European Sleeper to launch Brussels–Milan night train in September 2026.
On September 9, 2026, European Sleeper will open its third night train line, which will be a significant turning point in the business’s growth objectives. Within six months, the European Sleeper network will expand from one route to three with the inclusion of the additional service.
The new overnight link will establish a major north-south train corridor throughout Europe by connecting Brussels and Cologne with Zürich and Milan. With easy onwards connections in Brussels (to and from London), Cologne (Amsterdam and Berlin), Zürich (Graubünden and western Austria), and Milan (Venice, Florence, and Rome), the service will serve both pleasure and business tourists.
A direct segment connecting the Netherlands is scheduled for the 2027 schedule, but the route will first run from Belgium.
The launch date has been rescheduled from June 18 to September 9, 2026, due to planned infrastructure projects in several parts of Europe. Large-scale track construction that was scheduled for the summer of 2026 in Germany would have prevented the service from operating with the necessary degree of dependability. The decision to move the start date to September was also influenced by the certification processes needed for operations in Switzerland, a new market for European Sleeper.
Timetable & Stops
On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, the new Brussels-Cologne-Zürich-Milan European Sleeper will commence into service. There are nighttime departures from Brussels on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, with morning arrivals in Zürich and Milan. Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday nights are when the return service from Milan will run.
The European Sleeper from Brussels lands in Milan at Porta Garibaldi, which is even closer to the city center than Milano Centrale. Some further links, like as high-speed trains to southern Italy, are available from Porta Garibaldi. Travellers may choose to transfer to Milano Centrale, which is only two metro stops and around six minutes away, for more regular national and regional services.
On March 17, 2026, tickets for the night train between Brussels, Cologne, Zurich, and Milan will go on sale. The starting price for seats in the budget class is €29.99. Classic compartment couchette berths will start at €49.99, which includes bed linens, luggage allowance, and reservation. Comfort Standard berths, which start at €99.99, and Comfort Plus berths, which start at €129.99 and include breakfast, are options for those who want more comfort.
