Paris to Berlin by Night: New Sleeper Train Confirmed for 2026

Good news has emerged for fans of continental rail travel following a period of uncertainty. A new sleeper service connecting Paris and Berlin is set to launch on March 26, 2026, operated by the Dutch cooperative European Sleeper. This announcement comes as a welcome relief after the recent news that the Austrian state operator ÖBB would be axing its popular Nightjet services on the same route, along with the Paris-Vienna line, starting this December. The cancellation, attributed to the cessation of French government subsidies, had cast a shadow over the much-discussed renaissance of night trains in Europe.
The new service promises to be a significant player in the market. European Sleeper plans to run the train three times a week, providing a consistent and reliable option for travelers. Departures from Paris Gare du Nord are anticipated on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings, with return journeys from Berlin (Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. This schedule offers convenient options for both long-weekend holidaymakers and mid-week business travelers looking for a sustainable and relaxing alternative to short-haul flights.
A key difference in the new service will be its route. While the current Nightjet winds its way through Strasbourg, Frankfurt, and Erfurt, European Sleeper intends to route its train via Brussels. This strategic move could open up the service to a new market of travelers from Belgium and potentially the UK, connecting multiple major European capitals. The precise details of the route and its timings are currently being finalized with the infrastructure managers in France, Belgium, and Germany to ensure a smooth and efficient journey.
Capacity is another area where the new service aims to impress. Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper, highlighted that their service will offer a higher passenger capacity than the outgoing Nightjet. ÖBB’s train from Paris splits, with some coaches heading to Vienna and the remainder to Berlin. In contrast, European Sleeper will dedicate 12 to 14 coaches entirely to the Berlin route, allowing for a capacity of 600 to 700 passengers per trip, effectively capturing the existing market and creating room for growth.
Despite the optimism, the company is managing expectations regarding onboard amenities. The rolling stock will consist of German-rented coaches from the 1990s, which are described as being comparable in comfort to the current Nightjet and newer than the 1950s-era coaches used on the company’s Prague service. However, Engelsman confirmed that there will not be a dining car at the start. The high rental and staffing costs associated with dining cars make them a significant profitability challenge, a common hurdle for many operators in the night-train sector.