Imagine trading your rent, your address, and even your bed for a seemingly endless stretch of steel rails, a suitcase-sized backpack, and the gentle rocking of a first-class seat. For Lasse Stolley, this isn’t a travel fantasy—it’s daily life, and has been for nearly two years. Welcome to the story of a modern nomad whose idea of freedom comes with a first-class train pass, a toothbrush, and absolutely no fixed destination.
The Accidental Train Nomad
When Lasse Stolley left school, there was nothing in his past to suggest a future on the rails. As a child, railways didn’t pique his interest. He never owned a model train and had only ridden Germany’s high-speed ICE train twice before deciding to call the railway his home. After finishing high school, he intended to embark on a programming apprenticeship, but when that fell through, serendipity came chugging along in the form of a documentary: someone was living full-time on trains. “I thought I could do the same,” Lasse remembers.
Initially, his parents tried to deter him—a reaction any parent faced with a child planning to swap a cozy bedroom for station lounges might have. But when they saw his determination, they finally decided to support his plan.
Packing Light, Living Large
Lasse’s life fits into a 30-liter backpack. Each day, he can decide where he wants to go—sometimes that means traversing Germany, sometimes just opting for a particularly scenic route. “Being able to decide each day where I want to go is simply wonderful—it’s freedom,” Lasse told the AFP over coffee in a Frankfurt train station café.
His biggest expense? A first-class, 100% discount card for Deutsche Bahn (Germany’s national railway), costing 5,888 euros. This golden ticket grants him unlimited access to first-class lounges all across the country. In these lounges, he enjoys free meals, washes his clothes in the sinks, brushes his teeth, and even manages some personal hygiene. Showers require a little extra effort—he frequents pools near the stations for that.
When night falls, Lasse curls up in a first-class seat, having grown so accustomed to sleeping onboard that regular beds now pose a challenge. “I miss the rocking of the train,” he admits. What started as restless dozing and frequent returns to his childhood home in Fockbeck, not far from the Danish border, has evolved into true comfort on the rails. He even found true love—in a first-class lounge at Cologne station, proving romance can bloom just as easily trackside as anywhere else.
Making It Work… and Getting to Work
Unlike many who dream about quitting their jobs and running away by train, Lasse didn’t need to quit anything. He found a part-time job as a freelance developer for a small start-up, a position flexible enough to let him work from the rhythm and hum of a moving train. “I love just being able to look out the window, see the scenery rushing by… and explore every corner of Germany,” he says.
- Meals: Free in first-class lounges
- Clothes washing: In station sinks, dried on night trains
- Showers: In nearby swimming pools
- Sleep: First-class seats—so comfy he struggles in a real bed now
For his maiden voyage, Lasse departed from his hometown of Fockbeck, heading to Hamburg, where he hopped on a night train bound for Munich in the south. At first, sleep didn’t come easy. But he soon settled into the rhythm, and every challenge became part of the adventure.
The Bumps and Perks of a Life on Rails
German rail isn’t free from criticism—years of underinvestment mean delays and other issues are daily fare. Lasse openly admits, “Delays and other problems are a daily occurrence.” Even strikes, like those that paralyzed the network throughout much of 2023 and early 2024, didn’t dampen his spirit. On those occasions, he simply slept in airports. Such are the minor detours on the track to ultimate freedom.
And how long does he plan to live this way? “It might be a year, it might be five,” he muses. “For now, I’m enjoying myself and discovering new things every day.”
So, if you ever find yourself dozing in a station lounge and spot a tall, red-haired young man emerging from a 30-liter backpack like it’s Mary Poppins’ purse, don’t be surprised—he’s just another day into a journey defined not by destination, but by freedom. Who needs a fixed address when the whole country can be your living room?
William is the creative mind behind Aversa Outdoor — a lifelong outdoor enthusiast with a deep love for gardening, home design, and everything in between.
He grew up surrounded by nature, spending weekends helping in the family garden and learning the joy of building things by hand. Over time, that passion turned into a mission: helping others create spaces they love, inside and out.
With Aversa Outdoor, William shares practical tips, fresh ideas, and a laid-back approach to home and garden living. Whether you’re planting your first herbs, planning a patio makeover, or just looking for inspiration, he’s here to make it simple, rewarding, and a little bit fun.
When he’s not in the garden or sketching his next DIY project, you’ll find him exploring local nurseries, chasing the perfect sunset light, or sipping coffee on the porch with a good book.
