German startup Luna Rail and Finnish operator Reissujuna announced a strategic partnership on July 28, 2026, to introduce next-generation night train services connecting Helsinki with northern Finland. The collaboration leverages a patent-pending flexible compartment design to improve overnight travel options.
Reissujuna operates themed and event-based train journeys and steam excursions under its parent company Suomen Elämysjunat. The operator has acquired a small fleet of used sleeper and seated coaches for this project, which will be refurbished extensively to meet the service needs.
Luna Rail, headquartered in Berlin and established in 2023 by founders Anton Dubrau and Hendrik Lucka, is responsible
for the interior design. Their flexible compartment concept enables train cars to serve as premium inter-city seating during daytime and convert to overnight cabins at night. A dedicated booking app is under development, which will include ticket validation, cabin door unlocking, and onboard food ordering features.
The service will initially focus on routes linking Helsinki with Lapland, an area known for high winter demand where existing overnight trains frequently sell out months ahead. This partnership follows a restructuring phase for Reissujuna, whose parent company acquired steam train operator Höyryraide Oy in January 2026, expanding the combined fleet to 25 coaches
and four locomotives.
Höyryraide Oy’s safety certificate was revoked by Finnish transport agency Traficom during spring 2026. Reissujuna is actively applying for a new safety certificate to regain operational rights. Details regarding financial arrangements and the exact launch date remain undisclosed.
Both companies see the Finnish night train market as offering significant growth potential. Reissujuna is pursuing strategic and financial investors to support expansion, highlighting the region as one of Europe’s fastest-growing tourism destinations and a prime location for advancing overnight rail travel. Luna Rail aims to position itself as a catalyst for Europe’s night train renaissance through this pilot
deployment.
