The launch of a new overnight train connecting Brussels with Milan has been postponed until after the summer, delaying a service that had originally been scheduled to start in June.
Belgian-Dutch rail operator European Sleeper confirmed that the night train will now begin running on 9 September 2026 instead of the planned 18 June start date. The service will connect Brussels with Milan via Cologne and Zürich, creating a direct north-south overnight rail link across several European countries.
According to the operator, the delay is mainly due to infrastructure works and regulatory requirements. Major track works are planned in Germany during the summer months, while the operator also needs additional certification to run trains in Switzerland, a new country in its network.
Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper, said the company preferred to postpone the launch rather than risk operational difficulties during the busy summer travel period. “It is too risky,” he said, adding that the company feared a “difficult start” and would rather launch the service properly in September.
Despite the delay, the operator emphasised that the new route represents a major step in expanding cross-border night train connections in Europe. Once operational, the route is intended to provide travellers with an alternative to short-haul flights and to strengthen rail connections between northern and southern Europe.
“Although the first departure comes a few months later than originally planned, the new connection marks an important milestone and creates an important north-south connection at the European level,” the company said in a press release.
The project initially included a direct section departing from Amsterdam that would join the Brussels train in Germany before continuing to Milan. However, European Sleeper has now pushed that Amsterdam extension back until 2027, saying that running a separate train service during the off-peak season would not be commercially viable. Dutch passengers will instead be able to depart via cities such as Brussels, Cologne, Aachen or Liège.
Despite the delay, European Sleeper said the new route remains an important step in expanding overnight rail connections across Europe. The operator has been developing additional night train routes as interest in sleeper services and more sustainable travel options continues to grow.
The Brussels-Milan connection will become the third route operated by European Sleeper, which launched its first overnight service between Brussels and Prague in 2023. The company is also expanding its network elsewhere, including a new night train linking Paris and Berlin scheduled to begin operating in March 2026.
The company is also pursuing broader ambitions to build a network of long-distance night trains across the continent. Part of those plans is supported by crowdfunding initiatives aimed at helping finance new rolling stock and future routes.
