The Paris-Berlin night train, which was feared lost, will resume in 2026 with a new operator, a new route, and a higher capacity. The Dutch firm European Sleeper will launch its service on March 26, 2026, replacing the ÖBB Nightjet that is being cancelled in December. This news has been celebrated by French rail advocates, who had protested the cancellation and are calling this a “partial victory.”
The new service is a significant upgrade in terms of passenger numbers. European Sleeper plans to run 12 to 14 coaches directly to Berlin, with a capacity of 600-700 people. Co-founder Chris Engelsman contrasted this with the ÖBB service, which had to split its 12 coaches between Berlin and Vienna. This high-capacity, single-destination approach is central to the new service’s business model.
The train will also travel a new path. European Sleeper is planning to route the service via Brussels, a major change from the Nightjet’s journey through Strasbourg and Frankfurt. This new route, pending final agreements, will create a new sleeper link for the Belgian capital, connecting three major EU centers.
The service is scheduled to run three times per week. Departures from Paris Gare du Nord are planned for Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings. The return journeys from Berlin (Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof) will depart on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, offering a convenient schedule for weekend or mid-week travel.
While the route is secure, the onboard experience will be pragmatic. The company will use 1990s-era German-rented coaches, which are newer than some of their other stock and are said to be comparable to the Nightjet. However, in a nod to economic reality, the company has confirmed there will be no dining car at launch, as the high rental and staff costs make it a “challenge” to profitability.