It had been the ambition of European Sleeper all along: a night train connecting Brussels in Belgium to Berlin and Dresden in Germany and Prague in Czechia. Via Amsterdam in the Netherlands. From Monday 25 March 2024, the European Sleeper will finally go all the way.

The trains of the Belgo-Dutch rail company will no longer end their journey in Berlin, but continue Dresden Prague, among others.

It's confirmed! I'll be on board @EuropeanSlpr's inaugural train from Brussels to Prague on Monday: Leave London by Eurostar at 13:01, change in Brussels onto the European Sleeper arriving Prague at 10:56 next morning. Excited? I think I might be… https://t.co/aQR28iKaJE pic.twitter.com/U7U1t0WKNW

— The Man in Seat 61 (@seatsixtyone) March 20, 2024

European Sleeper has been running from Brussels, via Antwerp and Amsterdam, to Berlin since the end of May 2023. Almost a year later, the line is extended: after Berlin, the night train will also stop in Dresden, Bad Schandau in the Saxon Switzerland National Park (Sächsische Schweiz), and across the German-Czech border in Děčín (Tetschen) and Usti nad Labem – two cities on the Elbe River – and finally in Prague.

The European Sleeper night train will run three times a week from, with departures from Brussels-South/Midi on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The departure is scheduled for 7:22 PM in Brussels and at 8:01 PM in Antwerp-Central. The train passes through Berlin after 6 AM, Dresden two hours later and arrives in Prague shortly before 11 AM.

“New route every year”

Co-founder and face of European Sleeper Elmer van Buuren is over the moon with the extended route. The company is now aiming at linking the Netherlands and Belgium to Barcelona in Spain. That would be for 2025 and 2026. 

New level of comfort

European Sleeper had three types of accommodation: sleeper, couchette and seat(s). It has now two levels of couchettes: Standard and Comfort. The Comfort couchettes are compartments with five beds instead of six. 

These carriages were previously used by GreenCityTrip, which has stopped its night train operations.

Bear in mind European Sleeper has to be content with old rolling stock and thus their hard product isn’t stellar. That’s the reality of decades of not investing in sleeper trains. There aren’t many second-hand coaches available. 

It is said it has bought Dutch NS ICR coaches, currently used by Benelux trains, to be transformed to couchette or sleeper cars. 

Fanfare

The launch of the extended route comes with some fanfare.

“We are truly thrilled to be launching the new route to Prague less than a year after launching our first direct service from Brussels to Berlin”, Elmer van Buuren says in a press release. 

“Our goal is to add a new route each year so we can continue to contribute to a more integrated and sustainable European transportation network and we’re proud to offer these incredible new destinations to travellers in Europe and beyond”. 

Martin Kupka (ODS), the Czech Minister of Transport:”Night trains are now making a comeback all over Europe and I am very glad that the Czech Republic is not left behind. It is an environmentally friendly alternative to air transport, which confirms that rail will play an increasingly important role in the future. For us, this is another signal that we urgently need not only to complete the modernization of existing rail corridors, but also to speed up the preparation and construction of high-speed lines.” 

Martin Dvořák (STAN), the Czech Minister for European Affairs: “The opening of the new route  of the European Sleeper night train is another step to strengthen the connection between European Union member states and support sustainable transport in Europe. This project not only simplifies travel between Brussels and Prague, but also reflects our common European values and the drive for a greener and more connected continent. I am very pleased to be part of this initiative, which  proves that collaboration and innovation can lead to real solutions in the field of mobility and sustainability.” 

Tourism

“The history of railway transportation in the Czech Republic dates back to the 1820s. Currently, it serves us and has enormous potential for the future. With the added value of this new line, we improve our support of tourism in the regions. The night train which includes a bike carriage will also stop, in Děčín and Ústí nad Labem. Cyclists and hiking enthusiasts don’t have to travel to Prague, instead, they can enjoy, for example, a cycling trip on the Elbe Cycle Path or a hiking 

adventure along the Czech Switzerland Crest Trail, with its gateway being the city of Děčín”, František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourism Authority – Czech Tourism, summarizes.

Patrick Bontinck, CEO of visit.brussels: “By train, Brussels is less than two hours from London, Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne. Accessible train travel is required to reinforce our ambitions as a sustainable destination. Therefore, the extension of our night train services is key.  Thanks to European Sleeper, Brussels is connected to an increasing number of cities across Europe. Not only does this help us to attract more visitors, it contributes to Brussels’ role as a leading sustainable destination.” 

Michal Krapinec, CEO of České dráhy (ČD): “ČD is actively involved in the operation of night trains in  Europe. Our goal is to provide Europeans with a comfortable, and sustainable option for travelling across the continent, during the day or night. In line with this vision, we have embraced a partnership with European Sleeper to establish a direct overnight link connecting Prague with 

Amsterdam and Brussels. This initiative bridges Western and Central Europe and also unlocks new travel possibilities.” 

“As a stop on the expanded route of the European Sleeper, Dresden is part of a project in which sustainability is a top priority and in line with our sustainability strategy. We can significantly optimize travel on the east-west axis and enable guests from our important foreign markets such as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic to travel to us in a greener and more comfortable  way. We look forward to many additional visitors”, Corinne Miseer, Managing Director of Dresden Marketing GmbH, says.

Bohuslav Svoboda, Mayor of Prague: “The introduction of a night train, 

specifically expanding its route from Brussels to Prague, is precisely the kind of initiative that connects Europe tangibly and, most importantly, realistically. In general, I also welcome the return to the practice of night train connections, especially at a higher level than what we were accustomed to in the past.” 

Pricing

The new service connecting Brussels, Dresden, and Prague is available from 25 March 2024 starting at €49 for a seat and €79 for a couchette in a shared compartment. 

In parallel, European Sleeper has been able to secure improved rental carriages. These couchette carriages will significantly increase the comfort and travel experience of the night train passengers. 

This route was selected by the European Commission as one of ten pilot projects to improve European cross-border rail connection. 

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