PRIVATE operator European Sleeper has announced it will extend its Brussels - Berlin sleeper service, which launched on May 25, to Dresden and Prague from March 2024.
The company says operation to Dresden and Prague was postponed in 2023 due to infrastructure work between Dresden and the border with the Czech Republic. However, it says it has now been allocated attractive paths with well-balanced arrival and departure times.
Services continue to operate from Brussels on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, making the return journey on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Services will depart Brussels at 19.22, calling at Amsterdam at 23.12, Berlin at 06.18, Dresden at 08.29, and Prague main station at 10.56. The return journey will depart Prague at 18.04, stopping at Dresden at 20.30, Berlin at 22.56, Amsterdam at 06.26 and arriving in Brussels at 09.27.
European Sleeper was launched in 2021 by Dutch entrepreneurs, Mr Elmer van Buuren and Mr Chris Engelsman, and the company completed its third round of securing finance by selling shares in the company on October 9. The company is now preparing to acquire more refurbished coaches and eventually purchase a new fleet, which it says would increase passenger comfort and improve the journey experience. European Sleeper is planning to launch a service between Amsterdam and Barcelona in 2025.
The founders have selected a cooperative corporate structure as the company has been financed by a broad community of night train enthusiasts. The previous two investment rounds raised €2.5m in equity from more than 1700 small and medium-sized private investors.
European Sleeper and Eurail have announced that passengers will be able to use Interrail Global and Eurail Global passes on European Sleeper services from July 1, in combination with a reservation for a seat, couchette or sleeping berth which can be purchased via the European Sleeper website from June 12.
