Nox Mobility has raised €2 million in pre-seed funding to develop an overnight rail model in Europe centered on private cabins.
The Berlin-based startup said the round was led by IBB Ventures, with participation from investor Tommaso Lucca and HomeToGo co-founder and CEO Patrick Andrae.
The company plans to use the funding to grow its team, build a full-scale mock-up and prepare for its first routes, which are expected to launch in 2027.
Nox Mobility said despite renewed interest in overnight rail travel, the number of night trains in Europe declined from roughly 1,200 per week in 2001 to 450 in 2019.
The startup is positioning its model as an alternative to short-haul flights and hotel stays, offering overnight journeys with private rooms rather than shared compartments. Trains would depart city centers in the evening and arrive the following morning.
Nox Mobility said it is aiming to combine operational reliability with a hospitality-focused onboard experience, including consistent timetables and personalized service. The company is targeting both leisure and business travelers, noting that business travelers already account for 30% of night train users in France.
The company was founded in 2025 by Thibault Constant, Janek Smalla and Artur Hasselbach.
The founding team brings experience across rail, mobility platforms and startups, including roles at FlixTrain and Bolt, as well as fintech company orderbird.
“Night trains are one of Europe’s last big untapped mobility opportunities,” said Artur Hasselbach, co-founder of Nox Mobility. “The infrastructure already exists and the market is waiting.”
Rail travel has been positioned as a more sustainable travel option in recent years amid high airfares and increased focus on reducing carbon emissions among consumers and legislators in Europe.