The old-fashioned way of travelling is currently experiencing an upswing as travellers seek more eco-friendly methods of traveling the globe.
A variety of new trains and routes are in development as well as the Italian “Dolce Vita train,” which will run 10 routes that will traverse Italy’s most famous landscapes, as well as Midnight Trains, an upcoming service that will run overnight starting from Paris across 12 distinct European destinations.
But, French designer Thierry Gaugain is planning to take railway journey to a whole new level with his latest idea which is a luxury private train that is custom-designed for an extremely lucky and wealthy owner.
Gaugain, who worked with the renowned artist Philippe Starck across countless projects and is famous for his amazing yacht designs, such as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ 80-meter vessel Venus However, Gaugain is making his debut go to design trains.
The train is described as a luxury “palace on rails,” the 400-meter train will comprise 14 cars of glass, that is so advanced in technology that it is able to change from transparent to completely opaque.
“Palace on rails”
A sketch of G Train, a new luxury concept for a private train from French creator Thierry Gaugain.
Courtesy Thierry Gaugain
“This train is envisioned for one unique owner,” Gaugain told CNN Travel. “It’s not a train that is open to the public or a passenger train.
“The owner we envision is someone who is aware of the uniqueness of this train and understands that we are not just talking about transportation. It’s about travel, not how fast you get from point A to point B.”
Gaugain believes that travel has been more focused on speed rather than the actual journey. Gaugain views his G Train as an alternative method of transportation in which passengers who ride it can have the same as, if not more enjoyment in the journey to their destination of choice.
“Travel is not about speed,” He declares. “It’s about taking the time, because time is the only treasure we have.”
Then it’s not only an exterior that could change at the flip of a switch. Passengers are also able to alter “the interior ambiance of the train in whichever section they are.”
If they are looking to enhance the exterior it is possible to switch to transparent mode. However, should they wish to create themselves, then they can switch the glass’s transparency to make any view they like.
“The train is a stage,” Gaugain says. Gaugain. “You can change the light, the season or the pace in order to change your relationship to time.”
While a train that is luxurious might not appear to be the most obvious change from motor yachts, Gaugain believes the idea first came to him as a youngster telling us that trains always fascinated Gaugain.
“There’s something fantastic about trains,” he says. “There are a lot of romantic ideas attached to them.”
It’s time to slow down
The passengers can alter the exterior or interior surround of the train with the push of an button.
Courtesy Thierry Gaugain
However, Gaugain did have one person in his mind when he imagined his G Train, billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of Steve Jobs.
“When the idea came to my head, I was thinking of her as a potential user,” the man acknowledges.
He is yet to find an investor and says the possibility of finding “someone as crazy” as himself to purchase the train. It’s likely to come at the cost of $350 million , and the project is expected to take between two and two-and-a-half years to construct.
“Maybe the person who buys the train will start a new chapter of their life,” he adds. “Because we’re always on the move.
“We need some time to slow down for inner travel to understand where we’d like to go and to understand our desires.”
With a capacity of around 18 overnight guests and guests, the G Train is set to operate at 160 kilometers an hour. It will also be modified to operate on railways throughout the Americas as well as Europe.
Gaugain has brought a range of experts like Swiss train constructor Stadler and glass maker Saint-Gobain, UK engineering firm Eckersley O’Callaghan and security company Marine Guard onboard to ensure that the concept can be described as “feasible.”
“Such a train is very complicated,” He states. “Because there is no train that runs on all the tracks around the world that complies with all the systems.”
Believing in the moment
G Train G Train will have a garden on the train that will allow the passengers “explore different atmospheres each time.”
Courtesy Thierry Gaugain
The G Train is able to be divided into two sections if the passengers decide to head out into different directions.
Passengers are welcomed by the reception hall in the middle of the train. This is the main residential area which houses the owner’s accommodations and entertainment area along with an area specifically for guests, a lounge and a Grand Salon that’s specifically designed to host receptions.
The guests will also have access to the “secret” garden, while the wings of the train could be folded down to create outdoor terraces where parties can be hosted and even concerts on the train.
The G Train is able to be divided in two when the passengers decide to head away to different direction.
The idea is a result of the trains that run overnight or long distance revival continues with Austria’s OBB announcement of a collaboration in partnership with Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, France’s SNCF and Swiss Federal Railways to launch new “Nightjet” routes, along with a sleeper train running between Zurich and Barcelona within the coming four years.
The resurgence of interest in trains is closely connected to environmental concerns as people become more conscious the carbon footprint they leave behind.
Gaugain states that he’s not shocked that things are heading in this direction. He expects trains to be much more popular in the future.
“The train isn’t an object from the past,” he states. “Trains are in sync with the present moment. Sustainability is a major reason.
“There there is no thing more eco-friendly than trains when it comes to moving items. It is far ahead of the game, and many other options consume a lot of energy.
“It [trains] will become more and more a vehicle for the future. And what we have in mind with this train is to make a vehicle for the future. A marriage of extreme luxury and the best technology.”
