The Orient Espresso: Starbucks builds café on train

20 : 11 : 2013 Travel : Rail Travel : Wooden Bar

Zurich – Not content to establish a presence in every nook and cranny of the stationary world, Starbucks has now built a café in a moving venue – a train.

On 14 November, the ubiquitous coffee company unveiled its café-cum-train car in Zurich. The car, created in collaboration with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), will make its first journey on the line between Geneva Airport and St Gallen in Switzerland on 21 November.

The carriage, which is split into two levels, gives customers the classic Starbucks experience, complete with a wooden bar and pastry case. The café features oak-coloured tables and ecru seats that can accommodate 50 people. Indirect lighting and a creamy white ceiling give the space a sense of airiness and sophistication.

Creating the Starbucks carriage was not without its challenges, however. Starbucks’ director of concept design Liz Muller noted the company had to take into account the ‘constant movement of the train, space limitation and stringent safety regulations’.

Millennials are increasingly turning away from cars and looking to trains, bikes and light rail to facilitate their urban lifestyles. For more on the resurgence of rail travel and opportunities for Rail-tail, see our Rail is the New Road microtrend.

Discover More Signals & Stats
Chanel’s le19M brings Parisian craftsmanship to Tokyo

Signals & Stats

Chanel’s le19M brings Parisian craftsmanship to Tokyo

Chanel’s le19M has landed in Tokyo with La Galerie du 19M Tokyo, an exhibition that unites Parisian artisans and Japanese craftspeople in a celebra...
Luxury : Fashion : Design
Healf 2025 explores the future of wellness, longevity and human potential

Signals & Stats

Healf 2025 explores the future of wellness, longevity and human potential

Held at London’s 180 Studios from 3–5 October, Healf 2025 brought together the leading voices in health and science to explore the future of w...
Global Events : Health And Fitness : Men's Health
Stat: Cognitive difficulties rising sharply among young American adults

Signals & Stats

Stat: Cognitive difficulties rising sharply among young American adults

A new study published in Neurology reveals a significant increase in self-reported cognitive difficulties among US adults, particularly those under...
Health : Wellness : US Market
Future Château launches mid-strength wines at Selfridges

Signals & Stats

Future Château launches mid-strength wines at Selfridges

Future Château, the new wine brand from author Tom Benn, is launching at Selfridges in October 2025 with a debut range of premium 5% ABV wines desi...
Drinks : Retail : Food
OpenArea reframes nature as cultural canvas with new London festival

Signals & Stats

OpenArea reframes nature as cultural canvas with new London festival

OpenArea, the brainchild of cultural strategist Ollie Olanipekun, transformed Camley Street Nature Reserve in King’s Cross into a vibrant hub of ar...
Nature : Food : Design
Stat: Americans push back against tipflation

Signals & Stats

Stat: Americans push back against tipflation

Tipping fatigue is intensifying across the US, with 65% of consumers saying they are tired of tipping – up from 53% in 2023, according to Popmenu’s...
Retail : US Market : Hospitality
Lancôme opens luxury retreat space and cafe in Doha airport

Signals & Stats

Lancôme opens luxury retreat space and cafe in Doha airport

Lancôme has unveiled Café de la Rose inside Doha’s Hamad International Airport, its first travel retail café and only the second globally.
Retail : Beauty : Travel
Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

Signals & Stats

Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Foresight Friday : Fashion : Beauty
Stat: Americans turn to travel to connect with loved ones

Signals & Stats

Stat: Americans turn to travel to connect with loved ones

A new survey from Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection reveals Americans are craving more meaningful time with loved ones, and travel is emerging as a key ...
Travel : Statistic : Optimised Odysseys
Toyota opens Woven City as a living lab for future lifestyles

Signals & Stats

Toyota opens Woven City as a living lab for future lifestyles

Toyota has opened its experimental Woven City at the base of Mount Fuji, creating a testbed where residents live alongside prototypes of emerging t...
Technology : Design : Toyota
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN