Midnight Trains

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Midnight Trains is a French start-up railway company.

The company aims to expand sleeper train services in Europe. [1]

As of January 2023, the company aims for its first route to commence operations in December 2024, with a fully operational network by 2030. Routes are planned from Paris to Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany and Denmark. [2] [3]

Midnight Trains
Overview
Headquarters Paris, France
Founders
Dates of operation2024 (expected)
Other
Website www.midnight-trains.com/en/home

It was founded by Adrien Aumont and Romain Payet, the founders of French crowdfunding website KissKissBankBank. [4] Yorgo Tloupas, associate artistic director, and Hervé Marro, director of communication and institutional relations, have also joined the company. [5]

In January, 2023, it was reported that Midnight Trains revealed in its weekly newsletter in December 2022 that the company had secured rolling stock. The rolling stock will be brand new and acquired via a leasing model with a rolling stock leasing company (ROSCO). [6]

Later that month, the European Commission (EC) announced it would be supporting ten proposals, including a proposal from Midnight Trains for a night train service between Paris, Milan and Venice to act as pilot projects involving cross-border rail service as part of efforts to improve international rail travel in Europe and encourage new cross-border rail connections to be created. Midnight Trains was one of three companies with night train service proposals on the EC's list, the other two being European Sleeper and Snälltåget. [7]

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References

  1. "French start-up promises 'hotel on wheels' with overnight trains". 15 June 2021.
  2. Hardingham-Gill, Tamara (24 June 2021). "'Hotels on rails': Plans for new network of European sleeper trains unveiled". CNN.
  3. Flynn, David (16 June 2021). "Midnight Trains aims to reinvent sleeper trains as a 'hotel on rails'". Executive Traveller.
  4. "New network of European sleeper trains announced". The Guardian. 22 June 2021.
  5. Burroughs, David (15 June 2021). "French start-up promises "hotel on wheels" with overnight trains". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  6. Timothy (9 January 2023). "Midnight Trains secures new night train rolling stock, aims for December 2024 start". Trip By Trip. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  7. "Connecting Europe by train: 10 EU pilot services to boost cross-border rail". transport.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 29 May 2023.