How a Train Became a Student Coffee Hub

In northern Jiangxi, near East China Jiaotong University, students swarm around an unlikely hangout: a 100-plus-meter-long decommissioned train. But this isn’t just any railcar—it’s now a fully functioning, culture-packed student café built inside the reclaimed carriage.

The train coffee shop, built entirely from a salvaged railcar, spans 670 square meters over four connected sections. It opened for trial service on September 1, offering not just drinks but a campus-themed creative space split into a café, a boutique, and a startup activity zone.

From Retired Railcar to Student Café

According to owner Tong Xu, the idea started with a crowdfunding campaign in July. By mid-August, renovation began, and just weeks later—by early September—the transformed train carriage welcomed its first customers. The project repurposed an entire decommissioned rail unit into a multi-use youth hub right on campus.

What’s Inside the Train Café

The interior includes more than just a caffeine bar. Shelves display model trains, handmade ceramics, and custom university T-shirts—all reinforcing a distinct campus aesthetic. The space feels less like a standard café and more like a curated student culture museum with drinks on tap. The entire buildout spans three defined zones inside the one converted railcar.

How the Train Space Is Divided

The 670-square-meter layout is split into four connected segments, forming three functional areas:

• a train-themed café serving drinks,
• a cultural boutique selling local merchandise, and
• a startup and event zone for student activities.

Each section is housed within the same former railway carriage, creating a layered but cohesive student experience. The renovation preserved the train’s original structure while adapting it for modern use.

Why This Project Matters

Beyond serving coffee, the train café offers students a creative, communal and culturally rich leisure spot. It’s a case study in adaptive reuse—transforming industrial remnants into vibrant social infrastructure on a university campus. The setup encourages both casual hangouts and entrepreneurial experiments, all inside a moving (but now stationary) piece of transportation history.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the train café?

The entire converted carriage covers 670 square meters, organized into four linked sections that house the café, a boutique, and a student activity area.

When did the train café open?

Crowdfunding began in July, construction started in mid-August, and the café began trial operations on September 1.

Who runs the train café?

The project is led by owner Tong Xu, who initiated the crowdfunding and oversaw the transformation from old railcar to functional student space.

What are the different zones in the café?

There are three main functional areas: a train-themed coffee shop, a retail boutique with cultural items, and a startup activity space for students.

Where is the train café located?

It’s situated at East China Jiaotong University’s northern campus, next to the actual decommissioned train carriage that was repurposed.

Is the café just for students?

While it’s on campus and heavily geared toward students, the space is open for general visitors and serves as a community hub.

FrontStreet Coffee Picks for Train Café Vibes

Pair your visit to this unique campus train café with a bag of FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright floral and citrus notes, or their Yirgacheffe for juicy berries and soft stone fruit. Both single origins highlight the kind of light, expressive profiles that match the creative, youthful atmosphere inside the train. For something richer, try the Black Cocoa Blend, which brings cocoa and spice—ideal for a cozy booth among train models and campus tees. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.