Is this coach as comfortable as a bed?

1. A fully-equipped seat

The dark purple Twiliner bus certainly looks impressive as it pulls into the coach stop at Zurich main train station at 7 p.m. The double-decker vehicle is about 15 metres long and 4 metres high, making regular coaches look small by comparison. The Twiliner has to be big, because the Zurich start-up promises that I can stretch out on their innovative sleeping seats, thus arriving in Barcelona well-rested after my overnight trip.

My luggage is stowed away. As I climb the stairs, I feel a bit like I'm in business class on an aeroplane. The amount of legroom is impressive. There are only three seats per row, and each is fully-equipped with a host of features. At the touch of a button, the seats transform into a reclining bed. There's also a pillow and a light blanket. The two drivers only speak English, are extremely courteous and hand out bottles of water. I can get tea and coffee for free from the mini-bar on the lower deck. Light snacks and chilled drinks are available for purchase. I've brought a packed lunch with me, so that leaves me plenty of time to eat. After all, the journey is scheduled to take 14 hours.

2. Good news for eco-conscious travellers

The Twiliner is designed to combine coach travel with luxury. There are only 21 seats on the huge bus. By comparison, other coaches have space for up to 70 people. I was pleasantly surprised by the large and elegantly equipped toilet. There's a dressing room right next door, which is handy for changing before going to bed and in the morning.

A one-way ticket from Zurich to Barcelona or Amsterdam costs CHF 150-200. That's twice as much as it would cost on a budget coach. Depending on the season, it can be about the same price as travelling by plane. However, I can boast of having caused significantly less greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Twiliner website, travelling on the new sleeper coach is approximately 90% more sustainable than flying. Other advantages include the lack of security checks or lengthy check-in procedures. And you save on hotel costs. The coach leaves just a quarter of an hour after I get on.

3. Strapped in and secure – even whilst sleeping

Founder Luca Bortolani had the idea for a Swiss sleeper bus offering business-class comfort back in 2021. The Zurich native is a staunch non-flyer. Night trains were often his first choice. However, there are only a few good connections in Europe and the infrastructure cannot keep up with demand. He hoped that Twiliner could close this mobility gap. That's easier said than done. In Europe, buses have to offer seat belts, even if the passenger is lying down. His team therefore spent several years developing a secure sleeping bag together with the Bern University of Applied Sciences.

When the lights in the bus dim at 9.30 p.m., I transform my seat into a bed, cover it with the provided sheet and slide my legs into a light mesh bag that reaches up to my calves and is attached to the seat. A belt over my thighs also holds me in place securely. As a result, I feel pretty safe, even as we're hurtling down the motorway at 120 kilometres per hour.

4. More dozing than sleeping, but comfortable nonetheless

I listen to music and read a bit, before trying to fall asleep at 11 p.m. It's quiet. Only the sound of the wheels and the engine can be heard on the bus. Although the bed is rather narrow and hard, it is relatively comfortable. The secure sleeping bag doesn't bother me. Even so, I remain awake for a long time. Although there are only a few other passengers on board on my trip, the nearest person is only an arm's length away across the aisle. Having said that, the shell of the seat provides relatively good privacy. The air conditioning is a little too cold. It's just 16°C inside the coach, so I'm glad I've got thick socks with me. With music in my ears, I eventually doze off.

When I wake up, I see that the cars around us already bear Spanish licence plates. Shortly before 9 a.m., after a journey lasting just over 13 hours, the coach stops in the centre of Barcelona. I turn my bed back into a seat, get changed and feel refreshed enough to explore the city. At least, once I've had a really good cup of coffee.