On Saturday, the leaders of the Midnight Trains project announced that they were giving up on their plans to launch comfortable night trains from France due to a lack of financial capacity and support from public authorities. The project aimed to reinvent night trains as a sustainable and competitive mode of transportation, with plans to launch private rooms connecting Paris to large European cities located beyond the high-speed train route.
Despite four years of effort, the three entrepreneurs behind the project were unable to secure the funding needed to acquire trainsets and launch their first connection. Adrien Aumont, one of the project leaders, explained that without support from public authorities or mechanisms to de-risk, financial players are not interested in investing in new railway ventures like Midnight Trains.
The team acknowledged that public authorities are directing their resources towards energy and clean aircraft, rather than innovative transportation alternatives. They also expressed disappointment in the lack of support from the French government, which they believed would be open to promoting innovative companies in all sectors. Despite their efforts, the project leaders realized that the railway market remains monopolized by historical operators, making it difficult for new entrants like Midnight Trains to break in.
In conclusion, the Midnight Trains project has come to an end, highlighting the challenges faced by innovative ventures in the railway sector. The team’s vision to reinvent night trains as a sustainable and competitive transportation option was not realized due to financial constraints and lack of support from public authorities. Despite their efforts, the project was unable to secure the funding needed to launch their first connection and bring their vision to life.
