Taking a nap on the train isn’t always the most comfortable of experiences. You mostly wake up with a crick in yer neck or your head resting on the shoulder of a complete stranger, and then leave the train feeling more dishevelled than refreshed. Being able to lie all the way back for some quality shuteye would truly change the game.
And that option could well be on the horizon. Future Travel Studio has just won £275,000 of UK government funding to spend on developing ‘DreamSuite’ — a project seeking to bring seats that convert into lie-flat beds to rail travel, inspired by the kind you can find on planes.
A prototype is expected to be ready by September 2024 and designers say that it could ‘revolutionise’ sleeper travel by making it more affordable than traditional cabins. It’s hoped that they’ll eventually become available in overnight and long-haul day trains between Scotland and England.
It feels like a long time coming. A similar initiative was attempted by the Caledonian Sleeper in 2019 but it was abandoned due to safety worries.
Nik Lusardi, the design director at Future Travel Studio, said: ‘This project is a chance to bring the comfort and innovation of premium airline experiences to rail travel. We’re creating a sanctuary where passengers are in control of their comfort, making the most of every moment during their journey. It’s an exciting opportunity to elevate the standard of rail travel and create a lasting impact.’
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