Fresh off the news that European Sleeper is about to launch a Paris-Berlin night train, the operator is far from pulling the brakes on the expansion of its network, and another brand-new route is apparently planned for 2026.
Currently, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden and Prague are connected by services three times each week, and according to European Sleeper, 750 trains have transported more than 240,000 passengers since they launched in 2023.
But the newest addition to the roster is a service that will connect Amsterdam and Brussels with Bern and Milan, creating ‘an important north-south connection at European level’, according to the operator. The route will supplement other regional rail services: Brussels (which has connections to London), Cologne (with services to Hamburg and Berlin), Bern (to reach Zurich and Geneva) and Milan (for Venice, Florence, and Rome).
Recommended: I’m a travel writer obsessed with trains – these are Europe’s best Christmas train journeys.
More specifically, departures from Amsterdam and Brussels will be scheduled for Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, with the first taking place on June 18 2026, arriving in Milan the next morning. Trains will depart from the Belgian and Dutch capitals before converging in Cologne.
Once in Switzerland, the route will journey on the historic Simplon route through Bern, Brig and Domodossola into northern Italy, making a stop on the shores of Lago Maggiore at Stresa before terminating in Milan. There’ll be some glorious early-morning views of the Alps, by the sounds of it.
Return journeys from the Italian hub will operate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights, and while the exact timetable is still being finalised, it looks like tickets for all standard night train travel classes will be available to book in January or February, 2026.
Did you see that Italy’s most luxurious train has launched a spectacular New Year’s trip from Rome to Venice?
Plus: The best new things to do in Europe in 2026 – from immersive art to festivals, food and nature trails.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
