Luxury sleeper bus to take passengers from Brussels to Switzerland
Swiss company Twiliner will operate luxury sleeper buses between Zurich and Amsterdam, via Brussels, and between Zurich and Barcelona, from November. According to the company, its concept is unique in Europe, with seats that can be converted into real beds. Twiliner is targeting travellers who are looking for a green alternative to flying or who have a fear of flying, VRT reports.
Twiliner will start operations with two routes: Zurich-Basel-Luxembourg-Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam and Zurich-Girona-Barcelona. Its double-decker buses will be able to carry 21 passengers: 18 on the upper deck and three on the lower deck. Downstairs, there is also a toilet and a space where passengers can change their clothes.
Passengers should arrive at their destination well rested, thanks to seats that can be converted into comfortable beds. According to Luca Bortolani, CEO of Twiliner, this is a new concept in Europe.
“You find them in Asia and South America, but those buses do not comply with European safety regulations,” he said. “We have now developed a system that complies with the rules.”
The concept come with a substantial price tag. A single ticket from Brussels to Zurich costs around 200 euros. “We are offering a unique product,” says Bortolani. “The number of passengers is limited, but we do need two drivers per route.”
Twiliner says its bus is aimed at travellers who are looking for an environmentally friendly alternative to flying or who are afraid of flying. “They could also choose the train, but the train is also expensive and night trains are often overbooked,” says Bortolani.
In the first few months, buses will run several times a week, depending on ticket demand. The aim is to run daily services from next year.
For the route between Switzerland and the Benelux, the company is working with the Limburg-based company Staf Cars, from Lommel.
Illustration © PHOTO TWILINER
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