New Overnight Train Service from Milan to Brussels Launched by European Sleeper

Rail travel enthusiasts across Europe have a new reason to celebrate: European Sleeper, the community-owned Dutch-Belgian night train operator, has officially launched its brand-new overnight service linking Milan, Cologne, and Brussels — with its very first departure on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

The new route marks European Sleeper’s third international night train, connecting northern Italy to Belgium for the first time via a direct overnight service with no changes required. The train departs from Milan Porta Garibaldi in the evening on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, travelling north through the scenic Swiss Alps via the Gotthard line — passing through Como, Lugano, and Bellinzona — before continuing to Cologne and arriving at Brussels Midi station the following morning.

Tickets start from as little as €29.99 for a budget seat, while a couchette bed in a Classic shared compartment is available from €49.99 including reservation, luggage allowance, and bed linen. Comfort Plus fares begin at €129.99 and include breakfast. The service also offers seamless onward connections in Brussels to London via Eurostar, and in Milan to Venice, Florence, and Rome.

From December 14, 2026, the route will be further expanded to include stops at Antwerp, Breda, and Eindhoven in the Netherlands, making it an even more comprehensive low-carbon travel corridor across four countries.

Source: Il Sole 24 Ore — European Sleeper’s new Milan–Brussels night train makes its debut