European Sleeper crowdfunding campaign organisers are seeking €2.3 million to fund the next step in the operator’s night train expansion plans across Europe, as reported by Business Travel News Europe.

European Sleeper crowdfunding campaign: €2.3m expansion plan
Photo: European Sleeper

Launched in 2023, the Dutch-Belgian company began with a Brussels–Amsterdam–Berlin night train. Next year, it plans to widen the network with overnight trains from Paris to Berlin and from Brussels/Amsterdam to Milan.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

European Sleeper says it is inviting the public to invest in the next stage of its European network. Participation is open to individuals and organisations from €280, and investors putting in €2,000 or more receive a 20 per cent discount on European Sleeper tickets, according to European Sleeper’s investment page.

To date, the operator says it has carried more than 230,000 passengers on night trains linking Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden and Prague. The route was extended to Dresden and Prague in 2024. European Sleeper also points to a community of more than 4,000 supporters across Europe who back its focus on sustainable mobility and a more connected continent.

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Funding target and what the €2.3 million supports

European Sleeper aims to raise the €2.3 million funding campaign total in two steps: first €1.3 million, then a further €1 million.

The funds are intended to support the launch of the Paris–Berlin night train, which is due to start in March. The operator says it will replace the Nightjet services between the cities that ÖBB and SNCF are terminating on Monday, 15 December, as also noted in Railway Supply coverage of the Paris–Berlin night route.

New routes: Paris–Berlin and Brussels/Amsterdam to Milan

After the Paris–Berlin start, European Sleeper plans to introduce a Brussels/Amsterdam to Milan night train in June 2026. The service is expected to include stops in cities such as Cologne and Bern in Switzerland.

“Starting a train company is no small feat, yet our community has already shown what is possible when thousands of people pull in the same direction,” said Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper. He said the sharefunding round will help strengthen the network, bring back key links like Paris–Berlin, and build the night trains the company says Europe urgently needs.

Rolling stock upgrades and future Barcelona plans

Alongside the new routes, European Sleeper wants to invest in new night train carriages and upgrade its existing stock. The operator has also outlined plans for a future route from the Netherlands and Belgium to Barcelona.

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