Starting in December 2026, European Sleeper will expand its new Brussels–Cologne–Switzerland–Milan night train by adding additional stops in Antwerp, Breda, and Eindhoven. The change will offer travelers from the Netherlands a direct overnight connection to Italy, without changing trains, for the first time in several years.
The new route builds on the connection to Milan previously announced by European Sleeper, which is set to launch on September 9, 2026 between Brussels, Cologne, Switzerland, and Milan. Starting December 14, 2026, the service will be expanded to include the Dutch cities of Breda and Eindhoven, creating a more direct overnight connection between the Netherlands, Switzerland, and northern Italy.
Aarau instead of Zurich
In Switzerland, European Sleeper now estimates that the train will stop at Aarau, not in Zurich. The company notes that Aarau offers frequent domestic connections and is approximately 30 minutes from Zurich by Swiss trains.
The Brussels–Netherlands–Cologne–Switzerland–Milan route will strengthen the European night train network and create a north–south rail corridor connecting economic regions, cultural cities, and tourist destinations.
European Sleeper states that it is seeing strong demand for international night travel, particularly from passengers seeking a more comfortable, practical, and lower-impact alternative to short-haul flights. Milan, in turn, offers high-speed rail connections to Florence, Rome, and other Italian destinations.
“We previously promised that the Netherlands would regain a direct overnight train to Italy, and we are pleased to now confirm Breda and Eindhoven as part of the route starting in December 2026. This connection brings together major European regions overnight in a comfortable and practical way, while also making international train travel accessible to more people,” said Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper.
Three departures per week
The timetable change in December 2026 will also bring changes to the operating days for the Brussels–Milan train. Until then, southbound departures are scheduled for Monday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings, and return services from Milan run on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday nights.
Starting December 14, 2026, departures from Brussels, the Netherlands, and Cologne will take place on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, arriving the next morning in Switzerland, Como, and Milan.
In the opposite direction, trains from Milan and Switzerland will depart on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, arriving in Cologne, the Netherlands, and Brussels on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings.
Tickets starting at EUR 29.99
Bookings for the Brussels–Netherlands–Cologne–Switzerland–Milan night train open on June 2, 2026, via the European Sleeper website and through select international sales partners. Tickets will be available for travel through January 3, 2027.
Fares start at EUR 29.99 for a seat in Budget class. A bed in a Classic compartment is available starting at EUR 49.99, a price that includes the ticket, reservation, luggage, and linens. For a higher level of comfort, passengers can choose Comfort Standard, starting at EUR 99.99, or Comfort Plus, starting at EUR 129.99, which includes breakfast.
European Sleeper is a Dutch-Belgian railway company, wholly owned by its investor community and focused on operating night trains between major European destinations. The company currently operates two international night routes, Brussels–Berlin–Prague and Paris–Berlin, each with three departures per week.
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