PRIVATE operator European Sleeper plans to launch an overnight service between Paris and Berlin by the end of March 2026. The existing service on this route is due to end in mid-December after Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and French National Railways (SNCF) announced at the end of September that their Nightjet trains will be withdrawn following the loss of financial support from the French government.
European Sleeper, which currently operates overnight trains three times a week between Brussels and Prague via Amsterdam and Berlin, says it will confirm the route and timetable for the new service shortly, once discussions with infrastructure managers in France and Germany have been concluded. Departures from Paris are proposed for Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, arriving in Berlin the following morning. The return service from Berlin will operate on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights.
The operator says that it aims to operate the service via Brussels, providing a Brussels - Berlin service six times a week. For passengers travelling to and from Britain, European Sleeper says the new service will offer more weekly travel options to Berlin, with overall journey times improving thanks to a straightforward Eurostar connection in Brussels.
Ticket sales for the Paris - Berlin service are expected to start on December 16, with fares similar to the current Nightjet service and three types of accommodation available: seated, couchette and sleeper. The operator plans to expand its rolling stock fleet to run the additional trains.
“We are proud to start operations on this vital European night train route, proving that an entrepreneurial approach can strengthen international train travel while helping Europe move towards more sustainable mobility,” says Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper.
New routes
European Sleeper says it is continuing to work on the potential launch of two new routes from Amsterdam/Brussels, to Switzerland/Milan and to Barcelona. The operator might face competition, however, as this summer German start-up Nox unveiled an ambitious plan to launch a pan-European network of privately-operated overnight trains.
European Sleeper, which is largely crowd-funded, is currently running a funding campaign with the aim of raising €1.3m from individual and corporate investors, followed by a further funding round next month to raise another €1m. The operator says the proceeds will help to cover the cost of launching the Paris - Berlin service, including rolling stock and potential losses during the start-up phase.
