A new night train connecting Brussels to Milan has been delayed by several months and will now launch in September. European Sleeper, the Dutch-Belgian operator behind the service, had originally scheduled the 17-and-a-half-hour journey to start in June.
The company announced on Tuesday, 3 March, that the first departure has been pushed back to 9 September 2026. The delay is due to track works in Germany planned for summer 2026, which would prevent reliable operation, as well as additional time required for the certification process in Switzerland, a new country for the operator.
Once launched, the train will initially depart from Belgium, with a direct connection from the Netherlands added in 2027. Stops include Cologne in Germany, Zurich in Switzerland, Como in Italy, and the Swiss villages of Göschenen and Lugano, offering access to ski resorts and the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland.
Departures from Brussels are scheduled for Monday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings, arriving in Zurich and Milan the following morning. The return service from Milan will operate on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday nights.
Tickets go on sale on 17 March, with four travel classes. Budget seats start from €29.99 (£26) per person one way, a couchette bed from €49.99 (£43), and “Comfort Standard” from €99.99 (£87) or “Comfort Plus” from €129.99 (£113), which includes breakfast.
European Sleeper currently runs services between Brussels and Prague, and from 29 March, a new Paris to Berlin route will launch.
