The demise of Midnight Trains, the brainchild of Adrien Aumont, is like watching a dream go up in flames. The resurrection of night trains in Europe, once thought to be on the rise, is facing a challenging road. People are now looking at overnight rail journeys as a more eco-friendly and alluring way to travel between cities. Picture yourself on a train in one city, dozing off, and waking up hundreds of miles away in another city. It definitely beats dealing with the hassle of short flights, right?
The demand for this type of travel is high, but startups like Midnight Trains are finding it incredibly difficult to break into the market. “Open access” rules sparked hope, allowing new operators to share Europe’s rail network with existing state-owned railway companies. This shift drew interest from several new players, each promising thrilling new routes, cheaper fares, or luxurious accommodations.
However, only a select few have succeeded. Sweden’s Snälltåget and Czech travel provider Regiojet are a few examples. European Sleeper, the only all-new entrant focused solely on overnight travel, finally received the go-ahead to launch its Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin run in 2023.
But European Sleeper faced struggles too. Finding suitable trains and schedules proved to be a significant roadblock, with a critical shortage of appropriate coaches and the complicated process of obtaining operating licenses. Midnight Trains also faced the same uphill battle. Their dream of offering a deluxe “hotel on wheels” experience, connecting 10 destinations radiating from Paris, never made it past the talking phase.
The biggest obstacle? National rail companies. According to figures like Nick Brooks, the secretary general of ALLRAIL, these operators are being misled by government backing. Despite their dreams and ambitions, night train underdogs are struggling to make headway amidst financial and logistical nightmares. Startup funds and train leasing companies are hesitant to invest in these risky projects.
While some legacy railways are revamping old routes and proposing new carriages to attract more travelers, the rest continue to face challenges. The dream of a night train revolution in Europe sounds like a plot fit for a fairy tale, but it could end tragically if everyone doesn’t chip in to save the day.
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