Zurich, Basel, Luxembourg, Brussels or Amsterdam are ready to be among the first cities in Europe to see the arrival of a new era of overnight coach travel. Swiss company Twiliner has announced that its first luxury night bus route will officially launch on November 14, 2025.
Twiliner’s mission is simple but ambitious: to make long-distance bus travel as comfortable—and nearly as sustainable—as rail, while offering a greener alternative to short-haul flights. The company says its service “closes the comfort gap in long-distance travel,” bringing business-class style to the open road.
Each double-decker bus carries just 21 passengers (18 on the upper deck and 3 on the lower). This to compare to up to 80 seats for a normal coach service. Seats are looking like those found in airplane business class. At the push of a button, they fully recline into flat beds. Travelers can expect pillows, blankets, privacy screens, reading lights, USB ports, Wi-Fi, and personal storage compartments.
Downstairs, passengers will find bathroom and changing facilities—though no showers—and a snack bar stocked with light refreshments. Each guest may bring one large suitcase (up to 23 kilograms) and a small carry-on, with options to book extra space for bikes or sports equipment.
Sustainable bus ride
Sustainability is another major part of Twiliner’s identity. The buses will run on HVO diesel, a renewable fuel made from recycled fats and vegetable oils. The company says the system cuts carbon emissions by up to 85% compared to flying and is on par with train travel in terms of sustainability.
Translated into numbers, the footprint per passenger stands at 21g of CO₂ per passenger kilometre, the company highlights. This is to compare with 276 g for an equivalent plane journey, The result, certified by MyClimate, represents consequently a reduction of around 91% in emissions.
The trip will however not be cheap: one-way fares start around €155 (about $175) to €250 depending on distance and season. The network will debut with a first route : Zurich–Basel-Luxembourg-Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam.
By the end of 2025, a second route between Zurich and Barcelona will be launched: Zurich–Bern-Girona-Barcelona. Initially operating several times per week in December, Twiliner expects to offer daily departures by mid-2026.
Additional routes are already planned for 2026. The goal is to expand Twiliner’s network to a total of 30 European destinations within the next three years. This would include cities such as Copenhagen, London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Munich, and Vienna.
“This is about redefining how people move across Europe at night,” said Twiliner CEO Samuel Keller. “You can rest, work, or simply sleep your way from one city to another—comfortably and sustainably.”
