Night Trains from Verviers to Milan and Vienna Coming Soon
Verviers-Central station is set to become a major hub for international night train travel this September, with new connections to Milan and Vienna replacing stops at Liège-Guillemins on two key European routes. The changes, driven by capacity constraints on Belgium’s rail network, will bring direct overnight rail services to the Walloon city for the first time.
A Strategic Rerouting
According to DH Les Sports+, the Belgian-Dutch cooperative European Sleeper will launch its Brussels-Milan night train on September 9, 2026, with a stop at Verviers-Central instead of Liège-Guillemins in both directions. The Austrian operator ÖBB will follow suit on its Brussels-Vienna Nightjet service from September 7, no longer calling at Liège-Guillemins on its southbound journey and adding Verviers-Central instead.
The rerouting stems from scheduling conflicts at Liège-Guillemins following the launch of Deutsche Bahn’s new ICE Antwerp-Cologne service on September 7. The Mobilithib report, which first detailed the changes, cites a slot problem at Liège now occupied by the new ICE service, as well as capacity limitations on line 36 between Leuven and Liège in both directions.
Impact on Travel Times
The changes come with a cost for passengers. The journey between Brussels and Verviers on the European Sleeper will take approximately three hours, nearly 1.5 hours longer than with a regular SNCB train. In Switzerland, Zürich HB will be replaced by Aarau on the Brussels-Milan route, and the Chiasso stop will be removed, extending the total journey time from about 17 hours to between 18 hours 45 minutes and 20 hours.
“Unfortunately, these bypasses of the Liège station will have an impact on travel time,” noted DH Les Sports+ in its report.
The New Brussels-Milan Service
The Brussels-Milan European Sleeper service will run three times per week, departing Brussels on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with return services from Milan on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Trains will arrive at Milano Porta Garibaldi station.
Tickets start at €29.99 in Budget class (reclining seats), €49.99 for Classic couchette, €99.99 for Comfort Standard, and €129.99 for Comfort Plus with breakfast included, according to L’Avenir.
The route is designed as a strategic north-south axis connecting major European economic and cultural regions. “This new connection aims to attract both tourist and business travelers by connecting, during the night, several major economic and cultural regions,” European Sleeper explained in its March announcement.
December Rerouting via the Netherlands
From December 13, 2026, the Brussels-Milan service will be rerouted via Antwerp, Breda, and Eindhoven instead of Liège and Aachen, allowing Dutch passengers to board the night train. The Sidetrack blog reported on the change in May, noting the service will call at these Dutch cities as part of the new timetable.
The Nightjet Brussels-Vienna
The ÖBB Nightjet Brussels-Vienna service continues to operate three times per week in 2026, despite ÖBB ending its Paris connections in mid-December 2025 due to the end of French public subsidies, as Brussels Today reported. On the return trip from Vienna to Brussels, the Nightjet will continue to stop at Liège-Guillemins while also adding Verviers-Central, confirmed European Sleeper and SNCB, ÖBB’s partner.
What This Means for Verviers
For Verviers, the changes represent a significant boost to international rail connectivity from Wallonia. The city, located about 30 kilometers east of Liège on the line toward Germany, will now serve as a gateway for overnight rail travel to two major European capitals.
However, tickets for travel from and to Verviers had not yet been put on sale by either European Sleeper or ÖBB as of late July, with ÖBB not responding to questions about the delay. The Sidetrack blog has documented the full scope of changes affecting international rail services through Belgium.
Looking Ahead
The September changes mark another chapter in Europe’s night train revival, even as infrastructure constraints reshape routes. For travelers in eastern Belgium, the new Verviers-Central connections open up direct overnight rail access to Milan and Vienna—a welcome development even if it comes with longer journey times.
As the December timetable change approaches, the Brussels-Milan service will extend its reach into the Netherlands, further integrating the region’s rail network. For now, Verviers residents and travelers alike will be watching closely as ticket sales for the new connections become available.