Night Trains, Not Nightmares: Reinventing US Rail with Dreamstar’s Joshua Dominic

“The train is the most civilized mode of transport. You can read, move about, and—if you want—meet interesting people.” – Sir Michael Palin

Why has the U.S.—a nation of innovation—fallen so far behind in passenger rail? And what will it take to reinvent medium-distance travel for the modern age?

On the 75th episode of the Railway Transportation Systems podcast, I sit down with Joshua Dominic, Co-Founder & CEO of Dreamstar Lines, who is leading one of the most ambitious passenger rail projects in America today.

Joshua and his team are working to reintroduce overnight trains as a premium, sustainable alternative to cars and planes—starting with a luxury service between Los Angeles and San Francisco. With design partnerships like BMW’s Designworks and a landmark agreement with Union Pacific, Dreamstar aims to close the country’s “500-mile gap” in travel by combining comfort, convenience, and sustainability.

🎙️ In this episode, Joshua shares:
 🔹 Why U.S. passenger rail lags behind the rest of the world
 🔹 The untapped potential of overnight rail travel
 🔹 How private enterprise can transform U.S. rail
 🔹 The balance of luxury, innovation, and sustainability in Dreamstar’s vision
 🔹 What the future of American medium-distance travel could look like

This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about rail, mobility, or sustainable innovation.