Night train transport operator European Sleeper is introducing a new Brussels - Venice route to begin on February 5th.
The line will connect Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Italy – with stops in Cologne, Munich, Innsbruck, Bolzano and others along the way.
European Sleeper is one of a few privately owned international train operators in Europe. Currently it operates night trains on just one international line that connects Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden and Prague several times weekly.
According to the company, the new line comes in response to high-demand for winter sports travel, more city trip options and the current lack of suitable train connections in Europe.
The new route is intended to make it easier for passengers to choose greener travel options without compromising on comfort.
“This marks a new important milestone for European Sleeper, and the convenience of night travel across Europe more sustainably,” said Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper in a statement released by the company.
Itinerary
Starting on February 5th, the Brussels - Venice line will initially run on selected dates in February and March.
The southbound service to Venice will run on: February 5th, 14th; March 4th, 12th. A limited southbound service ending its journey in Innsbruck will run on February 21st and February 28th.
Northbound service to Brussels will run on: February 9th, 18th; March 8th, 16th. A limited northbound service taking passengers from Innsbruck to Brussels will be available on February 22nd and March 1st.
European Sleeper hasn't yet released a final timetable, but has provided the following indicative times.
Southbound trains will depart the Belgian capital shortly after 6 pm and arrive in Venice at 3 pm the following day. Passengers departing Cologne can catch the train at 11.38 pm and get a good night’s sleep before the train stops in Munich at 7.20 am the following morning.
Northbound trains will depart Venice at 4.15 pm, stopping in Innsbruck at 9 pm and Munich at 11.45 pm. They’ll arrive in Cologne shortly after 7 am the next morning and reach the end of the line in Brussels at 12.48 pm.
What you can expect
Mark Smith, author of The Man in Seat 61, a popular blog about train travel in Europe, told The Local that he’s had two experiences riding on European Sleeper trains – once in a sleeper bed and once in a new couchette car.
Sleeper cars are the equivalent of a hotel room on wheels, typically equipped with proper beds and washbasins, whereas cheaper couchettes are smaller padded bunks often fitting four or six in a cabin.
Asked how European Sleeper trains compare with those run by Europe’s bigger operators like Nightjet, Smith said: “Their newer 5-berth couchettes are as good as Nightjet, the sleeping-cars are older than Nightjet's sleeping-cars (so no showers) but very comfortable.”
He added that a perk about the new Brussels - Venice line is that the trains will have a dining car, “which promises lunch and a glass of red while you pass through the mountains of the scenic Brenner Pass.”
Ticket prices
Bookings for trips on the new route officially opened on September 24th.
Prices for both southbound and northbound journeys hover around €100 per person for a standard shared couchette compartment, and climb to €200 for the most comfortable travel option, which includes a washbasin and seating area in the compartment and breakfast service.
As for scoring the cheapest tickets, Smith, the man who rides trains for a living, said: “Like anything, book as far ahead as you can and the booking horizon allows, mid-week is cheaper than weekends, February is cheaper than June.”
Tickets can be purchased here.
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