European Sleeper experience

[befated]

A newsletter from ES this morning promises Brussels-Malmo in April 2028 and Brussels-Barcelona in 2029. Apologies if these are both old news, I hadn't heard anything was actually progressing on the latter. [Attached image shows updated network map with these, including an Avignon call on the Barcelona route, and Amsterdam/Copenhagen calls on the Malmo route. Note it does not show all intermediate stops on the existing routes, so there might be other stops not shown here when the new services start.]

I also paid a quick visit to the website, which now has a 'Good Fare Finder'. It's just a calendar view of prices for a given journey on different dates, nothing special but much easier than having to run a new search query for every date you want to compare.

 

[danshrimp]

A newsletter from ES this morning promises Brussels-Malmo in April 2028 and Brussels-Barcelona in 2029.

Which is interesting given the press release for the Malmö route, merely a week ago, said that Barcelona was also going to start in 2028. That sure slipped quickly!

Other titbits in the pitch deck for potential investors include the fact that the startup costs for the Paris route were enormous (various factors are hinted at, to be honest a lot of them seem related to how quickly they rushed to start so they could replace the ÖBB service), resulting in a significant loss in 2026 despite much-increased revenue, and the fact that they now don't expect to be profitable until 2030.

Paris bookings were below expectations during the first few months of service, as increasing train capacity took longer than planned. Bookings are now gaining momentum. Operationally, the Paris service also had a challenging start, which temporarily drove up costs.

Performance is now improving, and we expect Paris to follow, or even outperform, the upward curve the Prague route realised. In fact, the Paris - Berlin route is performing relatively better than Brussels - Prague from the start, because of our marketing power, better brand awareness and bigger reach. Which gives promising outlook on the future of these new routes.

Say what you like though, very very few thought they'd make it to this stage. Indeed most people 'in the know' didn't believe they'd ever run a single train. Now they're planning their fourth and fifth routes...

 

[Beebman]

A review just published by Superalbs Travels:

I am FINALLY trying the European Sleeper on an epic 15 hour overnight train journey from Prague to Brussels! Charging over 500 Euros for a private room in a 70 year old classic carriage, is this hyped European night train actually worth the money? Join me for a frankly CHAOTIC European Sleeper review as our international sleeper train gets completely lost around Berlin, suffers severe railway delays, and navigates a series of bizarre mishaps. From stunning sunset views along the Elbe River to a poor breakfast, find out what it's actually like to ride this long distance night train!

 

[Jealgu]

A review just published by Superalbs Travels:

Give the type of Sleeper car that video is not very recent. Makes you wonder how worthy it is as review.

 

[duesselmartin]

the title of that "review" already shows that the vlogger did not like it. Some people have very high expectations, seasoned travellers know better.

 

[Bletchleyite]

the title of that "review" already shows that the vlogger did not like it. Some people have very high expectations, seasoned travellers know better.

He's right that the price paid should come with a premium experience. It's many times a typical low cost flight plus a hostel bed, yet the experience is barely up to that.

I think this just proves really that good quality night trains at even vaguely reasonable prices aren't feasible without subsidy.

 

[AlterEgo]

the title of that "review" already shows that the vlogger did not like it. Some people have very high expectations, seasoned travellers know better.

I think people have a right to high expectations if the product is being sold for up to 500 euros - and more in some cases. If we are serious about getting people onto lower carbon forms of transport we cannot just say "seasoned travellers know better (and that it can be crap)".

 

[D6130]

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone know the latest on Thibault ('Simply Railway')'s planned new sleeper operation?

 

[AlterEgo]

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone know the latest on Thibault ('Simply Railway')'s planned new sleeper operation?

Yes. There will be something at Innotrans is all I'm prepared to say.

 

[D6130]

Yes. There will be something at Innotrans is all I'm prepared to say.

Thanks. Watch this space!

 

[riceuten]

the title of that "review" already shows that the vlogger did not like it. Some people have very high expectations, seasoned travellers know better.

Which, given what happened is fair enough. I swear there are people here who would defend ES if they proposed the imprisonment of every other passenger

 

[AlterEgo]

Thanks. Watch this space!

In fact, he has just posted a teaser about tomorrow: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc1RN3NlxBT/?img_index=2&igsi=YjIxczY1MWI1MHli

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Thursday at 17:58 ==

Which, given what happened is fair enough. I swear there are people here who would defend ES if they proposed the imprisonment of every other passenger

It is a little bit crazy. It's unfortunate that two people have had bad experiences who have large followings but it is what it is. Youtube isn't Trustpilot and you're only seeing one person's trip. Incidentally I posted a video the other day about a truly marvellous journey which I loved - the Doğu Express - and a lot of the audience turned their nose up at the train!

ES are definitely having multiple issues, and at the same time it is also true that it's a miracle they are here at all. Both of these things can be true at once!

 

[Bletchleyite]

ES are definitely having multiple issues, and at the same time it is also true that it's a miracle they are here at all. Both of these things can be true at once!

Yes, though that probably only really applies to enthusiast passengers who are on it for the authentic 1990s rough round the edges night train experience, not someone who when paying that much expects a modern level of quality you might get a bit closer to with say the Cally (though that of course has its own problems).

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

In fact, he has just posted a teaser about tomorrow:

From Simply Railway on Bluesky:

One year in the making… Tomorrow on the channel, we’re not reviewing a train.

It’s been one year since Thibault announced his night train project @noxmobility.bsky.social

Time for an update! See you tomorrow at 4 PM on YouTube.

