European Sleeper experience

[rvdborgt]

Likewise I have been on NightJet with most, if not all toilets, out of use. It was also heavily delayed.

I forgot to mention: we each received €20 compensation for the toilets in our couchette carriage out of order.
Recently, a missing breakfast in the sleeper resulted in a compensation of €24 each.
ÖBB's compensation form has specific categories for these, so it's easy to request, but it also suggests it may be something that occurs frequently enough...

 

[popeter45]

any more news on the Milan service yet?

Mid to late February now so would have excepted more information and booking by now

Wonder if they are having similar issue to the Venice service again?

 

[rvdborgt]

ES's info page about Milan now says "Ticket sales will open as soon as possible."

 

[danshrimp]

Their most recent email newsletter said "More news about opening ticket sales soon!" - more often than not this tends to mean the next week's email.

 

[Jealgu]

Night train to Milan | European Sleeper

The direct night train connection from Amsterdam and Brussels to Milan city centre is planned from September 2026.

www.europeansleeper.eu

Update, start date has moved to 9 september. Route changed to Zurich and Como (perhaps temporary because of trackworks on the other route. The Amsterdam portion might start in 2027.

 

[danshrimp]

Yes, the press release explains a lot of it. The change of route is because this route looks more reliable long term, which is reasonable. Clearly there's more to the delayed start date than just track work - they immediately give away that they're still waiting for certification in Switzerland, for example - which isn't entirely surprising, starting two new routes into multiple new countries in a matter of months was always ambitious. A shame that they'll miss a lot of the summer season though.

New Brussels–Cologne–Zürich–Milan night
train starts 9 September 2026

European Sleeper has set 9 September 2026 as the start date for its third night train route. Although the first departure comes a few months later than originally planned, the new connection marks an important milestone in the company's development. Within six months, the European Sleeper network will grow from one to three routes. The night train to Milan will initially depart from Belgium, with a direct connection to and from the Netherlands following in the 2027 timetable.

The new route from Brussels and Cologne to Zürich and Milan creates an important north-south connection at the European level. It serves both leisure and business travellers, linking major economic and cultural regions overnight. Efficient connections in Brussels (to and from London), Cologne (Amsterdam and Berlin), Zürich (Graubünden and western Austria), and Milan (Venice, Florence, and Rome) further extend the reach and impact of this new night train service.

Route and planning update

In Switzerland, the train will run via Zürich and the Gotthard Pass for the time being, as the originally planned route via the Simplon Pass proved unfeasible due to track works scheduled through 2027. Luckily, the revised route via the Gotthard Pass also brings new opportunities. A stop in Göschenen provides convenient access to nearby ski resorts, while Lugano and Como offer easy connections to the well-known lakes and surrounding mountain landscapes.

Track works are also among the reasons for postponing the launch of the night train to Milan from 18 June to 9 September 2026. A high number of planned works in Germany during summer 2026 would not allow the service to operate with the required level of reliability. In addition, the certification process for Switzerland, a new country for European Sleeper, led the company to conclude that a September start would offer a more stable introduction of the route.

Starting a separate train section to and from Amsterdam is less viable during the off-peak season. Therefore, this part of the service has been postponed to 2027. The planned route still offers convenient connections to and from the Netherlands. Transfers are straightforward in Cologne (to and from Amsterdam and Utrecht), Aachen (Heerlen), Liège (Maastricht), and Brussels (Breda and Rotterdam).

Stops and timetable

The new Brussels-Cologne-Zürich-Milan European Sleeper will operate from Wednesday 9 September 2026. Departures from Brussels are scheduled for Monday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings, arriving in Zürich and Milan the following morning. The return service from Milan will operate on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday nights.

In Milan, the European Sleeper from Brussels arrives at Porta Garibaldi, a station even more centrally located than Milano Centrale. Porta Garibaldi offers some onward connections, including high speed trains to southern Italy. For more frequent national and regional services, travellers may prefer to transfer to Milano Centrale, just two metro stops, around six minutes, away.

