Sleeper Service Revival: Europe's Longest Night Train to Return Next Year
In a blow to the European sleeper-train renaissance, Austria's ÖBB announced the cancellation of its two Nightjet services connecting Paris to Vienna and Berlin in September. The news sent shockwaves through the night-train community, leaving passengers scrambling for alternative options. However, a glimmer of hope has emerged with the announcement that European Sleeper, a Dutch cooperative, will be taking over the route from Paris to Berlin.
The first train is set to depart on March 26, 2026, operating three times a week. Passengers can expect to board in Paris Gare du Nord and arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, with the return service departing from Berlin on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings.
European Sleeper boasts a 12-14 coach capacity, significantly higher than ÖBB's current Nightjet service. According to co-founder Chris Engelsman, the new train will offer more capacity and comfort, potentially attracting existing Nightjet customers as well as extending ridership.
The news has been met with jubilation by French campaign group Oui au train de nuit!, which protested the cancellation of sleeper services out of Paris in September. The group's spokesperson, Nicolas Forien, hailed the announcement as a "partial victory" for the 91,000 people who signed their petition.
European Sleeper, a company that has already seen significant success with its Berlin-Brussels and Dresden-Prague routes, is committed to making the journey from Paris to Berlin a comfortable one. While they won't be offering a dining car initially, Engelsman acknowledged the challenge of breaking even on meal sales due to high rental costs.
Tickets for the European Sleeper's inaugural route will start at €59 or €69 for a couchette compartment and become available from December 16, 2025.
In a blow to the European sleeper-train renaissance, Austria's ÖBB announced the cancellation of its two Nightjet services connecting Paris to Vienna and Berlin in September. The news sent shockwaves through the night-train community, leaving passengers scrambling for alternative options. However, a glimmer of hope has emerged with the announcement that European Sleeper, a Dutch cooperative, will be taking over the route from Paris to Berlin.
The first train is set to depart on March 26, 2026, operating three times a week. Passengers can expect to board in Paris Gare du Nord and arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, with the return service departing from Berlin on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings.
European Sleeper boasts a 12-14 coach capacity, significantly higher than ÖBB's current Nightjet service. According to co-founder Chris Engelsman, the new train will offer more capacity and comfort, potentially attracting existing Nightjet customers as well as extending ridership.
The news has been met with jubilation by French campaign group Oui au train de nuit!, which protested the cancellation of sleeper services out of Paris in September. The group's spokesperson, Nicolas Forien, hailed the announcement as a "partial victory" for the 91,000 people who signed their petition.
European Sleeper, a company that has already seen significant success with its Berlin-Brussels and Dresden-Prague routes, is committed to making the journey from Paris to Berlin a comfortable one. While they won't be offering a dining car initially, Engelsman acknowledged the challenge of breaking even on meal sales due to high rental costs.
Tickets for the European Sleeper's inaugural route will start at €59 or €69 for a couchette compartment and become available from December 16, 2025.
so they're bringing back sleeper services but only after ÖBB cancelled theirs... what about all those other companies that were gonna offer similar routes? 
where's the competition? also, €59 for a couchette compartment is kinda steep, especially considering the route is not exactly super short... how much are ppl really paying to sleep on trains in Europe these days? 
! A new sleeper train is coming to Europe? That's gonna be interesting 
! The fact that it can seat more people than the previous Nightjet service is huge 
. I'm also glad to hear that they're trying to attract existing customers, who were probably super disappointed when ÖBB cancelled the services 
. €59-€69 for a ticket? That's actually pretty affordable considering you'll be getting some comfort on board 
. Can't wait to see how it all plays out 
cant believe öbb cancelled those nightjet services, been wanting to take that route for ages now. european sleeper sounds promising tho, more coaches and comfy seats is a win in my book 
hope they do break even on food sales, would love to see some decent dining options on board 
& I'm low-key excited! They're bringing back sleeper service which means I can finally take that long train ride without being a zombie 
. But I have to ask, why do they have different trains for Paris to Berlin? Like, can't they just make it one route or something? 
Can't wait for tickets to go on sale tho! €59 is a pretty good starting price 
.
European Sleeper's taking over the route & it's gonna be a game changer 
. It's like a breath of fresh air for the European sleeper-train renaissance 
and I'm keeping my fingers crossed it sets the bar high for future routes 
. But at the same time, I'm sad to see ÖBB's Nightjet services go 
. They had such a great vibe going on.
! It's gonna be a game-changer for passengers who want a smooth ride without breaking the bank 
.
. €59/€69 might be a bit steep for some travelers. But hey, I guess you get what you pay for, right? 
Still super excited to see this new train take off and connect more people across Europe! 
. European Sleeper's decision to bring back this service is a huge win, especially for French fans like me who got excited when they found out ÖBB cancelled their Nightjet services 
.
. And €59/€69 prices? That's pretty reasonable, especially considering you get to sleep on the train 
. This European Sleeper thing sounds legit though - 12-14 coaches? That's way more than the ÖBB was offering. And it's good to see some competition in the market, hope we get more routes popping up soon 
But I guess European Sleeper stepping in is like, a total game changer 
.
. 91k people signing a petition is like, amazing 
.
... I remember when the sleeper trains were all the rage back in the day 
. Fingers crossed they can make this Paris to Berlin thing work 
. I'm sure existing Nightjet customers will be stoked to have another option, and new riders will get to experience the magic of night trains 
. Bring on those couchette compartments starting Dec 16th - can't wait to snag my ticket!