Starbucks has joined forces with Swiss Federal Railways – abbreviated to SBB in German – to unveil the very first Starbucks on a train, which will be making its maiden voyage next Thursday (November 21st) on the 06:36am from Geneva Airport to St Gallen in Switzerland.
This will not just be a buffet car serving Starbucks coffee. The train has a dedicated two-storey space, created by the two firms, which has been described as "contemporary and focused on comfort, yet at the same time functional".
"It was an incredible and rewarding challenge to design our first ever Starbucks store on a train. We had to combine functionality and beautiful design," commented Liz Muller, director of concept design for Starbucks.
She added that designers also had to take into account the potential complications presented by the nature of the space, such as train movement, space limitations and safety regulations.
Jeannine Pilloud, Director of SBB Passenger Transportation, expressed her delight at the venture, saying: "We are very happy to unveil this exciting new on-board experience for our customers."
In total, the outlet will be able to hold around 50 people at any one time, with standing space at the barista's curved bar from which they will serve Starbucks' iconic beverages.
Leather upholstery, moveable chairs and specially designed tables all add to the overall feeling of luxury. The tables on the upper floor have numbers incorporated in them that facilitate a table service, meaning that visitors to the lounge can order their drinks from the comfort of their seats.
The colour scheme of the unique space has been inspired rather aptly by coffee, with rich creme hues, while the exterior of the train has been emblazoned with the globally-recognised logo and name of the coffee giant. Images of drinks, snacks and logos – such as the Fairtrade one – that are associated with the brand also appear on the windows of the carriage.
