New night train Nox to connect Amsterdam with dozens of European cities

Nox, a startup based in Berlin, has announced plans to launch a night train service that would connect 100 European cities, including Amsterdam. Planning to launch in 2027, the company wants to give travellers an affordable alternative to flying.

Amsterdam included in route of new night train startup

Starting in 2027, Nox plans to operate night train services across Europe, aiming to connect 100 cities by 2036. Some of the cities included in the planned network are Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Warsaw, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Milan, Rome and Catania.

Instead of carriages or compartments with seats, the night trains will only be fitted with private cabins. The startup plans to emphasise “privacy, good sleep and affordable prices", with a two-metre-long bed in one of the private cabins costing 79 euros for a single, and 149 euros for a double. 

The private cabins will be fitted with a luggage storage area, a comfortable chair and a fold-down table for eating or working in front of a large window. Food will be available onboard, though it is unclear whether there will also be a dining carriage.

Nox will be “real alternative to short-haul flights”

Announcing their launch, Nox founders Janek Smalia and Thibault Constant said they intend to “make night trains an essential part of European travel”.

Smalia previously worked at FlixTrain, while Constant worked at French transport company Alstom and France’s national rail operator SNCF. Constant is also known for running the Simply Railway YouTube channel.

Having already reserved the train coaches they will refurbish, Smalia and Constant said Nox will have a “strict focus on standardisation and operational excellence” and aim to offer a “real alternative to short-haul flights”.

More night train expansions planned for Europe

Nox isn’t the only company with such plans. Deutsche Bahn, SNCF and the European Sleeper are now among a growing list of rail operators expanding their European night train services. 

The European Commission is also making developments, having begun a pilot project for a train network the bloc is dubbing the “European Metro”, which it hopes would reduce demand for short-haul flights. So far, only a new night train connecting Berlin, Munich, Rome, and Naples has been announced as part of the project.

According to a 2024 study by Greenpeace, there are “almost six times as many direct flight connections between European cities as direct train connections”, and a 2022 study by the same organisation found that Dutch trains are 50 percent more expensive than flights.

Alongside night trains, daytime services are expanding. Eurostar recently confirmed plans to add more trains between Amsterdam and London, while Virgin revealed plans to launch a new high-speed rail service connecting London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.