Reissujuna and Luna Rail launch partnership for Europe’s next-generation night train concept

Finnish rail operator Reissujuna, developed by Suomen Elämysjunat Oy, and German night train technology startup Luna Rail have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at launching a new generation of night train services in Finland, with Lapland serving as the first commercial deployment environment.

Reissujuna has already acquired a small fleet of used passenger railcars, including sleeper cars and railcars with seats, which will be refurbished for new rail services within the partnership.  Luna Rail will supply design, cabin technology and support for the conversion of the railcars, enabling premium day and night services with a high level of comfort and privacy. Reissujuna will launch new premium night train services built on top of the technology to one of the continent’s fastest growing tourism markets.

Tourism in Finnish Lapland has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, while existing overnight rail services to Northern Finland regularly sell out months in advance during the winter season. Growing international visitor numbers, increasing environmental awareness and rising demand for sustainable travel alternatives create a unique opportunity for new night train capacity and innovative onboard experiences.

“Lapland is one of Europe’s strongest growing tourism destinations, while simultaneously being one of the clearest examples of demand exceeding supply in the night train sector. This makes Finland an ideal environment for introducing the next generation of overnight rail travel,” says Robert Ramstedt, Founder and CEO of Reissujuna.

Luna Rail is developing a new generation of overnight trains that combine individual privacy, passenger comfort, high capacity and operational efficiency in ways that traditional sleeper trains have struggled to achieve.  One of the concept’s key advantages is its flexibility: the same rolling stock can operate as a premium intercity service during the day and transform into an overnight train in the evening. This significantly improves fleet utilization while creating a more attractive and economically sustainable business model for operators.

“For Luna Rail, the partnership allows the first commercial implementation of their concept: “Luna Rail aims to be the enabler of the night train renaissance for operators across Europe, by providing a new night train concept improving both economics and attractiveness. Reissujuna represents the first commercial implementation of the concept”, explains Anton Dubrau, Founder and CEO of Luna Rail.

For Reissujuna, the partnership represents an opportunity to position Finland and the Nordic region at the forefront of Europe’s night train renaissance.
“Europe is talking about the return of night trains. Our ambition is not to bring back the night trains of the past, but to build the night train experience of the future. Together with Luna Rail, we can combine Finnish tourism demand with European innovation in a way that could serve as a model for the entire industry,” Ramstedt continues.

The first deployment plans focus on services between Helsinki and Lapland, where journey times naturally allow the train to replace a hotel night while offering a unique travel experience and reducing the environmental footprint of tourism.

Beyond Finland, the long-term vision includes connecting the Nordic region more closely with Europe’s growing overnight rail network.