European Sleeper postpones Brussels–Cologne–Zurich–Milan night train to 9 September 2026
The Dutch–Belgian cooperative European Sleeper has postponed the launch of its new Brussels–Cologne–Zurich–Milan night train to 9 September 2026, instead of the previously announced 18 June 2026. Ticket sales will open on 17 March 2026. The company states that the delay is primarily due to extensive infrastructure works in Germany and Switzerland, combined with the certification process required to operate in Switzerland, a new country for the operator.
The new service will initially depart only from Belgium's Brussels-South (Midi, Zuid). Although originally conceived as a Brussels / Amsterdam – Milan train, the Amsterdam portion has been postponed until the 2027 timetable, starting in December 2026.
According to the company, operating a separate train section to and from Amsterdam during the low season proved less viable. Nevertheless, connections to and from the Netherlands will remain straightforward via Cologne, Aachen, Liège and Brussels, linking with cities such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, Heerlen, Maastricht, Breda and Rotterdam.
The train will stop at Brussels-South, Liège-Guillemins, Aachen Hbf, Cologne (Köln Hbf), Zurich (most likely Zürich HB), Arth-Goldau, Göschenen, Bellinzona, Lugano, Chiasso, Como San Giovanni and will terminate at Milan Garibaldi Gate (Milano Porta Garibaldi).
Milan
In Milan, the train arrives at Milano Porta Garibaldi, a station more centrally located than Milano Centrale and offering several onward connections, including high-speed trains to southern Italy.
Travellers preferring a wider range of national and regional services can reach Milan Central in around six minutes by metro, just two stops away.
Schedule
Departures from Brussels are scheduled on Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, with arrival in Zurich and Milan the following morning. The return service from Milan will operate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights.
The route establishes a direct north–south European night train connection, linking major economic and cultural regions in Belgium, western Germany, Switzerland and northern Italy. Efficient onward connections are available in Brussels towards London, in Cologne towards Amsterdam and Berlin, in Zurich towards Grisons (Graubünden) and western Austria, and in Milan towards Venice, Florence and Rome.
Pass-ing Switzerland
In Switzerland, the train will temporarily run via Zurich and the Gotthard Pass. The originally planned route via the Simplon Pass proved unfeasible due to track works scheduled until 2027.
The revised Gotthard routing also brings new opportunities: Göschenen provides convenient access to nearby ski resorts, while Lugano and Como offer easy access to the well-known lakes and surrounding Alpine landscapes.
In Germany, a high number of planned infrastructure works during summer 2026 would not allow the service to operate with the required level of reliability, contributing to the decision to postpone the launch until September.
Start of sales
Ticket sales for the Brussels–Cologne–Zurich–Milan night train will open on 17 March 2026. Fares start from €29.99 for a Budget seat. A couchette bed in a Classic compartment is available from €49.99, including ticket, reservation, luggage and bed linen.
Travellers seeking greater comfort can choose Comfort Standard from €99.99 or Comfort Plus from €129.99, the latter including breakfast. The pricing structure aims to make the service accessible to a broad range of travellers, from budget-conscious passengers to those seeking additional space and privacy.
European Sleeper?
Since launching in 2023, European Sleeper has positioned itself as one of Europe’s few independent international night train operators. The company currently operates a Brussels–Amsterdam–Berlin–Dresden–Prague night train three times a week and has carried nearly 240,000 passengers on more than 750 night trains.
A second service linking Paris and Berlin via Brussels will start on 26 March 2026, taking over a route previously discontinued by ÖBB and SNCF in December 2025.
Operating as a 100% community-owned cooperative, European Sleeper is also running a sharefunding campaign allowing individuals and organisations to invest from €160, with the aim of raising €1 million, of which more than €730,000 has already been secured.
With the Milan route launching in September 2026 and the Amsterdam extension planned for 2027, the company continues to expand its footprint in Europe’s growing night train market.
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