European Sleeper Plans Night Train to Copenhagen and Malmö

European Sleeper, the Belgian-Dutch night train operator, has announced plans to launch a night train connection from Brussels and Amsterdam to Copenhagen and Malmö by spring 2028. The company has signed a strategic partnership with German railway operator RDC (Railroad Development Corporation) for the new route, which would mark European Sleeper’s first service to Scandinavia, according to VRT NWS.

A Natural Next Step

The launch is planned for April 2028, expanding a network that already connects the Benelux with Germany and the Czech Republic. European Sleeper currently operates routes to Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden and Prague, with a night train to Milan via Switzerland set to begin on September 9, 2026. Preparations are also underway for a Brussels-Barcelona connection, also planned for 2028.

“Our network is growing fast, Scandinavia is a natural next step,” said Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper, as reported by Euronews. “Together with RDC, we can create a night train that directly connects the Benelux with Copenhagen and Malmö, bringing another part of Europe within a comfortable night’s journey. It also marks an important next step in our strong cooperation with RDC, which already supports our Paris and Milan services through the provision of night train rolling stock.”

RDC’s Scandinavian Expertise

The partnership leverages RDC’s extensive experience operating night trains between Germany and Scandinavia. The US-based family-owned railway company, whose German subsidiary employs around 400 people, has been the operating partner for SJ’s Berlin-Stockholm EuroNight since 2022. From April 2026, RDC launched a Basel-Copenhagen-Malmö EuroNight in collaboration with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), and from September 1, 2026, it takes over the Berlin-Hamburg-Stockholm EuroNight commercially, as detailed in RDC’s press release.

“RDC has many years of experience operating night trains between Germany and Scandinavia,” said Markus Hunkel, chief executive officer of RDC. “Together with European Sleeper, we can build on that experience and create a strong new connection between the Benelux, Denmark and Sweden. We see real potential in combining our operational expertise with European Sleeper’s growing network and customer reach.”

What Travelers Can Expect

Initial plans for the new service envisage departures from both Brussels and Malmö at around 7pm local time, with arrival at the other end of the route at approximately 10am the following morning. The service is expected to offer a range of accommodation options from both European Sleeper and RDC, including comfortable seats, couchettes and sleeper compartments. Deluxe sleeper options are “also being considered,” according to the company’s press release, potentially including double beds and private en-suite bathrooms.

The new connection would bring cities such as Stockholm, Oslo and London within reach with just one transfer, significantly expanding overnight rail connectivity between Western and Northern Europe. Details on pricing and the full timetable are still being negotiated.

A Cooperative Success Story

European Sleeper operates as a cooperative rather than a traditional commercial company. Founded in 2021 by Elmer van Buuren and Chris Engelsman, the company raised €500,000 in seed capital within 15 minutes from more than 350 small investors. Since then, over €7 million has been raised from more than 6,000 co-owners, including travelers, climate activists, entrepreneurs and rail enthusiasts, as detailed in a profile of the company’s founding story published by the Swedish travel magazine Vagabond.

The company is part of a broader European night train renaissance. After decades of decline driven by low-cost airlines and the closure of night services by major operators in the 1990s, there has been renewed interest in overnight rail travel as a sustainable alternative to flying. The EU’s Fourth Railway Package of 2016 eliminated technical, administrative and legal barriers for cross-border trains, making it easier for new operators to enter the market.

Looking Ahead

While the announcement marks a significant expansion for European Sleeper, challenges remain. The launch is still two years away, and the company has faced operational difficulties, including the temporary suspension of its Paris-Berlin route in December 2025 before services resumed in March 2026. The reliance on aging rolling stock is another concern, though RDC’s involvement—including its existing fleet and infrastructure—may help address this.

The planned Fehmarn Belt tunnel between Denmark and Germany, expected to be completed in 2029, could further shorten travel times and make the Brussels-Copenhagen connection even more competitive. For now, European Sleeper’s announcement signals growing confidence in the night train market, offering travelers a sustainable alternative to short- and medium-haul flights across Europe.