Pingwi, an interactive map of night trains around the world
Pingwi is an interactive map that shows night train routes around the world, allowing users to explore sleeper train connections across different countries and continents.
Background
- Night trains (sleeper trains) are passenger trains with sleeping accommodations — couchettes, sleepers, or lie-flat seats — allowing travelers to cover long distances overnight.
- After decades of decline due to budget airlines and high-speed rail, night trains have seen a revival in Europe since the late 2010s, driven by climate concerns and the "flight shame" movement.
- The map visualizes a fragmented landscape: Europe has the densest network (e.g. ÖBB's Nightjet, Sweden's Snälltåget, France's Midnight Trains project), Asia has extensive routes (India, China, Russia), and the Americas have very few long-distance sleeper services.
- Private operators, state railways, and joint ventures all run these services, which often cross multiple countries and require complex booking systems — a barrier the map helps address.
- The map is a reference tool, not a booking platform; it shows routes, operators, and frequencies but not real-time schedules or pricing.