Midnight Trains Abandons Plans for Luxury Sleeper Network

French start-up Midnight Trains has shelved its plans to develop a network of high-end overnight trains offering hotel-quality accommodation on European routes up to 1,500 km from Paris. This decision comes after the company failed to secure the necessary funding.

Co-founder Adrien Aumont criticized the rail sector's competitive landscape, stating that it favors established operators over newcomers and start-ups. A significant issue for night trains, according to Aumont, is that infrastructure managers do not adopt a pan-European perspective.

Midnight Trains was founded by Aumont and Romain Payet, who previously created the crowdfunding platform KissKissBankBank. The company unveiled its ambitious plans in June 2021, which included a proposed Paris to Edinburgh route.

In March 2022, Midnight Trains informed the French regulator ART of its intention to start daily return services from Paris to Barcelona, Nice, Milan, and Venice. Aumont aimed to attract 2 million passengers annually, noting that existing overnight services are poorly marketed and confusing for potential customers.

Aumont believed that for overnight trains to compete with air travel, they must be redesigned to meet modern passengers' expectations, including offering privacy, as sharing accommodation with strangers is no longer acceptable. The envisioned trains would feature various cabin types, high-quality bedding, and excellent sound insulation to ensure 6-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Additionally, a restaurant and bar car would be part of the service.

However, on May 31, Midnight Trains announced the abandonment of its plans after failing to secure funding for leasing the necessary rolling stock for the initial Paris-Milan-Venice service. While the company initially raised €1.1 million and received non-financial support from the European Commission for cross-border passenger services, it could not raise the additional €5 million needed in the second funding round.

Despite this setback, Aumont expressed a willingness to assist others interested in launching a "21st century night train." The AllRail association, representing new rail market entrants, highlighted that Midnight Trains' experience underscores the gap between EU rail market legislation and its practical implementation. AllRail Policy Officer Salim Benkirane urged the new EU parliament and Commission to take action, emphasizing that the failure of promising start-ups like Midnight Trains should prompt a reevaluation of the Single European Railway Area.