Ticket sales start 17 March 2026

Ticket sales for the Brussels--Cologne-Zürich-Milan night train will open on 17 March 2026. The service offers the familiar European Sleeper travel classes. Fares in Budget, our comfortable seats, start from €29.99 per person one way. A couchette bed in a cosy Classic compartment is available from €49.99, including ticket, reservation, luggage and bed linen. Travellers seeking additional comfort can choose Comfort Standard from €99.99 or Comfort Plus from €129.99, which includes breakfast. These prices make the journey accessible to a wide range of travellers, from those travelling lightly to those who prefer a little more space and comfort.

And the timetable is at their typical leasurely pace...

 

[Austriantrain]

And the timetable is at their typical leasurely pace...

Always a good thing with night trains, they easily get delayed/diverted at short notice, especially if the run through Germany.

 

[30907]

Yes, the press release explains a lot of it. The change of route is because this route looks more reliable long term, which is reasonable.

I read it as short term (ie into 2027) until the Simplon route is fully dealt with.

I note that Zürich doesn't specify HB - back to the ancient habit of using Enge to avoid the reversal at a guess? (unless it's a mistake like Art for Arth!).

I suspect routing via Göschenen is not from choice, but that the stock wouldn't be allowed through the Basistunnel..

 

[danshrimp]

I suspect routing via Göschenen is not from choice, but that the stock wouldn't be allowed through the Basistunnel..

I suspect so. Though the likes of the Man in Seat 61 are already describing taking "the original scenic Gotthard route in daylight" as a bonus and they're not entirely wrong - if you're arriving late anyway and mostly serving a leisure crowd it probably doesn't hurt you that much to take another hour or so and go the scenic way.

 

[BRX]

Tickets to Milan are on sale as of this morning (I am now booked on the first southbound run on the 10th Sept).

 

[doc7austin]

Tickets to Milan are on sale as of this morning (I am now booked on the first southbound run on the 10th Sept).

Honestly speaking, I personally would not buy a ticket so far out (6 month). In my eyes European Sleeper Train is expanding too fast which requires huge amounts of money - a lot can happen in the next 6 months.

 

[Jealgu]

They acquired quit a bit of investments lately, I would say it should be fine for sometime at least. In the longer term we will see.

I do not agree they expand too fast. They simply have too, they need to expand to cover their overhead costs.

 

[doc7austin]

Which investments have they acquired lately ?

 

[Jealgu]

eyevestor - market.equity.community

platform.eyevestor.com

Crowdfunding, including some more rounds in the latter half of last year.

 

[BRX]

Honestly speaking, I personally would not buy a ticket so far out (6 month). In my eyes European Sleeper Train is expanding too fast which requires huge amounts of money - a lot can happen in the next 6 months.

If they go bust before then, I'll be more upset that the company has failed in general and won't be running their trains into the future, than I will be about the relatively small cost of my tickets.

 

[danshrimp]

As some had speculated, European Sleeper have indeed got hold of one (or more) of the AB33s released from the Amsterdam-Zürich Nightjet which they will be using on the Paris route from Thursday. Looks like they've got some more of the 5-berth couchettes too - all of this via RDC/Train Charter Services. To my eye the couchette in the picture appears to be in slightly better nick than the couchettes they've been using so far (it also appears to be being set up as comfort standard in the picture, which may not be a coincidence). On the inside at least!

Maartje (@maartje.dev)

New office!

bsky.app

 

[doc7austin]

A very bad start to the European Sleeper train from Paris to Berlin tomorrow.

I've have booked a private couchette compartment on tomorrow's journey. I could place up to 5 passengers into the cabin.

European Sleeper has just written to me that my booking was "downgraded" to a shared cabin in another car.

Where are the other 4 passengers be placed ?

And European Sleeper offered a EUR 25 refund per passenger, but didn't offer a full refund of the entire cabin.

 

[Jealgu]

And the train composition on their website does not mention any of the comfort categories, besides only eight carriages total. Strange, after the cancellation of Basel Malmo RDC should have more than enough carriages available.

 

[rvdborgt]

I've have booked a private couchette compartment on tomorrow's journey. I could place up to 5 passengers into the cabin.

