Until a few years ago, it seemed that long-distance train travel would become a thing of the past, but a lot has changed since then. The classic style of travel comes to life as travelers look for more environmentally friendly ways to see the world.
Various new trains and routes are currently being prepared, including Italian Dolce vita train which should travel on ten routes through the most famous regions, as well as the upcoming “overnight stays on the tracks” – midnight trains – which will connect Paris with 12 different European destinations.
However, the French designer Thierry Gauguin, with his latest concept, a private luxury train made to measure for one happy and very rich owner, plans to raise the experience of traveling by train to a completely new level.
Gauguin, who has worked on countless projects together with the famous designer Philippe Stark, is known for the impressive design of the yacht, above all the famous 80-meter long yacht Venus, which he made for Steve Jobs. This time, Gauguin decided to design a private train.
Announced as a luxury “palace on rails”, this 400-meter-long train with 14 carriages will be made of glass which, thanks to advanced technology, will be able to be opaque or completely transparent.
“This train is intended for a single owner,” Gauguin told CNN Travel. “The owner when I imagine him is someone who is aware of the uniqueness of this train and understands that this is not just about transportation. It’s about the journey, not about how fast you get from point A to point B “, emphasizes the famous designer.
Gauguin realizes that speed has become the most important thing when traveling, but he sees his G train as a mode of transportation in which passengers will equally, if not more, enjoy the journey, than at the chosen destination.
“Travel doesn’t matter because of speed,” Gauguin added. “It’s about the way we spend our time, because time is the only wealth we have.”
Passengers will not be able to change only the exterior of the train at the touch of a button, but will be able to change the “interior of any part of the train”.
“The train is the stage,” Gauguin explains. “You can change the light, the season or the pace to change your attitude towards the weather.”
Although it may seem strange to some that this artist, known for his yacht design, chose the train as the next project, Gauguin reveals that he came up with this idea as a child, because he was always fascinated by trains. However, while designing G Train, he admits that he had one person in mind – Lauren Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs.
“When the idea came to me, I first thought of it as a potential future owner of this train,” he admits.
But a buyer has not yet appeared and he is aware that he may have to find someone “crazy enough” like him to buy a train like this. The train should cost around 350 million dollars, and its construction will take at least two and a half years.
“Maybe the person who buys the train will start a new chapter in his life,” says the designer.
Space is provided to accommodate about 18 guests, and the G train will be able to develop a speed of 160 kilometers per hour and will be adapted to run on the rail network throughout America and Europe.
Gauguin also involved various experts in the project, including Swiss train maker Stadler, glassmakers from Saint-Gobain, British engineering firm Ecklersley O’Callaghan and security company Marine Guard to ensure that his design “feasible”.
In addition, it is foreseen that the G train can be divided into two parts if passengers decide to go in different directions.
Passengers enter through a welcome lounge in the middle of the composition, which leads to the main living area which includes the owner’s suite and entertainment area, as well as a space for special guests, a lounge and a large lounge specially designed for receptions.
Guests will also have access to a “secret” garden, and the train’s wings will be able to unfold to provide an outdoor terrace where parties or even concerts can be held.
This renewed interest in traveling by train is closely linked to the increasing attention paid to protecting the environment, as passengers become increasingly aware of the damage we are doing to our environment.
“Trains are not a thing of the past. Sustainability is one of the main reasons, and there is nothing more sustainable than trains. “Planes are far behind, and all other means of transportation consume more energy,” emphasizes Thierry Gauguin and predicts that trains will be even more popular in the years to come.
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