European Sleeper: the night train reconnecting Europe (Brussels–Prague, Paris–Berlin, Paris–Hamburg)

Written by Sophie Renassia

Published on December 3, 2025, modified today

Are you looking for an alternative to air travel in Europe? Would you like to experience the thrill of going to sleep on a night train in France, only to wake up the next morning in a major European city? That's exactly what ne Belgian-Dutch cooperative European Sleeper with its lines Brussels-Prague, Paris-Berlin (as an alternative to the Paris-Berlin ÖBB, which will be discontinued in December 2025), or even Paris-Hamburg night train.

Listen to our podcast Je t'offre un rail? (the podcast that will get you hooked on trains), Benjamin also received Anne Dubost, Director of Strategy and Business Development at European Sleeper. A fascinating episode discussing the cooperative model, profitability without subsidies, night services in Europe, seasonality, distribution, rolling stock...

Here's everything you need to know about European Sleeper, its current and future night train linesand his strategy for reconnecting Europe while you sleep.

TL;DR - The essentials about European Sleeper and its night trains
European Sleeper is a Dutch cooperative that relaunches international night trains in Europe.
Current lines
Brussels - Prague (via Amsterdam and Berlin)
→ 3 round trips per week
→ in service since 2023 (extended to Prague in 2024)
Upcoming lines
Paris - Berlin
→ 3 round trips per week
→ first departures scheduled on March 26, 2026
→ sales opening announced for December 16, 2025
Paris - Hamburg (new stop on the Paris-Berlin line)
→ from July 13, 2026
→ departures from Paris: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday evenings
→ returns from Hamburg: Monday, Wednesday, Friday evenings
→ train station served : Hamburg-Harburg
Brussels / Amsterdam - Milan
→ from June 18, 2026
→ via Cologne and Berne
Positioning
- model cooperative
- objective: reach theeconomic equilibrium without permanent subsidies
- several comfort levels (seats, berths, sleeping cars) tickets sold via European Sleeper, Trainline, Omio, SNCB, etc.
Update: January 27, 2026: European Sleeper will add Hamburg as a new stop on its future Paris-Berlin night train line, starting on July 13, 2026.

European Sleeper: an actor who shakes up the codes of the night train

A cooperative born in 2021, with a clear mission

European Sleeper is unlike any other operator, because it's a cooperative. Created in 2021 by two Dutch rail enthusiasts, Chris Engelsman and Elmer van Buurenits mission is clear: connect European cities with comfortable night trains accessible to the greatest number of people.

Initially financed by its co-owner members (including Anne herself, who says she bought "two European Sleeper shares" before even applying), the cooperative quickly grew into an international team of around 20-25 people.

A model based on an ecosystem of partners

Unlike the major incumbents, European Sleeper does not yet have its own rolling stock. Anne explains: "We don't own wagons, cars or premises today, we rent the equipment to partners".

To run its trains without owning any equipment, the cooperative relies on :

• partners for traction (locomotive + drivers),
• partners fornetwork access in each country,
• several rental companies for night cars.

An agile operation, but also a complex one, especially when launching lines crossing several countries.

A community at the heart of the project

European Sleeper cultivates a strong bond with its members: "We have members who [...] help us with the purchase of rolling stock [...]. We're well surrounded both on the public side [...], the community and then the passengers who are on the train."

With 230,000 passengers transported, the cooperative relies on :

• its co-owner members,
• travelers,
• and even the European Commission, which selected their Amsterdam-Barcelona project as a pilot.

This is a major advantage in a sector where innovation depends heavily on the ecosystem.

Brussels-Berlin then Brussels-Prague: the first great success story

The cooperative's first permanent line was launched in may 2023 three weekly round trips between Brussels and Berlin. Less than a year later, in March 2024, the line is extended to Praguethree round trips a week, via Amsterdam and Berlin.

European Sleeper

Gradually, European Sleeper is seeing better occupancy. Anne confides that the company is approaching equilibrium: "We're getting close, we haven't reached it yet to be really transparent (...), but in the high and mid-season months, we're breaking even".. The real challenge : low-season monthswhere revenues do not yet cover costs.

A "test & learn" approach, but a cautious one

In early 2024, European Sleeper also tested a seasonal Brussels-Venice service. It will not be repeated, as it is too demanding for a small team and too complex (5 countries crossed).

But the experience was trainer test dining cars, operational learningnew countries where the company is now a candidate for access to the networkanalysis of opening hours... A true pilot's logic.

A business model designed to survive without permanent subsidies

Proving that profitability is possible

European Sleeper wants to show that night trains can achieve economic equilibrium without long-term subsidies.

" We want to show that a night train line can break even. And that, as a result, it's possible to offer a night train service without the need for subsidies, or at least without permanent subsidies." - Anne Dubost | European Sleeper

Some lines, on the other hand, will never be able to do without public aid (she cites Paris-Aurillac as a counter-example). But for lines Brussels-Prague or Paris-BerlinAnne believes that profitability is within reach.

European Sleeper

Demand, the key to the model

The occupancy rate is decisive: a night train is not profitable from the first monthHowever, the ramp-up takes time, and above all, the high season only partially compensates for the low season, which remains the real sticking point.

