europe's long-haul sleeper train revival is set for a further boost with the planned roll-out of overnight services connecting over 20 destinations across the continent from a new service launching in 2027. Berlin-based start-up Nox announced in June it would provide rooms onboard for one or two people for "the price of a flight" in an effort, the company claims, to offer an alternative to short-haul air travel. "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," said Nox co-founder Thibault Constant. According to Nox, "affordable fares" will be on offer on 35 routes connecting cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, Rome and Warsaw. The trains are to have three classes of rooms with 2-metre long beds, seats, tables and room enough to stand up and store luggage. The announcement comes in the wake of an expansion of trans-European train travel and overnight connections, with the legacy operators such as Austria's ÖBB joining new providers such as European Sleeper in providing services. A group of Finnish businessmen have pitched a high-speed rail link to cut the journey time from Oslo to Stockholm from five hours to 90 minutes. However, not all rail projects are proceeding smoothly, with French environmentalists trying to stop a proposed high-speed route connecting the rugby-playing hubs of Bordeaux and Toulouse.
Time Out
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
An all-private-room sleeper train connecting 100 European cities is launching soon
Ever been tempted by the prospect of a sleeper train, but felt a little put off by the thought of sharing with a stranger? Well, we've got some exciting news. Berlin -based night train start-up Nox has just announced its plans for a sprawling network of sleeper services all over Europe, which will exclusively offer private one or two-bed cabins. The company was founded by Thibault Constant, whose ' Simply Railway ' YouTube has gained a solid half a million-strong following and who has travelled on more than 400 night trains, and Janek Smalla, who led the operational launch of FlixTrain – a fairly appropriate pair, eh? Nox's goal is, according to Smalla, to make night trains 'an essential part of European travel' by offering a viable alternative to short-haul flights and becoming the go-to option for business travel. Designed to be a whole lot more comfortable than traditional couchettes, Nox's cabins will feature armchairs, tables, storage space, two-metre-long beds and (in some cases) panoramic windows. You'll either be able to book a single or a double cabin, and right now those are set to cost €79 or €149 respectively. According to RailTech, a financing round is planned for autumn this year and the start-up is finalising approval for its cabin designs. Below are some snaps of what these trains could look like. The plan is to launch first services by 2027, but by 2035 Nox aims to serve more than 100 European cities including Stockholm, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and Barcelona. Below is a render of their vision for the network. These are all the sleeper trains launching in 2025 that we can't wait to try out. Did you see that you'll soon be able to get a direct sleeper train between Scandinavia and Central Europe?
