Where the night dies

Midnight Trains died today, surrounded by family and friends.

February 2024 - The final response… - S10 E25

After this flashback, it’s clear that Adrien, Romain and Nicolas will get little help from the French and European authorities. They can only count on the response of ROSCO which could buy their trains on private money to finance the guarantees needed for this operation. It’s the final answer and one that will decide the future of Midnight Trains. Or its disappearance.

Our friends in institutions - Part 3 - a ministerial marathon - S10 E24

Still hoping for a meeting with the French Minister of Transport, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas resolve the situation by having lunch with SNCF Voyageurs VIPs. But it’s just the beginning of a new route through the labyrinthine corridors of French ministries.

Our friends in institutions - Part 2 - an invitation to Belgium - S10 E23

Déterminés à rencontrer le ministre français des Transports, Adrien, Romain et Nicolas tirent toutes les ficelles, appuient sur tous les boutons et activent tout leur réseau pour y parvenir. Jusqu’à ce qu’ils reçoivent une invitation du ministre en question. Mais d’un autre pays.

Our friends in institutions - part 1 - a social media stab in the back - S10 E22

Alors qu’Adrien, Romain et Nicolas attendent la réponse de la ROSCO, ils nous replongent dans un sujet laissé de côté jusqu’à maintenant : la relation de Midnight Trains avec les acteurs institutionnels. Au programme : des rencontres au sommet dans les ministères (en France et à l’étranger), des coups bas sur les réseaux sociaux et une promenade dans le labyrinthe du gouvernement français.

January 2024 - How to complete the fundraising if the ROSCO invests - S10 E21

Still waiting for a return from ROSCO, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas are looking at how they could complete the fundraising if they get a green light. A positive response would save them, but would force them to provide major guarantees.

Mission: target railway specialists - S10 E20

Now that the new version of the file is ready, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas are sending it to a rigorous selection of potential investors. But only railway experts so as they’re not starting from scratch. Unfortunately, there aren’t as many responses as they hoped for.

Musculation et choc de simplification - S10 E19

Une fois passée l’amertume due au refus du fonds d’infrastructures nord-européen, Adrien, Romain et Nicolas décident d’aller dans le dur. Ils reprennent leur dossier pour en gommer les défauts et pour en muscler les qualités. Pour le rendre moins start-up afin de convaincre les acteurs du ferroviaire d’investir dans Midnight Trains.

August 2023 - An accident at the end of the holidays - S10 E18

Now that they have time and cash, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas try to enjoy their holidays while waiting for the most important response in the history of Midnight Trains. But at the end of August, the North European infrastructure fund let them go, with arguments that they have heard far too often.

June 2023 - The birth of a bridge - S10 E17

With two letters of interest and a potential majority fund for the purchase of night trains, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas are once again in the race. However, they must ask their longstanding investors to support them until the end of the fundraising.

June 2023 - The third stroke of luck: the power of the newsletter - S10 E16

Strokes of luck come one after the other, but they aren’t the same (at all). And, this time, it’s the publication of confidential information by the specialised press that attracts an unknown investor to our mission.

May-June 2023 - A public giant enters into the dance - S10 E15

Strokes of luck never arrive in isolation. After the dinner where Adrien meets the director of this unusual fund, it's the unexpected arrival of a public giant which solidifies Midnight Trains' case.

May-June 2023 - A new fun to invest in Midnight Trains? - S10 E14

While the Midnight Trains strategic committee has given Adrien, Romain and Nicolas a two-month reprieve, they’re scrambling to find new investors. And after the hard knocks of spring 2023, strokes of luck emerge.

April 2023 - To quit or not to quit: that is the question - S10 E13

Short of cash, let go by the giants and the ROSCO, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas do everything possible to ensure that the adventure continues. Thanks to the surprise arrival of a new potential investor, their shareholders buy them two months to find a more concrete solution.

March-April 2023 - Without the ROSCO, the giants falter - S10 E12

While the ROSCO let go of Adrien, Romain and Nicolas at the worst time, the giants must have to give definitive answers. But in a fundraising context, bad news can change everything.

