The planned night train service between Amsterdam and Barcelona, initially set to begin in 2025, has now been pushed back to 2026.
This delay, confirmed by European Sleeper, is attributed to logistical and bureaucratic issues.
The company is facing difficulties negotiating with the French railway manager SNCF Réseau and is also dealing with a shortage of the specialised train carriages required for the service, Schengen.News reports.
As Travel Tomorrow explains, these carriages are numerous and specific, making them hard to source. Nonetheless, European Sleeper’s CEO, Chris Engelsman, remains optimistic about the company’s future, despite recent setbacks.
We need 30 to 35 good carriages. We are working on that now, but they will probably also have to be renovated.
He further pointed out that the conservative approach of SNCF Réseau regarding nighttime track maintenance has been a significant obstacle.
Engelsman noted that planned track work in France often doesn’t occur as scheduled, complicating the operation of night trains. Other railway ventures, like Midnight Trains, have faced challenges similar to those faced by SNCF.
While the European Commission has provided some political and administrative support, European Sleeper continues to struggle with acquiring and potentially refurbishing 30 to 35 carriages needed for the service.
Although the launch of the night train from Amsterdam to Barcelona is now expected in 2026, Engelsman remains hopeful for an earlier start, potentially by late 2025.
We will start as soon as we can. The sooner, the better.
New Night Train From Brussels to Venice Set to Launch in Early 2025
Despite the delay, European Sleeper recently announced new projects. The company revealed that it will launch a seasonal night train service from Brussels to Venice beginning in February 2025. This new route will connect the North Sea to the Adriatic, passing through nine cities, including Rotterdam and Utrecht. It is also designed to cater to winter sports enthusiasts, city break travellers, and attendees of the Venice Carnival, scheduled from February 22 to March 4, 2025.
Moreover, the Brussels to Venice service will operate twice weekly during February and March of the following year, with stops in Munich, Innsbruck, and Bolzano. Tickets for this service have been on sale since September 1 of this year, with the first train set to depart Brussels on February 5, 2025.
