Latest news with #SimplyRailway
Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Is Europe finally getting an affordable alternative to short-haul flights?
Few things evoke the romance of travel more powerfully than night trains, a form of transport that is enjoying a veritable renaissance at the moment. But there is one serious snag: the price. Leaving aside the truly eye-watering cost of travelling on luxury trains such as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (from £3,530pp), two-bed en-suite cabins on many of Europe's regular night trains can easily set you back £400, while even berths in a four- or six-bed couchette can come in at more than £100. Compare that with the prices you can get on a low-cost airline – Brussels to Vienna with Ryanair, for example, from as little as £25 – and it's easy to see why, even if they'd rather take a night train, so many still choose to fly. A new player Step forward Nox, a Berlin-based enterprise that is developing a radical new sleeper train concept for Europe that will deliver totally private, spacious cabins (for one or two people) at a price comparable with what is charged by short-haul airlines. 'Sleeping while a train gets you across Europe is a great concept,' says Nox co-founder Thibault Constant, an inveterate night train traveller known as 'Simply Railway' to his many followers on YouTube and Instagram. 'But today people [often] 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.' It's an ambitious plan, still very much in the early stages. There are blueprint designs for what the cabins would look like (spacious and sleek), a target start date of 2027 and a selection of 100 routes which within a decade would link cities such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Budapest and Rome, with Brussels and Paris serving as key hubs for Eurostar passengers from London. There is also a pledge on price, with single cabins costing from €79 (£67) and doubles €149 (£127). As with low-cost airlines, dynamic pricing will apply and fares could rise when demand is strong. But the aim is to keep them low by maximising passenger loads and providing an experience that, in terms of convenience and enjoyment, is light years away from that offered by budget airlines. In addition to privacy – no couchette-sharing with strangers – and two-metre long beds, the key attraction with Nox will be cabins which, while not offering en-suite facilities, will have considerably more space. 'Many night trains offer private compartments, but we identified a major gap in the experience: people don't necessarily want to go straight to bed after boarding,' says Constant. 'Most current options focus solely on providing a bed in a compact space. But many prefer to finish their workday, unwind, enjoy a meal, or simply take a moment for themselves before sleeping. 'Our cabins are not just places to sleep; each is equipped with one or two seats and a table, giving passengers the freedom to choose how they spend their time onboard.' Less than luxurious Certainly what Nox is proposing will set it apart from other European sleeper train operators, most notably Nightjet, the Austrian state-owned company that over the past decade has done so much to revive this much-loved form of travel. Nightjet, which operates a swathe of routes linking northern and central Europe, has itself introduced dramatic innovation to meet the growing demand, most notably with its ' mini cabins ' – small Japanese capsule-style spaces offering privacy if not exactly room to swing a cat. While mini-cabins on many Nightjet routes can be had for less than €100 (£85) and a berth in a shared four or six-bed couchette for something similar, better-sized private cabins for one or two are frequently more than €200pp (£170) – a price point that, as with comparable fares on the Caledonian Sleeper (London-Scotland) and the Night Riviera (London-Cornwall), puts many people off. European Sleeper, a Netherlands-based operator that offers journeys from Amsterdam to Prague via Brussels and Berlin is more competitive, with berths in six-bed couchettes costing as little as €69.99 (£60) one-way and seats even less – €59.99 (£51). But much of its rolling stock is very dated, and customer reviews are not always favourable. A tough nut to crack With so many vested interests and intricate planning requirements, the European night train market is not an easy one to break into. Just last year, Midnight Trains – a private French start-up that planned a fleet of luxurious 'hotel-on-rails' sleeper trains crossing the continent – had to bow out after failing to secure sufficient backing. European Sleeper experienced its own setback this year when the inaugural run of a new route from Brussels to Venice was denied entry into Italy. But specialist train operators are hopeful that Nox will succeed. 'The Nox trains look fantastic, and if they can get it going there will definitely be an appetite for it,' says Simon Hodge, managing director of Tailor Made Rail. 'With his travel experience, Thibault Constant definitely knows what is needed in a sleeping carriage.' Cat Jones, founder of flight-free specialists Byway, says Nox represents a 'real opportunity' but that it will face considerable challenges, not least in securing finance and adequate rolling stock. 'If Nox succeeds, it would be a significant step forward for sustainable, overnight rail travel in Europe, encouraging more innovation and choice for travellers,' she says. Constant and fellow Nox co-founder Janek Smalla are mindful of the challenges. 'We believe in starting small and learning fast,' says Smalla. 'Rather than committing to a large fleet, we're launching with a single line, testing our assumptions in the real world, and refining the product before expanding.' Night train lovers worldwide will wish the enterprise well. As to whether it can deliver – only time will tell.
Metro
12-06-2025
- 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
Time Out
11-06-2025
- 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?
