The song was the second single from the band's album The Anvil. It was remixed for the single release with the assistance of John Luongo, and also available as a limited edition picture disc.
The B-side of the single is a non-album track, "I'm Still Searching". This song was not available on any digital format until 2008 when a re-issue of The Anvil was released by Cherry Red Records.
"Night Train" and "Whispers" (another track from The Anvil), were used in Japanese adverts for TDK tapes in 1982.[2] "Night Train" peaked at number 12 in the UK and was the band's final UK Top 40 hit until a remix of their first hit "Fade to Grey" was released in 1993.
The "Night Train" promo video was directed by Jean-Claude Luyat and it features Francesca von Habsburg (who was Steve Strange's girlfriend at the time, as a backing vocalist, although she didn't perform on the actual record) and French actress Eva Ionesco.