There's now a Starbucks on a train.
Switzerland has become the first country to get a Starbucks cafe on a train. Starbucks' train partner is Swiss Federal Railways, the national railway company of Switzerland, according to USA Today.
The first official voyage for the Starbucks train will take place on the train line running from Geneva Airport to St. Gallen in Switzerland on Nov. 21 at 6:36 a.m. local time. "Starbucks train" which is instantly identifiable by the green and white siren logo emblazoned on the car's exterior, will reportedly serve commuters their signature tall and grand lattes on a route.
The cafe, described as one of the smallest the company has ever designed, includes a pastry case, standing bar, and a lounge area on the second level where mocha-colored benches, movable leather club chairs and wood tables can accommodate up to 50 people.
According to Lix Muller, who directed the concept design, adapting the Starbucks model to a moving train is not that simple.
"We had to combine functionality and beautiful design, whilst taking into account a variety of factors such as constant movement of the train, space limitation and stringent safety regulations," she said in a press release. This is one of the smallest espresso bars and stores we have ever designed."
It's one of the smallest espresso bars and stores that Starbucks has ever designed, she said.
The move comes at a time as Starbucks continues ramping up its efforts to expand outside the conventional storefront. It's sold in grocery stores. It's sold on college campuses. It's served on some planes. Now, it's boarding a train. Eleven years ago, Starbucks opened its first continental European store in Switzerland.
For Starbucks fans excited about the company's expansion do not look for the train to pull into New York's Penn Station or Washington D.C.'s Union Station in the near future
"Not any time soon," Starbucks spokeswoman Haley Drage said. "This is something we are testing, and then can see how we can bring more broadly."
