Freight rail fueled a new luxury overnight train startup

Ride Quality, Equipment, and Infrastructure

• Commenters compare smooth European sleepers with rougher experiences in Egypt, Morocco, and much of the US, attributing differences mainly to track quality and maintenance, not just train age.
• US freight locomotives are almost all diesel-electric, but they power only their own axles; there is little true distributed traction in freight consists.
• Track standards in the US vary by ROI: “glass-smooth” in long, sparse corridors important to high‑value freight; rougher and slower near cities where curves, crossings, and congestion limit speeds anyway.
• Western Europe’s electrified, multi-track, passenger‑oriented corridors are contrasted with the US freight‑first network and minimal electrification (some of which was removed for cost and clearance reasons).

Freight vs Passenger Priority

• About 95% of US intercity passenger trains run on freight-owned track; freight’s operational needs (including very long trains) cause delays and make reliable passenger schedules difficult.
• By law Amtrak should have dispatching preference, but commenters say this is often ignored in practice.
• Some note ongoing incremental upgrades to 90–110 mph sections, but these are piecemeal and slow.

Economics and Externalities

• Many argue long‑distance US passenger rail (especially sleepers) struggles to compete with cheap, fast flights; most long routes are seen as “cruise‑like” tourism, not practical transport.
• Debate over whether pricing externalities (environment, congestion) would make rail cheaper: one side cites economies of scale if more riders shift to rail, others expect overall travel demand to shrink or shift to cars.
• Sleeper trains have inherently low seat density and high operating costs (staff, linens, food, complex cabins), so they usually require high fares or subsidies.

Experiences with Sleepers and “Moving Hotels”

• Fans emphasize overnight trains as “moving hotels”: downtown‑to‑downtown, no airport hassle, and a night of lodging replaced by the sleeper.
• Others report poor sleep, high prices, and limited savings versus flight + hotel, both in Europe and North America.
• US examples mentioned include the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, and Auto Train; some highlight spectacular scenery and enjoyable “train cruise” experiences, but not time efficiency.

Auto Trains and Driving Culture

• The East Coast Auto Train (car + passenger) is cited as Amtrak’s only clearly successful long-distance train, often sold out; several wonder why there’s no West Coast equivalent.
• Europeans in the thread find >200 km drives tiring; many Americans see 200–400 km as routine day trips, which reduces perceived need for short overnight services.

Viability of Luxury Overnight Startups

• Several see a niche for high-end “train cruise” products aimed at wealthy tourists or business travelers who value comfort over speed.
• Others are highly skeptical: US single‑track, freight congestion, and frequent multi‑hour delays are seen as incompatible with a premium, time‑sensitive product.
• There is concern that low capacity (suites instead of seats) plus custom rolling stock makes the business case very fragile; “affordable” sleeper startups are viewed as especially unrealistic.
• Some note the LA–SF distance may be awkward for an overnight run (too short for a full night unless artificially slowed/parked) and question route choice.

Alternatives and Variations

• Suggestions include day trains optimized for remote work (private desk pods, good connectivity) and combining daytime offices with nighttime cabins at higher density.
• Commenters emphasize that rail works best downtown‑to‑downtown; where car rental or suburban origins/destinations dominate, trains lose appeal.