March 2023 - We get the giants to talk, and we have a team - S10 E11

After this doomed presentation, the large hotel group and the gigantic management company talk to each other about the future of Midnight Trains. Without involving us. It’s good though, because we have a team. And that’s not all.

March 2023 - The F1 of growth funds has its eye on us - S10 E10

A third giant is eyeing up the destiny of Midnight Trains: a well-established growth fund. With the financial resources it can deploy, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas could finally achieve their ultimate goal. They could close the financing of their entrepreneurial venture.

January-February 2023: a late Christmas present: the giants are watching over us - S10 E09

For Adrien, Romain and Nicolas, the year 2023 begins with anticipation, as they receive a strange Christmas gift. Two huge groups, on a global scale, are interested in the future of Midnight Trains.

November 2022-January 2023 - Everything is ready. We’re going back to the front! - S10 E08

After taking the time to adapt the project to their new financing scenario, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas set out in search of an infrastructure fund again. Accompanied by their investment bank, they go again before joining their families for the end-of-year holidays.

Are these means of transport actually deployable? - S12 E03

Having great technology is good. Deploying it on a large enough scale to make it relevant is better. We’re going to review all the technologies covered in Bright Futures through the lens of their deployability.

As it drags on, our partners are getting impatient - S10 E07

From the manufacturer in Eastern Europe and the ROSCO which has to buy the trains, to SNCF Réseaux, which reserves train paths for us, our partners are getting tired of waiting. As well as Adrien, Romain and Nicolas’ families, their future teams and, of course, you, our community of readers.

Will the future of transport be green and sustainable? - S12 E02

We take stock of the ecological and sustainable dimension of the different means of transport studied during the Bright Futures seasons. However, as counterintuitive as it may seem, not everything is green in the land of tomorrow's technologies. Far, far from it.

July-September 2022 - New roadshow, new goals - S10 E06

Despite a new financing scenario involving an infrastructure fund, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas must embark on a final roadshow. But for this, they have to be supported by a specialised investment bank.

An update on the transports of tomorrow - S12 E01

It’s the final season of the Bright Futures section, so we’re creating four episodes focused on everything we’ve learned about the future of passenger transport. Starting with a quick point on each of the modes discussed in these columns.

April to August 2022 - The infrastructure route - S10 E05

With the venture capitalist route appearing to be at a dead end, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas must find another way to finance Midnight Trains. They turn to an infrastructure fund which, in the end, could prove to be a much better solution.

Will humans teleport before the world ends? - S11 E04

Teleportation as a means of transport isn’t going to happen fast. It may not even happen before the impending climate catastrophe. It’s time to ask bigger questions on the subject.

March-June 2022 - Is the hardest part done? We’ve never been less sure - S10 E04

After finding a ROSCO to finance their trains, Adrien, Romain and Nicolas think they’ve crossed the biggest hurdle. It’s time to tackle the fundraising so they can finance the operational side of the business.

Is it ecological and can it be deployed on a large scale? - S11 E03

If teleportation arrived on the market tomorrow, could we actually deploy globally? And if so, at what ecological cost? Because teleporting from your couch to your neighbour's while spending the energy production of a nuclear power plant isn’t exactly a progressive vision for the future.

Can it really fit into our lives? - S11 E02

Against all odds, there’s a legitimate form of teleportation - the so-called ‘quantum teleportation.’ But can it leave physics laboratories and enter our daily lives in one form or another? It's possible.

Q1 2022 - the choice of ROSCO - S10 E03

Now that there are only two ROSCOs left in the running, both their engineers are heading to our manufacturer's factory in Eastern Europe. This results in an incredible balancing act for Adrien, Romain and Nicolas, as well as for the teams onsite. But at the end of this, only one will remain.

Hold up. Is this thing even real? - S11 E01

Novels, television, cinema and even video games have gotten us used to the idea of ​​teleportation. Despite this collective imagination, no one imagines actually travelling like this one day. However, researchers are working pretty hard on it…

Q1 2021-the start of 2022 - The ROSCO roadshow - S10 E02

Adrien, Romain and Nicolas have now opted for a financing plan involving a ROSCO, a company which rents locomotives and carriages. They embark on a major tour of the market to choose which one to collaborate with.

