European Sleeper: Brussels–Milan, Paris–Berlin, and Prague night trains in 2026
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Published on 3/3/26, modified on 4/3/26
Embarking in Paris at night and waking up in Berlin or Vienna in the morning... It almost seemed too good to be true. By 2025, the only two international night services out of Paris were faltering, despite their success in attracting large numbers of passengers. The Paris-Vienna service was discontinued in December 2025, with no new buyer to date. The Paris-Berlin route, on the other hand, was saved in extremis by European Sleeper, which relaunched the service in March 2026. A look back at the mechanisms that led to this crisis, and what it reveals about the state of night rail in Europe.
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Updated November 12, 2025 Plot twist The Paris-Berlin overnight service still has a bright future ahead of it, and it's in good hands!
A few weeks after the announcement of the closure of the two lines in December, and while the petition the collective Yes to night trains approaches the 100,000 signatures mobilization seems to be paying off, with a new player in the equation.
The company European Sleeper has just announced that it will be taking up the torch again, with a relaunch of the Paris-Berlin night service for March 2026 ! This is unexpected news for European railways.
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Paris–Berlin night train: European Sleeper relaunches the route (and adds Hamburg)
Of course, the mobilization must continue to ensure that the government maintains its subsidy, to support the European Sleeper teams in their recovery, and why not, to help them position themselves on the Paris-Vienna line still cancelled to date! But this news is a strong signal for European rail.
Nothing is decided yet. While the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna night trains may stop on December 14, 2025However, the battle is not yet lost. First of all, it is still possible that the line will not come to an end in December, although every day that passes makes this less likely.
" This would require an imminent decision from the French authorities, given the time needed to reserve train paths and organize the operation of the line."explains Alexis Chailloux, air and rail manager for the Climate Action Network.
But above all, the Ministry of Transport has left the door open to a budgetary discussion in Parliament: a budget of around 5 million euros could still save the lines.
Visit The next two months (November - December 2025) will therefore be decisive. Budgetary decisions are being made as we speak. All the more reason to act now.
"It's all being decided now. If parliamentarians reinstate the subsidy as part of the 2026 budget, the trains could be running again. from early 2026and avoid lengthy service interruptions. "Alexis Chailloux (Climate Action Network).
Citizen mobilization is more crucial than ever: by October 23, 2025, Over 85,000 people have already signed the petition. The goal? To quickly reach 100,000 signatures to tip the balance.
The imminent arrival of Jean Castex to head SNCF (appointment validated by Parliament, taking up office imminent) also brings a glimmer of hope. During his parliamentary hearings, he affirmed his ambition for the revival of night trains, and even specifically mentioned before the French National Assembly on October 22 that the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna lines would be among his "first subjects". when he takes up his new position.
Numerous elected representatives from all walks of life (ecologists, socialists, Renaissance, MoDem...) - Clément Beaune (ex-minister of transport, Renaissance), Karima Delli (ex-president of the European Parliament's transport committee, EÉLV), Fabienne Keller (Renaissance MEP), Olivier Jacquin (socialist senator from Meurthe-et-Moselle) and Louis Roquebert (president of Jeunes en Marche) - have also expressed their support for maintaining the two lines (complete list here).
Another reason for hope: in Europe, private operators are taking up the torch when governments pull out. A recent example is Berlin-Stockholm night train which was also due to disappear. Finally, a private German operator, RDC Deutschland Group, has decided in October 2025 to resume service without public subsidy after the Swedish government stopped funding the project.
"This example is interesting because it shows that international lines can be profitable, as the Ministry of Transport report in 2021, underlines Alexis Chailloux. This is rather hopeful for the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna lines. Nevertheless, we feel it is vital that the French government maintains its subsidies, at least to help these lines get off the ground. And that, in the long term, the European Union develop a genuine public policy in favor of night trains to strengthen Europe's night-time network.
Further proof that the history of night trains is never written in advance, and that everything can still change in the coming weeks.
Barely two and four years after their launch, the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna routes are enjoying very encouraging attendance The trains are well filled, proof that European travelers are out in force. But the offer remains marginal: only three round trips a week. The original aim was to offer a daily service. However, the consortium of historical railway companies, represented by SNCF Voyageurs on the French section, has still not found a solution to make the train a daily service. The result: a demand that exists, but a service that remains insufficient.
