Travelers between Paris and Berlin will soon have a new overnight option, but they’ll be taking a different route. European Sleeper, the company stepping in to replace the cancelled Nightjet service, has announced its new train launching in March 2026 will be routed via Brussels. This marks a significant change from the current service, which runs through Strasbourg, Frankfurt, and Erfurt. The Dutch cooperative is currently finalizing the precise route details and timings with infrastructure managers in France, Belgium, and Germany.
This new routing is a strategic decision that could redefine the sleeper map in Western Europe, linking three major capitals in one service. The train is set to launch on March 26, 2026, following the controversial withdrawal of ÖBB’s Nightjet service in December. The Nightjet’s cancellation, blamed on the end of French subsidies, sparked outrage and even a “pyjama party” protest at Paris Gare de l’Est, organized by the ‘Oui au train de nuit!’ campaign group.
The new service will operate three times a week. Departures from Paris Gare du Nord are planned for Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings. The return journeys from Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof stations will run on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. This schedule provides several convenient options for travelers looking to maximize their time in either city.
European Sleeper is also promising a significant advantage in terms of capacity. Co-founder Chris Engelsman pointed out that while the ÖBB service split its 12 coaches between Vienna and Berlin, the new European Sleeper train will dedicate 12 to 14 coaches entirely to the Berlin route. This will allow for a much larger passenger count of 600 to 700 people per train, potentially leading to better availability and pricing.
The company, which has been operating since 2023, has a reputation for its nostalgic, no-frills approach, which has earned it both fans and critics. The rolling stock for the new Paris-Berlin line will be German-rented coaches from the 1990s. While this is an update on some of their older carriages, the company is managing expectations: there will be no dining car at launch. The high costs associated with onboard catering make it a challenge to profitability, a reality that the growing company must navigate.