European Sleeper’s Paris-Berlin Plan: More Seats, No Dining Car

European Sleeper has detailed its plan for the new Paris-Berlin night train, set to launch in March 2026, and it’s a trade-off for passengers: more seats, but no dining car. The Dutch cooperative will run 12-14 coaches, all dedicated to the Berlin route, allowing for a 600-700 passenger capacity. This is a significant increase from the outgoing Nightjet, which split its train between Berlin and Vienna. However, co-founder Chris Engelsman confirmed the service will launch without a dining car due to the “challenge” of making it profitable.
This new service is replacing the ÖBB Nightjet, which is being cancelled next month after the French government ended its subsidies. That move sparked protests from rail advocates, who are now celebrating this new service as a “partial victory.” The new train will run three times a week, departing Paris Gare du Nord on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings, and returning from Berlin on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
A key strategic change will be the train’s new route via Brussels. This path, which is currently being finalized with the rail authorities in France, Belgium, and Germany, differs from the Nightjet’s route through Strasbourg and Frankfurt. This new routing will create a major overnight connection for the Belgian capital.
The rolling stock will consist of German-rented coaches from the 1990s. This is an upgrade from the 1950s-era carriages the company uses on its Prague service and is said to be comparable in comfort to the Nightjet. The new service, therefore, represents a pragmatic compromise: the route is saved and capacity is increased, but the romantic notion of a full-service dining car has been sacrificed for profitability.
European Sleeper has been a key player in the sleeper market revival, but its “no-frills” approach has earned mixed reviews. While many enjoy the nostalgia, the company has faced issues with technical glitches and delays. The use of 1990s coaches for this flagship route, rather than their older 1950s stock, signals a step up.