This under-capacity sustains a vicious circle too few trains, so less visibility, less revenue, and in fine weakened profitability.
Another paradox: although SNCF Voyageurs operates these night trains on French territory, it doesn't promote them, since it's impossible to buy a ticket for the Paris-Berlin night train on the SNCF Connect app. The result? Many travelers discover the existence of this link... after they've booked their plane ticket.
No tickets on SNCF Connect, no commercial promotion... " How to imagine a real recovery night trains in France if the incumbent operator doesn't make them visible". asks the collective Yes to night trains ?
Until now, the French government has subsidized the launch of these night-time lines, considered strategic for the decarbonization of transport. But, criticizing a lack of commitment from the French operator, the government is now threatening to withdraw this aid as of December 2025. A decision that would run counter to the growing demand for night trains in France.
Today, subsidizing an international night train is still an obstacle course: European rules on State aid are so restrictive that they paralyze projects. This is one of the reasons why there are currently so few regular cross-border connections.
As long as the European Union does not make this framework more flexible, the States' hands will be tied when it comes to providing financial support for cross-border links.
Meanwhile, the aircraft continues to benefit from massive tax niches (no tax on kerosene, reduced VAT...) The equivalent of €30 to €40 in hidden subsidies per ticket.
In other words, "we're massively subsidizing the most polluting mode of transport, while at the same time putting the brakes on aid for the most virtuous," stresses the collective. Yes to night trains.
This scenario brings back sad memories. In 2015, France's national night trains had been presented as loss-making and poorly attended... before being eliminated with government approval.
Ten years later, the same pattern repeats itself: invisibilization, under-capacity, threat of subsidy withdrawal. But this time, it's the Europe's only two night services from France.
For the collective Yes to night trains The ball is first and foremost in SNCF Voyageurs' court. The trains are supplied by the Austrian company ÖBB, and this is the main item of expenditure for a night train, which limits the cost for SNCF Voyageurs. What is the collective asking for? Deploy the offer initially promised: two daily night trains one to Vienna and one to Berlin.
This would enable us to increase capacity, improve reliability and move towards economic equilibrium. In other words, "it's a unique opportunity for the SNCF group to show that it believes in the future of international night trains". says Nicolas Forien, a member of the collective.
The second lever is political. For the Yes to night trains Instead of cutting the start-up grant, the government could renegotiate to strengthen the offer and support a daily service.
More broadly, it involves breaking with the "laissez-faire" strategy which led to the disappearance of national night trains ten years ago, and to launch a determined policy to support the revival of international night trains.
The collective Yes to night trains calls on the EU to assume its responsibilities: explicitly authorize subsidies for international night trains, at least as long as aviation benefits from preferential tax treatment including the absence of any kerosene tax on European flights.
"Impossible to talk of balanced competition when aviation remains tax-free. " - Nicolas Forien, from the Yes to night trains
But salvation won't just come from above. Citizen mobilization is already massive (the first petition Yes to night trains exceeded 200,000 signatures). Travellers themselves are saying loud and clear that they want to be able to cross Europe other than by plane.
Even today, our voices can make a difference. This pressure is essential, because without it, history risks stuttering once again. Citizen mobilization has already borne fruit elsewhere: it's thanks to it that the Paris-Tarbes has been maintained.
The Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna Nightjets should not be seen as relics, but as the first step in a wider European network. to Barcelona, Milan, Copenhagen, Malmö, Madrid, Venice and Rome.
So what can we do? If we don't want to see one of the finest symbols of low-carbon travel in Europe extinguished once again... let's make it known by signing this petition and answering the call for mobilization this Friday, September 26, 2025 in Paris - Gare de l'Est at 6pm (more info on the accounts Facebook and Collective's Instagram).
To understand where France stands on its own nighttime lines, we explain everything in this article on the Réseau Action Climat's report on night trains in France.
And to keep abreast of the decisions we'll be making over the coming weeks, don't hesitate to subscribe to our newsletter. Locomissive (all the latest news and low-carbon travel tips, every other Thursday in your mailbox) :
And for an overview of active lines in Europe, visit our complete guide to night trains in France and Europe.
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
