Night Train Service Launches Between Brussels and Milan
The first night train service between Brussels and Milan departed on Wednesday, marking a new milestone in European rail connectivity. Operated by the Dutch-Belgian cooperative railway company European Sleeper, the service offers a sustainable alternative to air travel between Belgium and Italy, running three times per week in each direction.
The inaugural southbound departure from Milan Porta Garibaldi took place Wednesday afternoon, with the train arriving in Brussels the following morning. In the reverse direction, departures from Brussels Midi are scheduled for Monday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings, according to VRT NWS. The approximately 17.5-hour journey traverses four countries—Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy—with stops including Como, Lugano, Aarau, and Cologne.
A Revival of a Historic Connection
The launch revives a route that last operated between 1989 and 2002, when a direct night train ran daily between the two cities as train numbers 298/299. That earlier service, a collaboration between various national railway companies, took approximately 12 hours via Luxembourg and Alsace. The new service follows a different path through Germany and the Gotthard railway line, a route change necessitated by extensive track works on the Simplon line that will continue until 2027.
Advocacy group Back on Track has welcomed the new connection while noting the differences from the historical service. “In the past, this night train ran every day,” the group said, pointing out that the new service operates only three times per week and takes significantly longer due to the altered routing.
Partnership Behind the Service
European Sleeper, founded in 2021 as a cooperative wholly owned by its community of supporters, operates the service in partnership with Arenaways, a private Italian railway company that handles the Italian section of the route up to the Swiss border. The collaboration brings together two companies founded the same year, both members of the Allrail association of independent passenger railway operators.
“This new night train realizes an important connection between north and south, linking Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium with an offering that makes international train travel more accessible and attractive for an ever-growing number of passengers,” said Chris Engelsman, co-founder and CEO of European Sleeper, as reported by MilanoToday. “We are proud to launch this service together with Arenaways.”
Matteo Arena, Director General of Arenaways, emphasized the shared vision of the two companies: “Both founded in 2021 and firmly convinced that the train is the key answer for the mobility of the future.”
Tickets and Pricing
Fares start at €29.99 for seating in the Budget class, with Classic couchette berths from €49.99. For passengers seeking more comfort, the Comfort Standard option starts at €99.99, while Comfort Plus—which includes breakfast—is available from €129.99. Private couchettes are priced from €179.99. Bookings are available through the European Sleeper website for travel up to September 2027.
Route Expansion Ahead
From mid-December 2026, the service will be extended to include additional stops at Antwerp, Breda, and Eindhoven, providing a direct connection to the Netherlands. In Switzerland, the stop at Aarau will replace the previously scheduled stops, with connections to Zurich taking approximately 30 minutes.
The Brussels-Milan route is European Sleeper’s third fixed service, following the Brussels-Prague line launched in May 2023 and the Paris-Berlin route that began in March 2026. Since its first departure, the company has carried over 300,000 passengers and operated more than 980 night trains across Europe, according to Il Sole 24 Ore.
The company is also planning further expansion, with a Brussels-Amsterdam to Copenhagen and Malmö service targeted for spring 2028 in partnership with German operator RDC, as BRUZZ reported. Barcelona is also on the company’s radar.
Part of a Broader Night Train Revival
The launch comes amid a wider resurgence of overnight rail services across Europe. Austrian operator ÖBB already runs night trains between Brussels and Vienna, while Travelski—a subsidiary of Compagnie des Alpes—will operate a weekly night train from the Netherlands via Antwerp and Brussels to the French Alps from mid-December through the end of March.
As European Sleeper’s network continues to grow, the Brussels-Milan connection represents another step toward rebuilding the continent’s overnight rail network—offering travelers a restful, sustainable alternative to short-haul flights between two of Europe’s most vibrant cities.