MAIDEN VOYAGE ON LAND
Take the Midnight Train Travel and hospitality experts join forces to develop a network of hotels on rails.
‘Travel Better’ is a mindset that has had greater
natural wines, which can be enjoyed at the table or
prominence in recent times, encouraging people to
delivered to the room.
consider the social and environmental impact of their
In developing the venture, Aumont and Payet have
trips and make choices that are better for the planet.
partnered with a number of specialists to advise on
The phrase also serves as the motivation for Adrien
everything from the route to design to operations. Odile
Aumont and Romain Payet, co-founders of Midnight
Fagot brings experience from SNCF and Eurostar, while
Train, who are seeking to bring a new travel experience
Franck Gervais will tap into his former roles at Thalys
to the tracks.
and Accor to combine transportation with hospitality.
Led by the belief that the short-haul flight is falling
Also on the advisory board is Cyril Aouizerate, founder
out of favour, the entrepreneurs are in the process of
of Mama Shelter and Mob Hotel, who states that the
developing a network of rail routes across Europe,
concept aligns with his fascination for new paradigms
with the aim of providing more choice for sustainable
in sustainable travel.
travel. “The aviation sector is setting records for carbon
Departing from its hub in Paris, the Midnight Train
emissions and Midnight Trains was born from this
will travel to European destinations not served by the
observation,” say the duo. “It’s time to choose a more
high-speed network. Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Berlin
comfortable, efficient and sustainable alternative.”
and Hamburg are all prospective calling points, as are
Set to launch in 2024, the train – billed as a hotel on
Porto, Florence, Venice and Madrid. “We believe that
rails – is an overnight sleeper on which all rooms are
the journey is as important as the destination, and that
private. There’s singles, doubles and four-bed family
every moment is precious,” conclude Aumont and Payet.
rooms, each with quality fixtures and fittings and their
“Seeking to reconnect the beating hearts of our largest
own shower-equipped bathroom. The train also has a
European cities, we set ourselves a challenge: create
restaurant and bar serving carefully sourced seasonal
a hotel on rails, thereby reawakening the enchanting
produce, handmade cocktails, craft beers and lively
experience of the night train.”
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