European Sleeper to add Brussels-Venice train service

European Sleeper will launch its second overnight train service next year, between Brussels and Venice.

The twice-weekly service will operate in February and March and stop additionally at Antwerp, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Cologne, Munich, Innsbruck, Bolzano and Verona.

“We are pleased to introduce this new night train connection from the North Sea to the Mediterranean,” said Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper.

“Passengers will be able to board our train from Belgium and the Netherlands, and relax in the comfort of the restaurant car, while the train transports them through Germany and Austria, and across the Alps, ending in the historic cities of Verona and Venice the following day. This marks a new important milestone for European Sleeper and the convenience of night travel across Europe more sustainably.”

Fares will be unveiled “shortly”, while a provisional timetable has services departing Brussels at 17.00 and arriving in Venice at 14.00 the following day. Return services will depart Venice at 15.00 and arrive in Brussels at 11.00 the following day.

The privately owned company launched its inaugural overnight service between Brussels and Berlin in May 2023 before extending it to Prague in March 2024. It operates three times per week in each direction and features a number of seating and sleeping options.

With the support of the European Commission, the company aims to launch an “ambitious new connection” between Amsterdam and Barcelona.

Another overnight rail operator, Midnight Trains, announced its closure in May this year without even launching its planned services from Paris, blaming its demise on a lack of funding from investors.