The Refit Night Express

The future of sustainable business travel

Fall asleep in the evening and arrive well-rested at your business meeting in the morning: Traveling by night train is probably the most relaxing way to travel and at the same time makes an important contribution to the climate.

Together with our partners Centerline Design GmbH and Kompetenznetz Rail Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (KNRBB), we want to promote this form of travel and have developed a concept for a night train cabin: The Refit Night Express. We presented this visionary concept at the InnoTrans international trade fair for transport technology in Berlin in September 2022.

  • 6

    months project duration

  • 3

    strong partners

  • 1

    national design award

Together with our partners Centerline Design GmbH and Kompetenznetz Rail Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (KNRBB), we want to promote this form of travel and have developed a concept for a night train cabin: The Refit Night Express. We presented this visionary concept at the InnoTrans international trade fair for transport technology in Berlin in September 2022.

  • 6

    months project duration

  • 3

    strong partners

  • 1

    national design award

The Passenger Journey shows: Traveling by train instead of plane saves several stops on the journey.

From the initial idea to realization

In the early concept phase, different variants for a spatial distribution were created in order to develop space-saving cabins that can be used as efficiently as possible. The aim is to offer passengers as much space as possible for their own privacy and an atmosphere for relaxing or working in just a few square meters.

Sketch of a variant of the spatial distribution in which the second level is aligned diagonally. Climbing stairs is indicated by a yellow arrow.
Sketch of another variant of the spatial distribution, in which the second level is aligned straight. Climbing stairs is indicated by a yellow arrow.

Two different cabins on 7 square meters each

Two nested cabins were created, which are based on the window grid of the existing carriage. They make optimum use of the available space and offer passengers the greatest possible comfort in just a few square meters.

  • Rendering of the nested cabin from a bird
  • Rendering of the nested cabin from a bird
The “Sky-bed” cabin with two generous skylights and the spacious and accessible “Spacious” cabin in direct comparison.

Focus on the passenger journey

A wide variety of factors need to be taken into account to ensure that the journey runs smoothly. From the booking process to simple check-in, comprehensive cabin control and a personalized timetable, a unique user experience has been designed that can be operated via your own smartphone or the integrated cabin monitor.

A person on the platform uses a smartphone on which they see a map with directions and information about their cabin.
Mock-up of four smartphone screens showing the “cabin location”, “timetable”, “my cabin” and “ticket” screens.

Efficient relaxation

Privacy to allow thoughts to wander or to concentrate on work is a need of business travelers that has so far remained unfulfilled on night trains. “The Refit Night Express” closes this unsatisfied demand in an innovative way.

  • Rendered detailed view from inside the cabin with focus on the integrated screen showing the schedule.
  • In the rendered interior view of the cabin, a large window with integrated projections of the route can be seen. There is also a desk, a chair and a bed in the picture section. An interplay of different materials, wood and felt can be seen.
  • The rendering shows intelligently integrated storage space for luggage under the bed.
  • Rendered night view of the interior, which is atmospherically illuminated by indirect light sources.

The future of business travel is sustainable

From the start sustainable travel was considered holistically: A disused wagon and its conversion into a future-oriented travel concept were the focus of all considerations. The resulting idea offers a resource-efficient and economically promising approach.

For innovative projects the Virtual Experience can be an important basis for decision-making.

Simeon Ortmüller Projekt Manager / Industrial Designer und UXMA-Projektleiter für dieses Projekt

  • 6

    months project duration

  • 3

    strong partners

  • 1

    national design award

Cases

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