These Private Sleeper Trains Will Connect 100 Cities in Europe by 2035
A new rail project claims it can finally make overnight trains competitive at scale, and industry watchers are paying close attention to how this could reshape travel habits across Europe. The organization driving this plan is Nox, a Berlin-based rail startup focused on overnight passenger service. The company plans to launch its first services around 2027, with a long-term goal of linking roughly 100 European cities by 2035. Nox leadership includes rail-focused creators and operators who built their strategy around real passenger frustrations.
Shared cabins, tight sleeping spaces, and high single-room pricing kept many travelers choosing flights instead of trains, so Nox built its entire model around fixing those problems while keeping prices competitive. The company wants overnight trains to feel like a realistic choice for both leisure and business travel. That means a strong pricing strategy, predictable schedules, and cabins designed around privacy.
Private Cabins Built For Comfort And Efficiency
Nox plans three main cabin types designed for one or two passengers. The single loft cabin includes an elevated bed plus a seat and table, the double loft version includes a shared upper sleeping area plus seating below, and the double vista cabin uses lower beds that convert into seating during daytime hours.
Each design includes beds measuring about two meters long, standing space, luggage storage, and seating areas. Some cabins will include panoramic windows, depending on placement inside the train. Engineers also focused on passenger density. Standardized layouts allow more travelers per train compared with traditional sleeper layouts. The efficiency helps support lower ticket pricing without sacrificing private space, which has always been the biggest barrier to sleeper train popularity.
Pricing Built To Compete With Budget Airlines
Projected ticket prices are in line with budget airlines. Current planning suggests single cabins could start at around €79, while double cabins could start at around €149. Overnight rail also removes several travel pain points. Travelers board in the evening, sleep during transit, and arrive in city centers in the morning.
The timing can save hours typically spent dealing with airport security, transfers, and early boarding windows. Nox also plans onboard food and drink service, bike storage areas, and accessibility-focused coach layouts. Early access membership programs will likely offer discounted booking access during early service phases.
The Long-Term Vision Across Europe
The network target includes major travel hubs such as Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Budapest, and Rome. Industry experts remain cautiously optimistic. Large rail expansions require significant capital investment and coordination across national rail systems. Budget airlines have achieved strong market dominance over the last three decades, which has made large-scale competition challenging.
Even with those challenges, demand trends support overnight rail growth. Travelers increasingly prioritize convenience and cost balance, so night trains have already gained popularity again across parts of Europe, which gives Nox a strong timing advantage if execution stays on track.