Q1 2021: What financing model should Midnight Trains use? - S10 E01

Will night trains replace planes? - S10 E04

As seen in episode three, there’s still a long way to go for night trains to replace short- and medium-haul planes. But does that mean we won’t see this revolution? It's not as simple as that.

A conclusion to bring problems and solutions together - S09 E13

This time, it’s the conclusion of the longest season in the history of Confidences. For the occasion, Nicolas, Adrien and Romain take stock of each problem/solution combination discussed in the preceding twelve episodes.

Can we really replace planes with trains? - S10 E03

The night train’s ecological balance sheet leaves no room for doubt. It crushes its competitors, starting with the plane. But can we actually replace all the aircraft flying in our skies with night trains? Let’s explore this together.

Finally, some rolling stock solutions - S09 E12

Now that they have a maintenance facility available, Romain, Adrien and Romain must resolve the last rolling stock issues. Both in terms of locomotives and cars.

Is it as eco-friendly as it seems? - S10 E02

Now that we've covered the meteoric rise and sudden disappearance of night trains, we have to question their eco credentials. Even if it’s generally accepted as a more sustainable option, we have to put it under the microscope in the same way as all the other forms of transport.

The rise and fall (temporary) of the night train - S10 E01

A revolutionary invention almost as old as the railway, the night train slowly declined until it almost disappeared at the start of the 21st century. But how could this popular and eco-friendly means of transport come close to extinction?

Is it really that eco-friendly? - S09 E02

The ambition of sustainable fuel aircraft is exciting, because they might just decarbonise flying operations. But not everything is coming up roses in the world of SAF. It could be less eco-friendly than you think.

To tow or to be towed - that is the question - S09 E08

For his final assessment, Nicolas looks at some big questions: should Midnight Trains become a railway company and haul its own trains? Or should it get a subcontractor to handle the traction? Both solutions have advantages and disadvantages.

The sustainable fuel aircraft (SAF) - S09 E01

Some aviation advocates argue that there’s a way to keep their beloved planes in the air: flying them on SAF, or Sustainable Aviation Fuel. But what does that actually look like? And what does that name really mean?

Kicking off conversation with infrastructure managers - S09 E06

Now that Nicolas has taken stock of the network, locomotives, carriages and maintenance, it’s time to tackle a big step: the relations with infrastructure managers, companies or public groups that manage the rails.

Will our children remember thermal engine cars? - S08 E04

Unlike many technologies explored in these columns, the electric car could well change the face of the world. It's now almost inevitable (and that's good news). But when exactly? Might it be so far in the future that only our children and grandchildren will benefit from it?

The headache that is maintenance - S09 E05

Choosing carriages and the locomotives to tow them is not easy. But choices can’t be made without knowing where and how to maintain the rolling stock. Except that, clearly, there’s nothing easy about finding a service provider, deciding to do it yourself, or even choosing where the maintenance will take place.

Can the electric car revolution be green too? - S08 E03

Compared with a thermal engine car, the electric car appears to be a much better alternative from an eco point of view. But will this still be the case when it’s the status quo in France, Europe and the rest of the world?

How rolling stock redefined our strategy: locomotives - S09 E04

After identifying the constraints of passenger carriages, Nicolas looks at those related to locomotives. Because, as its results on the network suggested, it will be impossible to use a single traction vehicle. At least initially.

Can electric really replace the combustion engine car? - S08 E02

As we know, the electric car occupies an ever-increasing share of the vehicle fleet. But can it truly become the first, or even the only technology to transport humans on four wheels? And, if so, under what conditions?

How rolling stock redefined our strategy: train carriages - S09 E03

After taking stock of the network constraints, Nicolas examines the questions of rolling stock: coaches, then locomotives. Again, we wade into Kafkaesque difficulties. Nicolas, Romain and Adrien will have to find a path to achieve their objectives.

How did it conquer the world? - S08 E01

Already omnipresent in many countries, the electric car hasn’t always been as popular as it is today. Its rise has been slow, long and painful - but unstoppable.

How network constraints redefined our strategy - S09 E02

Now that Nicolas is aboard the same boat - well, the same train - as Adrien and Romain, he must deal with a subject that’s as important as it is huge: the future Midnight Trains network. His expertise will profoundly change the route map and the company's development strategy.

