European Sleeper is expanding its night train network and a new night train to Milan is now scheduled to debut in June 2026.
Three weekly trains from Brussels and Amsterdam
The service, which follows the launch of the Paris-Berlin line on 26 March 2026, will run three times a week and will offer, direct carriages from both Brussels and Amsterdam. Planned intermediate stops include Cologne, Berne, Brig and Stresa. The Belgian-Dutch railway company currently connects Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresda and Prague three times weekly and has already transported almost 240,000 passengers on more than 750 night trains. A second European Sleeper night service will start at the end of March 2026 on the line between Paris and Berlin, taking over the connection that Öbb and Sncf will discontinue on 15 December 2025.
Important new connections for European cities
The new line from Amsterdam and Brussels to Switzerland and Milan creates an important north-south connection at European level. The service caters to both leisure and business travellers, connecting major economic and cultural areas. Connections in Brussels (to and from London), Cologne (to and from Hamburg and Berlin), Berne (to and from Zurich and Geneva) and Milan (to and from Venice, Florence and Rome) further extend the scope and relevance of this new night train.In Switzerland, the train will follow the historic Simplon line via Bern, Brig and Domodossola into Italy, stopping in Stresa before arriving in Milan.
Economically viable with strong travel potential
To ensure adequate departure and arrival times from Amsterdam, Brussels and Cologne, European Sleeper decided to route and then combine two separate sections of the train in West Germany, one departing from Amsterdam and one from Brussels. The company is convinced that all three of these city break destinations are crucial for the economic viability of the connection, not least because of their large populations and strong travel potential. Departures from Amsterdam and Brussels are scheduled for Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, arriving in Switzerland and Milan the following morning. The return service from Milan is scheduled on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights.
Sales will open between January and February 2026
European Sleeper is currently defining the final timetable in coordination with the railway infrastructure managers of each country. Sales for the Amsterdam/Brussels-Milan connection are scheduled to open between January and February 2026. The train will offer travel classes typical for night trains, with a fare structure in line with current European Sleeper services.
