European train line reveals new overnight ‘mini cabins’ with private rooms and single beds
NIGHT trains aren’t often considered the most comfortable way to get around, but that perception could soon change.
A European rail company has revealed its brand new overnight cabins in a series of pictures and they look similar to a type of hotel room that is becoming increasingly popular.
One of the main problems with a sleeper train is often having to share a room with strangers.
However, Austrian company ÖBB’s new designs provide passengers with privacy away from others.
The “pod-style” cabins on their new Nightjet services offer single beds for those who want to sleep alone, providing “the perfect option for lone travellers looking for a little more privacy”.
Couples can also make use of the “innovative cocoons” which ÖBB promise will provide a “high level of privacy” with adjacent cabins connected by a small sliding door.
Each cabin will come with luggage shelf space, a storage pouch for personal items, two coat hooks, a reading lamp, a sliding folding table for breakfast, a mirror and a control display.
There will also be lockers for hand luggage and shoes next to each mini cabin.
Meanwhile, NFC cards will provide a simple and secure way to lock each compartment.
The cabins are similar to the capsule hotels that are popular in Japan and have started to become more common throughout Europe.
Several other options are available for passengers too, including a compartment for 4-6 passengers and a “ladies compartment” for between 4-6 female travellers.
Elsewhere, families or groups can book their own private couchette compartments for 4-6 people, while a comfort version for a maximum of four people is also available.
ÖBB say that the newly designed comfort compartment offers “a new design and new features” which include fixed beds, a retractable table, free Wi-Fi, compartment locking using an NFC card, adjustable ambient lighting and a modern control display.
The display can be used to adjusting the lighting or call the on-board staff for assistance and also contains various charging options.
There is space under the beds for luggage.
The couchette packages come with breakfast included, while other passengers will have to pay for drinks and snacks from the train’s menu.
As well as being well-fed, passengers will be refreshed too, with the redesigned sleeping cars featuring bathrooms, with showers.
The new trains will make their first trips from December 10.
They are set to take to the rails initially for journeys along the Vienna to Hamburg and Innsbruck to Hamburg lines.
ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä said: “With the new generation of Nightjets, we are consistently continuing to expand our night train fleet and will continue to play a pioneering role in night train traffic in Europe in the future.
“With our new, ultra-modern Nightjets, we will impress with more comfort and privacy in the future and will clearly focus on the needs of passenger.”
Meanwhile, this UK train station is set to get an outdoor pool on its roof.
And this new train service can take you all the way to Prague.