Skip to content

Project: Target Network 2032

Which night train routes are still needed? Which ones are realistic?
Which distances would travel times allow in 2032?

In this project, we first want to present a meta-study of existing feasibility studies. In the next step, we want to complement these with well-founded route proposals. The aim is to present to the new European Commission a serious proposal for a night train destination network that could be technically and politically implemented by 2032.

Start of this project: 25th September 2023
Deadline for this project September 2025

Project coordinator: Finn Gleichmann (BoT NL)

Tasks to be accomplished:

  • Complete our collection of feasibility studies
  • List the proposals in a table with the available key feasibility parameters for all the proposals, possibly using the model of the database of existing night trains.
  • Discuss definitions and scope (do we look at 2030 or better 2032, or even 2035, do we examine the amount of trains needed per line etc…)
  • Update the list of replaceable flights with 2023 data recognizing the capacity of existing night trains to determine excess potential of flight routes which already compete with night trains
  • Identify proposals for new rolling stock and define our transportation capacity assumptions
  • Streamline overlapping proposals
  • Present the intermedieate results to the public
  • Identify missing links by allocating the proposed lines to our list of replaceable flights
  • Re-configure lines that would cover gaps and examine their feasibility
  • Determine possible itinerarys up to 2000 km/18 hr in recogintion of network upgrades to be completed by 2032 and assuming the current technical standard (pressure resistant cabins, sprinklers, speeds up to 230 km/max) where needed.
  • Draw a map of all lines needed.
  • Determine operational cost assuming TAC at direct cost in each country and average pricing per category
  • Determine need for subsidies in order to offer prices for a T4 couchette or mini-cabin quality standard w/o breakfast not more expensive than the average flight price including airport transfer and baggage fees.
  • Import line proposals to the interactive map from the Night train Database project to present an interactive map of our proposal including fact sheets for each train proposal.
  • Publish the Target Network 2032 on the backside of the 2026 printed version of our night train map.

We need your support:

Interested in supporting this endeavour? We need:

  • A project coordinator
  • 3-4 researchers
  • a designer willed to continue working with our map in Figma
  • Someone with writing skills (in any language), coordinating press work (in English)
Contact us