This new start-up plans to launch sleeper trains with private rooms at the same price as a flight This new start-up plans to launch sleeper trains with private rooms at the same price as a flight

While rail travel is growing in popularity, the sector will never be a true alternative to flying when prices remain exorbitant. Adding a few extra hours to your journey is a great trade off for avoiding waiting around at the airport, but only when the price is right.

But now there’s a new start-up hoping to change this: Nox. The Berlin-based company is planning to launch Europe-wide overnight trains that are at a similar price point to short-haul flights.

Not only that, but Nox plan to remove something that puts many travellers off sleeper journeys – having to share a room with strangers.

All cabins will be fully private, with space for one or two people. There will be two-metre long beds, separate seats with tables, and enough space to store luggage. Some room times will also feature double beds with panoramic window views.

Founder Janek Smalla said, “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.”

The website already shows planned routes and pricing, with single rooms starting from €79 and double rooms starting from €149.

Destinations that will be served by Nox include Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Warsaw, Rome and Stockholm.

So, how soon can we expect to be hopping on board? Nox has said it is planning to begin operations in 2027, although it is not clear which routes would launch first. The Nox website says it aims to connect over 100 European cities by 2035.

The company has already reserved train coaches and is currently finalising its design, with plans to have another large financing round for autumn.

2025 is the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, and a number of new routes have launched this year, including La Dolce Vita Orient Express, Vietnam’s Revolution Express and the Tren Maya around Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

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