THERE HAS LONG been an air of romance about sleeper trains—the very name calls to mind George Pullman’s “palace cars” and the Orient Express, both products of the late 19th century, a time when overnight rail travel was very much in fashion. Fast-forward a century or so, however, and you’d be looking at a different picture.
Sleeper trains as a form of mass transit have always come with difficulties—high costs, low yield, logistical headaches—but the real crunch came with the rise of budget airlines in the 1990s. By 2016, conditions had become so dire that Deutsche Bahn, Europe’s largest rail operator, scrapped its sleeper services completely. The end, surely, was in sight.
This story is from the June 2023 edition of Business Traveler US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2023 edition of Business Traveler US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Train of Thought
As Amsterdam’s airport curtails flights because of environmental impact, KLM suggests that its passengers take to the rails
Entry Level
Why travelers are waiting weeks or even months to receive a new passport or renewal
Big Wheels
American Airlines offers a TSA-approved ground service between Philadelphia and surrounding airports
Le Bon Goût
Air France partners with Michelin-starred chefs for its new menus
First Glance
United unveils new high-end seats
Ring of Fire
In October and April, solar eclipses will dazzle the United States
Just Say Know
To improve mental health, learn new skills on the road—and have fun doing it
Rebalancing Act
How Finnair CEO Topi Manner led the airline through two external crises to bring it back on track
New Look
With industry innovations and a star-studded roster of clients, designer Peter Dundas is changing the shape of fashion
Food for Thought
The pioneering Spanish restaurant EI Bulli is transformed into a museum and culinary laboratory