A lifeline has been thrown to Europe's sleeper train enthusiasts with the news that European Sleeper will be taking over the Paris to Berlin route, previously operated by Austria's Nightjet service, next year.
The Austrian state operator ÖBB had announced in September that it would axe its two Nightjet services from 14 December due to France's decision to end subsidies for night trains. This move dealt a significant blow to the sleeper train renaissance on the continent, leaving many passengers without an affordable option to travel overnight between Paris and Berlin.
However, European Sleeper has stepped in to fill the void with its own service, which will begin on March 26, 2026. The train will operate three times a week from Paris Gare du Nord on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings, and the return journey from Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The European Sleeper's service promises to be more spacious than ÖBB's Nightjet, with 12-14 coaches that can accommodate up to 600-700 passengers. According to Chris Engelsman, co-founder of the company, their higher capacity will allow them to attract existing Nightjet customers as well as new ones.
The news has been welcomed by Oui au train de nuit!, a French campaign group that campaigned against the cuts to sleeper services from Paris. The group's spokesperson, Nicolas Forien, hailed the announcement as a partial victory for the 91,000 people who signed their petition.
European Sleeper has already made a name for itself with its Dutch cooperative model and has carried over 230,000 passengers on more than 750 night trains since its inaugural service from Berlin to Brussels in May 2023. While the company has faced some technical issues and criticisms of its no-frills approach, many passengers have appreciated the journey as much as the destination.
One question remains: will European Sleeper introduce a dining car on its Paris to Berlin route? According to Engelsman, the answer is not yet clear, citing concerns about profitability. However, with prices starting from €59 or €69 for a couchette compartment, it seems likely that passengers will be able to enjoy a meal and drink on board.
Tickets for European Sleeper's Paris to Berlin service will go on sale from December 16, 2025, offering travelers a much-needed lifeline as the sleeper train renaissance continues to unfold.
The Austrian state operator ÖBB had announced in September that it would axe its two Nightjet services from 14 December due to France's decision to end subsidies for night trains. This move dealt a significant blow to the sleeper train renaissance on the continent, leaving many passengers without an affordable option to travel overnight between Paris and Berlin.
However, European Sleeper has stepped in to fill the void with its own service, which will begin on March 26, 2026. The train will operate three times a week from Paris Gare du Nord on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings, and the return journey from Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The European Sleeper's service promises to be more spacious than ÖBB's Nightjet, with 12-14 coaches that can accommodate up to 600-700 passengers. According to Chris Engelsman, co-founder of the company, their higher capacity will allow them to attract existing Nightjet customers as well as new ones.
The news has been welcomed by Oui au train de nuit!, a French campaign group that campaigned against the cuts to sleeper services from Paris. The group's spokesperson, Nicolas Forien, hailed the announcement as a partial victory for the 91,000 people who signed their petition.
European Sleeper has already made a name for itself with its Dutch cooperative model and has carried over 230,000 passengers on more than 750 night trains since its inaugural service from Berlin to Brussels in May 2023. While the company has faced some technical issues and criticisms of its no-frills approach, many passengers have appreciated the journey as much as the destination.
One question remains: will European Sleeper introduce a dining car on its Paris to Berlin route? According to Engelsman, the answer is not yet clear, citing concerns about profitability. However, with prices starting from €59 or €69 for a couchette compartment, it seems likely that passengers will be able to enjoy a meal and drink on board.
Tickets for European Sleeper's Paris to Berlin service will go on sale from December 16, 2025, offering travelers a much-needed lifeline as the sleeper train renaissance continues to unfold.
! It's about time someone stepped up to keep those sleepers running smoothly. I've been following this story and it's crazy how Austria pulled out without warning, leaving all those people without an affordable option for overnight travel. 
. It's not just about saving sleepers, though – it's about preserving that European travel experience. 
. Tickets go on sale in December 2025 – I'm already itching to book my ticket for that Paris to Berlin trip next year 
... like that's gonna make everything okay just because they're giving passengers more space and lower prices. Newsflash: it's still gonna be a cramped ride with no frills 
. And what about all those people who can't afford €59-€69 for a one-way ticket? 
That's not exactly "affordable" if you ask me... I mean, come on, we're still in 2025 and train prices are already kinda steep. European Sleeper thinks they're gonna just waltz in here and make everything all better with their fancy Dutch model? 
Please, I've got my doubts 
.
! It's like European Sleeper just saved the day by taking over the Paris to Berlin route from Nightjet. Can't wait to see how it'll be more spacious with 12-14 coaches that can fit up to 600-700 passengers. Hopefully, they'll add a dining car on board soon too... who doesn't love a good meal and drink on their train ride? 
i'm literally hyped out about this news!!! european sleeper taking over the paris to berlin route is like a dream come true for us sleeper train enthusiasts 
!! i mean who needs öbb's nightjet when you can have more space and comfy coaches 
?! plus, european sleeper has already proven themselves with their dutch cooperative model and carrying so many passengers on night trains since last year 
!
. but fingers crossed it happens, coz i wanna try their food too!!! can't wait to buy my tickets in dec 2025 and experience this amazing service for myself 
fingers crossed!
.
! It's like, a whole new era for Sleeper Train enthusiasts in Europe 
. I mean, who doesn't love the idea of sleeping on a train from Paris to Berlin? It's like being in a real-life Harry Potter movie 
. And with European Sleeper taking over the route, I'm pretty sure we're gonna see some serious comfort upgrades – those 12-14 coaches are gonna be SO comfy! 
. And I gotta say, I'm all for that no-frills approach, as long as you're getting a sick ride 
As for the dining car question, I think it's awesome that Engelsman is keeping mum about it... maybe we'll have to wait till March to find out if we can enjoy a meal on board. Either way, €59-€69 for a couchette compartment? That's a steal! 
I'm already planning my trip from Paris to Berlin next year 
.
! I'm so stoked that European Sleeper is taking over this route, it's about time we get some decent sleeper services in Europe again 
The website is so outdated and hard to use... I swear, it took me an hour just to pick my seat. Can't they upgrade their platform already? 
I mean, at least the train will be more spacious, that's a plus 
i remember when they announced those cuts in september last year and all the passengers were freaking out 
. It's also awesome to see the campaign group, Oui au train de nuit!, getting their voices heard again - they've been fighting for sleeper services for ages, so it's a win-win for everyone 
. As long as they don't skimp on the food options 
, I'm all good with this new service!
It sounds like European Sleeper's service will be pretty spacious too, which is great for those who want some comfort during their journey. Maybe they'll even introduce a dining car soon? That would be awesome! 
and I'm SO stoked! 
that's like, a whole crew of sleepyheads 
more like, cozy chic 
. €59? 
that's like, totally reasonable price point 