#27 When Orient Express Meets California | Dreamstar Lines | RAILUP Podcast
In this episode of RAILUP Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most fascinating and ambitious U.S. rail projects of the decade — Dreamstar Lines, a company on a mission to reinvent overnight train travel in America.
Co-founder Dominic Joshua joins us to discuss how Dreamstar Lines aims to transform “too long to drive, too short to fly” trips into a seamless, comfortable, and sustainable travel experience — starting with the Los Angeles ↔ San Francisco route.
Dreamstar Lines blends the romance of the Orient Express with the modern design and efficiency of Europe’s night trains, all while tackling real challenges in U.S. travel. From long airport waits and security hassles to the stress of highway driving, the company’s goal is simple: make train travel aspirational again.
🚆 About Dominic Joshua
Dominic Joshua co-founded Dreamstar Lines to address the inefficiencies of U.S. medium-distance travel, inspired by the proven success of European and Asian high-speed and night train systems.
With over 15 years of experience across startups, finance, transportation, and logistics, Joshua leads the company’s vision and strategy. He is a U.S. Air Force Reserves veteran specializing in transportation and logistics and holds an Economics degree from Columbia University.
Before Dreamstar Lines, Joshua worked in corporate strategy and M&A, later transitioning to startup growth roles at Darktrace and CloudKitchens — experiences that helped him blend innovation, operational discipline, and business scaling into Dreamstar’s foundation.
🌙 About Dreamstar Lines
Dreamstar Lines is a U.S.-based startup building premium overnight passenger trains, with its flagship route connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The concept is simple yet revolutionary: travel while you sleep. Passengers board around 8–10 PM, enjoy a lounge experience, relax in private sleepers (some with ensuite showers), and wake up refreshed — meeting-ready upon morning arrival.
The company targets routes that are too long to drive and too short to fly, offering a smoother, greener, and more relaxing alternative. Dreamstar’s interiors are designed by BMW Designworks, featuring a mix of private cabins, family rooms, and even luxury suites.
Dreamstar aims to launch by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, using low-traffic nighttime corridors in partnership with existing track owners. The long-term vision: scale into a national network of medium-distance overnight routes, redefining modern rail travel in the U.S.
💡 Key Takeaways from the Episode
• History Comes Full Circle: Dreamstar flips the Orient Express story — this time, it’s a U.S. startup drawing inspiration from Europe’s night-train revival.
• Solving a Real Pain Point: A “90-minute” flight often turns into 5+ hours door-to-door. Dreamstar isn’t chasing speed — it’s fixing the hassle.
• The New Travel Cadence: Board at night, unwind, sleep, wake to coffee, and arrive ready for your day.
• Cultural Mindset: Dreamstar isn’t anti-car or anti-plane — it’s pro-choice, offering an aspirational new way to travel.
• Smart Routing: Prioritizing arrival time over the shortest path, using low-traffic nighttime corridors via host-railroad partnerships.
• Flexible Design: Starting with 4–6 cars, featuring lie-flat pods, standard bedrooms, family rooms, and a premium suite — scalable as demand grows.
• Economics That Scale: Begin premium, build demand, then scale capacity so revenue grows faster than cost, increasing affordability over time.
• Market Education: Many Americans outside the Northeast Corridor have never truly experienced modern passenger rail — Dreamstar has the chance to redefine it.
• Amtrak Contrast: While Amtrak must serve public routes, Dreamstar can focus purely on customer satisfaction and operational excellence.
• Sustainability Focus: Promoting trains as the lower-pollution choice today, while actively exploring battery-electric and hydrogen technologies for tomorrow.
🌍 Why It Matters
As global travel habits evolve, Dreamstar Lines is betting that Americans are ready for something new — an experience that’s both sustainable and luxurious, practical yet emotionally engaging.
The dream isn’t just about getting from Point A to Point B. It’s about reviving the lost magic of rail travel — where the journey itself becomes part of the experience.
This episode explores how entrepreneurship, sustainability, and design intersect to reshape how we move across the country.
🔗 Learn More
🌐 Official Website: https://www.dreamstarlines.com/
🚄 RAILUP Podcast: https://www.railup.club/
📧 Contact: [email protected]
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