Will our children take hydrogen trains? - S07 E04

As at the end of every season, we reflect on when various new technologies will see the light of day. It’s our approach to future gazing, with some bad faith thrown in.

We’re taking stock, calmly - S09 E01

When he joined Midnight Trains as its first full-time employee, Nicolas had already helped Adrien and Romain progress with many issues. However, he has to take stock of the state of the various projects in order to be able to draw up a roadmap. It’s an opportunity for us to do the same.

Can we scale it? - S07 E03

It’s now clear that the hydrogen train will only be of interest if it’s deployed on a large scale, or a very large scale. It remains to be seen whether this will be possible and, if so, when? And at what price?

The best of both worlds - S08 E03

Romain and Adrien have put together a great team, bringing together different areas of expertise to create their digital product. Its members are embarking on the creation of this pillar of Midnight Trains' strategy, by taking the best from the worlds of the hotel and rail sectors.

Is it really being abandoned? - S07 E02

Now that Nicolas is aboard the same boat - well, the same train - as Adrien and Romain, he must deal with a subject that’s as important as it is huge: the future Midnight Trains network. His expertise will profoundly change the route map and the company's development strategy.

Building a team and getting advice - S08 E02

Now that Romain and Adrien have identified the different components they need for the tech side of their product, they decide to call on specialists in the field. And these will enable a great leap forward on this extremely technical subject.

Why is it so popular? - S07 E01

Unlike other technologies we’ve examined in our newsletters, the hydrogen train is already mature and in circulation. For many managers, it even represents the future of railways. So we’re going to explore the reasons – good or bad – for this success.

Buying a night train ticket, AKA the worst task on the web - S08 E01

If you've ever tried to buy a night train ticket on a platform that usually sells day trains, you know it's pure hell. And it's the same when you're buying from the actual merchant.

Should we become a Railway Company? Nicolas challenges our vision - S07 E03

This time, it's official: Nicolas Bargelès is a full-time part of the Midnight Trains adventure. But his immense expertise in the railway world raises new and fundamental questions for Adrien and Romain.‍

We’ve found a rare gem - S07 E02

While Romain and Adrien await Nicolas' response, they reflect on the difficulty they had in finding a profile like his. They describe his journey and passion for rail travel.

Is it as green as it seems? - S06 E02

Now we know a little more about solar aircraft technology, it's time to look at its ecological credentials. Just because solar energy is clean, doesn’t mean we should accept it at face value. We have to ask questions and figure out which vehicles it could feasibly power.

Recruiting slowly to find the best talent - S07 E01

While Romain and Adrien have already enlisted the services of several partners and consultants who are specialists in their field, they’re now forging ahead with their first hire. And it’s a big one.

Erm… What's this device? - S06 E01

After five seasons of talking about vehicles running on hydrogen, oil, gas and man-made electricity, we’re now exploring a solar-powered vehicle. But not just any solar-powered vehicle. A plane which, according to its advocates, could fly without a drop of kerosene. Let’s dig into how this strange contraption actually works.

A mass catering operation like none other - S06 E03

Adrien and Romain now have business partners to help them create the catering service they want for their trains. But they will discover that delivering high-quality catering en masse, especially with good-quality products, is more complicated than it seems.

Feeding hundreds of passengers properly - S06 E02

Adrien and Romain now know the direction they want for the catering on their trains. But in order to feed all those beautiful people, they need someone with an extraordinary background. But, as it happens, they have an idea in mind.

No haute cuisine, but no plain sandwiches either - S06 E01

For Adrien and Romain, food was an essential component of Midnight Trains. Now they needed to work out what their future passengers could eat and drink on board their trains.

Is it really good for the planet? - S05 E02

As we’ve seen, biogas trains could offer a temporary solution for the decarbonisation of the railway industry. But is this fuel as planet-friendly as it’s made out to be

The emergence of Midnight Trains - S05 E03

Now Adrien and Romain had decided to launch the brand publicly, well before the actual Midnight Trains were on the market, they had to work on a communications plan. And it turned out, this would provoke a flurry of interest throughout the French and international press.

