European Sleeper /1 – Overview

Passenger train services • Main line services / Ticketing • Intercity • Private mainline operators • Netherlands • European Sleeper

Summary: European Sleeper is a cooperative night‑train operator founded in 2021 to revive cross‑border overnight rail links. Its first service launched in 2023, connecting Brussels and Amsterdam with Berlin using couchettes, sleepers, and seated coaches. In 2024, the route expanded to Dresden and Prague, creating a direct Western–Central Europe connection with convenient evening departures and morning arrivals. In 2026, two new routes were launched: from Paris to Berlin via Brussels, and from Brussels to Milan via Cologne.

➤ Similar operators: Snälltåget

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Key points

Cooperative system ;
Second hand rolling stock ;
Only night train on international routes.

Read the full package about European Sleeper:

The company → 2.1 Rolling stock → Train services → Economics

In brief

European Sleeper is a cooperative night‑train operator based in the Netherlands and Belgium, launched in 2021 with the aim of reviving long‑distance overnight rail travel across the continent. The company focuses only on night train, with couchettes, classic sleeping compartments and seated coaches. Founded by Elmer van Buuren and Chris Engelsman, European Sleeper is financed by over 6,000 individual subscriptors and night train enthusiasts rather than large corporate backers. This is one of the few examples of railway companies that have succeeded through crowdfunding.

Its first route, introduced in 2023, runs from Brussels and Amsterdam to Berlin. In 2024, this route was extended to Dresden and Prague, creating a direct overnight link between Western and Central Europe. In 2026, two new routes were launched: from Paris to Berlin via Brussels, and from Brussels to Milan via Cologne.

COMPANY TYPE
Name:	European Sleeper Cooperative
Headquarter:	Utrecht (NL)
Year founded:	2021
Sector:	Passengers transport
International services:	yes
Investor(s):	Crowfunding – ca 6000 subscriptors
Traction operator(s):	Train Charter BV
First service:	June 2023
Official website:	https://www.europeansleeper.eu/

For its technical operations, European Sleeper has a contract with Train Charter BV, a Dutch company that provides turn-key solutions integrating service design, train operations, on-board service and fleet lease. The company has therefore taken steps to provide both the timetables from each infrastructure manager and the rolling stock, including traction and drivers.

Regular routes
➤ Brussels – Amsterdam – Berlin – Prague
➤ Paris – Brussels – Liège – Berlin
➤ Brussels – Liège – Lugano – Milan

Rolling stock (past and present)