Simply Railway (@simplyrailways.bsky.social)

One year in the making… Tomorrow on the channel, we’re not reviewing a train. It’s been one year since Thibault announced his night train project @noxmobility.bsky.social Time for an update! See you tomorrow at 4 PM on YouTube.

bsky.app

ETA (Friday 4th): Nox will be unveiling their first coach on September 23rd at InnoTrans in Berlin.

 

[SephenWorceste]

the title of that "review" already shows that the vlogger did not like it. Some people have very high expectations, seasoned travellers know better.

The European Sleeper website sets an expectation. The ticket sets an expectation. Perhaps even a contract.

European Sleeper for reason perhaps not within their control have struggled to meet these expectations.

Trains not running the entire route. Paid for private compartment accommodation replaced by a seat. Timetables that are unachievable.

I think it is fair for people to expect what was advertised and purchased.

 

[doc7austin]

It seems that ES continues to put Berlin-Paris passengers onto buses between Brussels and Paris - even now in August.

 

[LUYMun]

Last night’s ES452 service from Prague to Brussels was reported to have had its locomotive break down at Bad Schandau on the German-Czech border, resulting in a near-400 minute delay as of writing.

 

[AdamWW]

European Sleeper seem to be paying Google for their adverts to appear if you search for Go Volta.

 

[Jealgu]

Not when I search Govolta.

 

[danshrimp]

They may be targeting you in particular, and doing a train-related search is enough to trigger the ad. ES certainly do plenty of targeted advertising.

Tomorrow night (though 'night' may be a stretch given the 16:45 departure) is the first Milan-Brussels service. Will be interesting to see the consist and how it gets on! This is, to my knowledge, ES's first venture into Switzerland, who may be somewhat less forgiving of delays. (I understand that ES474 is set to arrive into Paris Nord later today with a stonking 6h30 delay...)

 

[otter11]

It seems that ES continues to put Berlin-Paris passengers onto buses between Brussels and Paris - even now in August.

Is this happening for every single train? If so it feels very poor that they are still selling tickets advertising a train to/from Paris...

 

[rvdborgt]

Is this happening for every single train?

It's not. Today's Berlin-Paris ran to Paris, and as far as I can see, last week Saturday and Thursday it also did. Not sure about Last week Tuesday; NMBS show a departure from Brussels, but no arrival or departure time in Mons.

 

[StephenHunter]

Give the type of Sleeper car that video is not very recent. Makes you wonder how worthy it is as review.

The lead time for these videos tends to pretty long: they want to ensure regular content, so they space them out.

 

[BRX]

Tomorrow night (though 'night' may be a stretch given the 16:45 departure) is the first Milan-Brussels service. Will be interesting to see the consist and how it gets on! This is, to my knowledge, ES's first venture into Switzerland, who may be somewhat less forgiving of delays. (I understand that ES474 is set to arrive into Paris Nord later today with a stonking 6h30 delay...)

I am particularly interested in how it gets on as I am booked on the first southbound, the night after.

No composition showing yet on the website posted earlier -

https://whereisthe.es/train/400

I wonder if they will be doing a trial run southbound tonight (without paying passengers)?

 

[DanielB]

I wonder if they will be doing a trial run southbound tonight (without paying passengers)?

There has been an empty run to Milan according to photos on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/les...link/1762864084593388/?rdid=APVqB3MvtYVys1YT#

 

[Jealgu]

Swedish on some carriages!!!

More noteworthy, most of the couchettes are from GFF, the type ES used at the very beginning. They have had a visual makeover, at least on the outside, but no air-conditioning.

 

[AlterEgo]

Last night’s ES452 service from Prague to Brussels was reported to have had its locomotive break down at Bad Schandau on the German-Czech border, resulting in a near-400 minute delay as of writing.

A small delay by ES standards!

 

[AdamWW]

They seem to have managed a planned (at short notice) diversion around the Netherlands for tomorrow's transport strike rather than just throwing in the towel.

 

[BRX]

They seem to have managed a planned (at short notice) diversion around the Netherlands for tomorrow's transport strike rather than just throwing in the towel.

Their website shows the route via verviers & aachen as being the one used until early December (when it goes via Eindhoven). Is that a change from the original plan?

A few days ago I got an email from ES saying my departure time from Brussels had been changed (to a later one). I looked at the route and was slightly surprised to see we were going via Aachen because I had it in my mind that the route was via Rotterdam etc - but decided I must have misremembered.

(Shortly after that I got an email telling me that my Eurostar was cancelled because of the strike. This ended up being to my advantage as I could rebook to a more convenient one.)

So has ES replanned because of the strike or for other reasons? The fact that the diversion is for a couple of months suggests the latter.

If the plan was that the first service went via the Netherlands it's rather bad luck on their part that it coincides with their inaugural train.

 

[danshrimp]

Swedish on some carriages!!!

More noteworthy, most of the couchettes are from GFF, the type ES used at the very beginning. They have had a visual makeover, at least on the outside, but no air-conditioning.

Indeed it's very similar to their last venture into Italy which had a mix of GfF and Euro Express couchettes, just with the latter (busy working hard on Brussels-Prague) swapped out for some from RDC (recently released from Berlin-Stockholm).

From recollection the GfF couchettes feel a bit cheap and nasty, with no air con and (if I remember rightly) no plug sockets. I note that they've been filling in on the Paris-Berlin route too to add more capacity over the summer. I suppose it's too much to hope for that they've had a makeover on the inside too!

Combined with the return of the AB30 - which it looks like they're only running one of - this train isn't ES's finest, which is certainly saying something. But it's nonetheless wonderful, and no small achievement, that it exists. Providing they can get it running reliably...