New Paris–Berlin Night Train Launched

A new overnight train service linking Paris and Berlin is set to launch on Thursday, marking a major step in the revival of long-distance rail travel across Europe.

The first train, operated by Dutch-Belgian company European Sleeper, will depart from Gare du Nord in Paris bound for the German capital, with the journey expected to take around 16 hours.

The service will run three times a week, connecting key European cities along the route. Stops include Mons, Brussels, and Liège, while from July 13, the only domestic stop in Germany will be Hamburg-Harburg.

European Sleeper is reviving a route that was discontinued in mid-December after France withdrew government support for the previous service. The earlier connection had been operated by Austrian Federal Railways in partnership with France’s SNCF and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, passing through Strasbourg, Frankfurt, and Erfurt.

The suspension of the route sparked widespread criticism, particularly as it had only been reinstated two years earlier. European Sleeper later stepped in to restore the Paris–Berlin link.

The company already operates a night train service between Brussels and Prague via Berlin, as demand for overnight rail travel continues to grow.

Passengers are increasingly opting for long-distance train journeys, showing greater acceptance of extended travel times in exchange for comfort and sustainability.

However, state-owned rail operators continue to argue that night train services remain economically challenging. Unlike high-frequency services such as Intercity Express trains, overnight trains remain idle during the day, limiting their profitability.

European Sleeper operates under a cooperative ownership model, allowing supporters to invest in the service by purchasing shares and helping fund its expansion.