Why use it on the railways? - S05 E01

It's no secret that trains are already the most environmentally friendly means of passenger transport in the world. So why are people trying to decarbonise this mode of travel with biofuels?

To launch or not to launch? - S05 E02

When they created the Midnight Trains brand, Adrien and Romain knew that they wouldn’t be able to launch any sleeper trains for a good few years. So a crucial question: should they make themselves known to the wider public? Or remain in the shadows until the trains are ready to go?

Will it be rolled out widely? - S04 E04

Already limited to ‘autonomy’ levels 1 to 3, possibly 4 in certain, very particular environments, and clearly an obstacle for the fight against climate change, the self-driving car doesn’t seem to have a very rosy future. But could it still be rolled out widely? Perhaps, but not in the way you might expect.

Will we see it in our lifetime? - S05 E04

Now that we're a little clearer on the ecological benefits and drawbacks of biogas trains, it’s time to ask ourselves whether it’s possible to scale it up. Because even the most interesting railway technology is useless if it’s too complex to run.

The meeting with Yorgo & Co - S05 E01

While they were researching how to buy and lay out their trains, Adrien and Romain went about creating the Midnight Trains brand. To do this, they recruited Yorgo Tloupas, one of Europe’s greatest artistic directors. It was a meeting of minds that was all the more important for our brand’s identity because Yorgo is passionate about all things transport and mobility.‍

Are they really good for the planet? - S04 E03

We all know that certain kinds of autonomous car are already used on roads around the world. But could they really become the norm? The jury’s out.

Designing the interior of new trains - S04 E04

Romain and Adrien had finally found the trains they were searching for. But now, they had to come up with the layouts, technical specifics and interior design with the help of Yellow Window, Luigi Martinelli and the manufacturer. Starting from a blank slate didn’t make things any simpler.

On the hunt for new stock - S04 E03

Now they’d abandoned the option of buying second-hand rolling stock, Romain and Adrien started looking for brand-new trains. But because they were a private company, and one that was so new to the market, this would prove no simple task.

Where did the idea for autonomous vehicles come from? - S04 E01

Unlike flying cars, which we looked at in our first series, self-driving cars are already in action in several parts of the world. But where exactly did the idea for these vehicles come from? And how has it evolved over the years?

Going on a treasure hunt - S04 E02

While they were attempting to redesign second-hand Spanish trains remotely, Adrien and Romain explored other avenues for second-hand rolling stock. These would lead them, virtually, from Belgium to Russia and the living room of a rather famous French actress.

Will our fleets be powered by hydrogen anytime soon?‍ - S03 E04

Insufficient ‘green’ hydrogen production, the many technological challenges that may get in the way of motorisation and the explosion in the number of planes in our skies: hydrogen-fuelled aircraft won’t be zooming across our skies anytime soon. No way.

Redesigning second-hand trains - S04 E01

At the same time they were carrying out their analyses and raising funds, Romain and Adrien were looking to purchase rolling stock. Some second-hand Spanish trains had caught their eye, but this would involve redesigning them. No simple task.

Could the technology be rolled out widely? - S03 E03

Now we know a little more about the production of green hydrogen and the technological challenges that may get in the way of motorisation, it remains to be seen if this technology could ever be rolled out at large scale in our skies.

Our friends the venture capitalists - S03 E02

While the first fundraising round for Midnight Trains was launched in a rather unexpected way, loads of potential investors soon got in touch with Adrien and Romain.

Can planes really be powered by hydrogen? - S03 E02

Now we’ve studied the production of hydrogen necessary for a carbon-neutral fleet, next we’ll be looking at how feasible it actually is to power planes using this technology. Because despite all the hype, things might not be so simple.

Putting ideas on paper - S03 E01

Adrien and Romain had found the perfect consultants to help them refine their projected costs and revenue. So it was time to move onto the next stage: fundraising. It would prove quite the challenge.

Can hydrogen be green? - S03 E01

When it comes to reducing the huge environmental impact of air traffic, hydrogen fuel is often put forward as one of the most viable solutions. But is this so-called low-carbon energy as green as claimed?