Distribution is also a major lever: their tickets are sold via their website, but also via Trainline, Omio, SNCB and Czech Railways..

"For us, it's an opportunity to be visible where users usually buy their tickets. - Anne Dubost | European Sleeper

A range to suit all budgets

Where Midnight Trains was aiming for an offer premiumEuropean Sleeper offers several comfort levels. A more mass-market vision, accessible and capable of broadening the customer base.

"We offer several comfort classes [...]. We cater for the low-budget with seat compartments [...]. from €30Then there are the sleeping compartments and the car-bed compartments. - Anne Dubost | European Sleeper

Paris-Berlin: a (realistic) challenge for the cooperative

An emblematic but economically demanding line

Paris-Berlin is not just a long-distance line: it's a symbol of the revival of the European night train, a strategic axis between two major capitals. For Anne, this line ticks all the boxes:

• ideal distance (1000-1500 km),
• concentrated evening and morning stops,
• no commercial stops between midnight and 6 a.m. to preserve comfort and safety.

But she insists that launching a new line "is no trivial matter". It requires a solid business model, a communications effort and a gradual rise in passenger numbers.

The company has announced the route of the line, which will be via Brussels and Liège. Sales are scheduled to open on December 16, 2025for traffic 3 times a week from March 26, 2026 ! Read more in this article.

European Sleeper

A turbulent European context, but an assertive strategy

Whereas several operators are cutting back on night trains due to a lack of subsidies (Paris-Vienna and Paris-Berlin on the Nightjet sideStockholm-Berlin...), European Sleeper maintains its roadmap.

Anne's message is clear: yes, the context is difficult, and yes, night trains need start-up support; but no, they do not, they don't have to depend on lifelong carers if the offer is intelligently designed.

European Sleeper wants to prove the viability of the model, starting with the strongest lines, including the Paris-Berlin !

And other routes planned: Brussels/Amsterdam-Milan from June 2026

Update: December 10, 2025: European Sleeper has also just unveiled the date and route of its next line: a night train departing from Brussels or Amsterdam and to Milanthrough Cologne and Bernfrom June 18, 2026 !

In other words, you'll soon be able to fall asleep in Brussels (accessible via the OUIGO Paris-Brussels line from €10 for example), to wake you up in Germany, Switzerland or Italy!

European Sleeper

Paris-Hamburg night train (updated January 27, 2026)

Hamburg added as a stop on the Paris-Berlin route

Update January 27, 2026: European Sleeper has just announced the addition of Hamburg as a new stop on its future night train line Paris-Berlin.

From July 13, 2026Paris-Berlin night trains will make a stop at the station. Hamburg-Harburglocated to the south of the city.

This addition reinforces Hamburg's role as a major international rail hub between Western Europe, Northern Germany and Scandinavia.

Travel times and days between Paris and Hamburg

In concrete terms :

• Departures from Paris on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings
• Arrival in Hamburg early the next morning
• Returns from Hamburg on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings

The final timetables are still being coordinated with the infrastructure managers of the countries crossed, and will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Paris-Berlin via Hamburg

A new rail bridge between France and Scandinavia

Hamburg is a major rail hub to Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Norway), with numerous connections to Copenhagen, Stockholm or Oslo.

From Paris, it will be possible to reach Hamburg by nightand then on to Northern Europe by train - without having to fly.

This new stop also reinforces the network dimension of the Paris-Berlin line, significantly improving night-time connections between Western Europe and Scandinavia.

A further boost for the Paris-Berlin line

For European Sleeper, the addition of Hamburg reinforces the attractiveness and economic strength of the future Paris-Berlin route.

By connecting Paris, Brussels, Hamburg and Berlin on a single night-time route, the cooperative is consolidating its strategy of prioritizing the launch of long-distance routes with high load factor potential, capable of achieving economic equilibrium without permanent subsidies.

Exclusive offer for Club HOURRAIL!

As a reminder, European Sleeper is offering an exclusive discount to all members of the Club HOURRAIL! 20% off all routes (Paris-Berlin, Brussels-Prague, Brussels-Milan...) in 2026!

👉 Want to make the most of it? Join the Club HOURRAIL! and take advantage of our exclusive application by participating in our participatory funding campaign on Ulule.

The offer will be valid until December 31, 2025 for all our members. In concrete terms, this means you can take advantage of :

• now 20% off tickets for the Brussels-Prague route,
• from the opening of sales on December 16 of tickets at -20% for the new Paris-Berlin route.

By participating in our Ulule campaign, not only can you contribute to the development of our application, but you'll also benefit from many other exclusive advantages, like this one.

In short, European Sleeper is an ambitious, agile cooperative, clear-sighted about the challenges and convinced that a night train can be popular, comfortable and profitable. Brussels-Prague is just the beginning. And Paris-Berlin could well become one of the emblematic routes of this new generation of operators who want to reconnect Europe... while you sleep.

To listen to the full episode with Anne Dubost, go to here. And for more episodes, go to here !

Written by Sophie Renassia

Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).

Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.

Linkedin