And European Sleeper offered a EUR 25 refund per passenger, but didn't offer a full refund of the entire cabin.

They must at least offer to refund the difference in price. If it's just you, I doubt €25 (or €125) is enough. Offering a full refund would also be reasonable if you wouldn't want to travel anymore.

 

[Mike395]

Unfortunately ES have form for being exceedingly difficult with refunds. I was denied a refund when I enquired about abandoning my journey following a downgrade from a private sleeper to one shared with another person.

 

[doc7austin]

It is - unfortunately - written in the t&c.
A downgrade from a private to a shared cabin, ES only owes the passenger a meager EUR 25.

Example: you pay EUR 500 for a private sleeping car cabin. Now ES puts in two strangers into your cabin. They give you back EUR 25.

 

[BRX]

A very bad start to the European Sleeper train from Paris to Berlin tomorrow.

I've have booked a private couchette compartment on tomorrow's journey. I could place up to 5 passengers into the cabin.

European Sleeper has just written to me that my booking was "downgraded" to a shared cabin in another car.

Where are the other 4 passengers be placed ?

And European Sleeper offered a EUR 25 refund per passenger, but didn't offer a full refund of the entire cabin.

I don't really understand your post. You have booked a 5 person compartment for private use? You're suggesting that this means you could bring along 4 extra people with you, but that's not how it works is it?

Unless you paid for 5 passengers to travel in a 5-person compartment, which is a different price from 1 person travelling solo in a 5-person compartment.

 

[danshrimp]

And the train composition on their website does not mention any of the comfort categories, besides only eight carriages total. Strange, after the cancellation of Basel Malmo RDC should have more than enough carriages available.

Particularly odd given that in a picture taken by a spotter yesterday of an ECS move into Paris, it very much looked like two of the eight coaches were the new AB33 sleepers (the 4th and 7th): https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7442526689106137088

 

[doc7austin]

I don't really understand your post. You have booked a 5 person compartment for private use? You're suggesting that this means you could bring along 4 extra people with you, but that's not how it works is it?

Unless you paid for 5 passengers to travel in a 5-person compartment, which is a different price from 1 person travelling solo in a 5-person compartment.

No, 5 passengers in a private compartment costs the same as 1 passenger. And yes, I have specified 5 passengers during the booking process.

 

[rvdborgt]

Unfortunately ES have form for being exceedingly difficult with refunds. I was denied a refund when I enquired about abandoning my journey following a downgrade from a private sleeper to one shared with another person.

I know they're difficult and that's exactly the reason why you should always challenge them and escalate if necessary. It looks like their business model to save money: first deny a claim and only consider one after someone challenges them. Such behaviour should not pay off.

 

[Mike395]

I know they're difficult and that's exactly the reason why you should always challenge them and escalate if necessary. It looks like their business model to save money: first deny a claim and only consider one after someone challenges them. Such behaviour should not pay off.

I was prepared for that argument but in my case I turned up early ahead of departure to speak to the onboard staff and there were enough free berths (be it due to cancellations or because they keep some free to give a bit of flexibility) for me to get my booked solo accommodation.

 

[Jealgu]

Yeah it is odd, I saw a picture of anAB33 earlier as well. Could be an honest mistake, though a comfort standard one has now appeared. I do still think the number of carriages is low.

 

[riceuten]

I’ve mentioned it before, but European Sleeper are running before they can walk. They are once again operating a substandard service - in their inaugural week to boot. And attempting to wriggle out of any commitments made.

 

[danshrimp]

The train composition on the website has been updated. Now showing 2 x Comfort Plus, 2 x Comfort Standard, 4 x Classic.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Mar 2026 ==

The train composition on the website has been updated. Now showing 2 x Comfort Plus, 2 x Comfort Standard, 4 x Classic.

And, from Jon Worth's video, that is indeed how it looked as it departed Paris (more or less on time): https://bsky.app/profile/jonworth.eu/post/3mhy4eumwu22k. In a sleek all-blue look courtesy of RDC. We might have to start referring to the routes as ES Blue and ES Red!

 

[BRX]

I thought youtube today would be full of videos of the first train but there seems to be hardly anything!