Tracking down the best railway consultants - S02 E04

Adrien and Romain now had a pretty precise idea of costs and future revenue for Midnight Trains. Their next task was to recruit a team of specialist railway consultants. The only problem? This industry doesn’t really work like any other.

Can it make a dent in the aviation industry? - S02 E03

Now that we all know a little more about the history of speed on the railways – and the infrastructure required – it’s time to ask a crucial question. Can trains travelling at 1,000 kilometres/hour eradicate the plane? And if so, over what sort of distance?

First we figured out the costs, now for revenue - S02 E03

Now Romain and Adrien had cross-referenced their advice from experts with their analysis of the railway-sector economics, they had to come up with their company’s potential revenue. To do this, they looked at both the sleeper-train market and the aviation industry.

Can we create the necessary infrastructure? - S02 E02

For the pursuit of speed to keep rolling on, it will be necessary to build new infrastructure all over the globe. But would this be economically, technologically or environmentally feasible? The jury’s out.

Diving into the business units - S02 E02

While Adrien set up meetings with railway experts, Romain started exploring the economics of the industry. His main aim? To try and make it fit Midnight Trains’ unique economic model.

Two centuries in pursuit of speed - S02 E01

Since the railways were invented, engineers and operators have always aimed to make trains as fast as possible. To such an extent that Very, Very High-Speed may soon be a reality.

“That’s impossible, guys” - S02 E01

During lockdown, Adrien and Romain started to immerse themselves in the industry. The only problem? Most experts in the sector tell them that setting up a business like Midnight trains is impossible. But it would take a lot more than that to stop them.

Is the flying car incompatible with our era? - S01 E04

Unable to find the right economic model, hampered by regulation and wrongly supported by automobile manufacturers, the flying car really does seem like a distant reality. Above all because it looks like it’s fundamentally incompatible with our era.

Setting up a transport business in the middle of lockdown - S01 E04

Like the rest of humanity, Adrien and Romain were locked down for months. As well as putting together the Midnight Trains board, they consulted experts across the sector. Except that at that time, European train services were shutting down one after the other.

When will it see the light of day? - S02 E04

Now that we know what led to the race for the (very, very) high-speed and we’ve explored its potential, it’s time to ask whether it will actually see the light of day in our lifetimes. And if we had one bit of advice? Don’t put much money on it.

Why do flying-car prototypes keep being made? - S01 E03

Despite the conclusions of our first two episodes, the press regularly hails the arrival of the flying car based on the results of experiments and success of prototypes. The reasons for this aren’t what you might expect.

Stick with what you know - S01 E03

The more they worked on the project, Romain started to believe in the future of Midnight Trains and having no doubt that he and Adrien were a good team, he became his business partner in the venture. Together they started to move in railway circles in an effort to form a board.

Can drones revive the flying car? - S01 E02

With their innovative motors and ability to take off horizontally, drones have carved out a space in our skies over the past decade or so. But could they become fully-fledged vehicles one day too?

EasyJet started with £5 million and two planes - S01 E02

Adrien is now sure of himself: he’s going to launch a night-train company that meets travellers’ needs – right now and in the future. His first idea was to take inspiration from what was done in the aviation sector. Wrongly.

The impossible fantasy of total freedom - E01 S01

Since the start of the twentieth century, inventors have built flying-car prototypes of all sorts. From cars with foldable wings to mini-planes with detachable limbs, they’ve tried basically everything. But never with any real success.

A railway aperitif, a Greek island and an idea - S01 E01

Adrien tells us about two trips – a night train with his other half and a holiday in Greece with one of his friends – that inspired the idea for Midnight Trains. Two experiences which have ended up changing his life.

On board the stunning Cévennes railway in the French mountains

In the nineteenth century, a huge railway was built through the Massif Central.

Welcome to Rotterdam

Known for its ultra-modern, avant-garde architecture, it makes for quite the scenic getaway too.

Thalys is making way for Eurostar

It’s official: the Thalys brand is no more. But rest assured that this legendary passenger service isn’t going to disappear from the European railway industry.

How a small French town revived a historic train

An early-twentieth-century Autorail (a French word for a single powered railcar) called La Richelaise was revived.