European Sleeper Scandinavia Night Train Planned for 2028

The European Sleeper Scandinavia night train is planned as the operator’s first overnight rail service to Scandinavia, directly linking Brussels and Amsterdam with Copenhagen and Malmö from April 2028.

The service is being developed with German railway operator RDC. The proposed route would also serve Antwerp, Rotterdam and The Hague, creating a direct overnight connection between the Benelux, Denmark and southern Sweden.

Brussels–Malmö night train timetable

Current plans call for three departures per week in each direction. Trains would leave Brussels and Malmö at about 19:00 local time and arrive at the opposite terminus at approximately 10:00 the following morning, giving an end-to-end journey time of around 15 hours.

Passengers would also be able to travel beyond the cities served directly by the train. From Malmö, onward connections would be available towards Stockholm and Oslo, while Brussels would provide connections towards Paris and London.

Before operations can begin, European Sleeper and RDC must secure suitable train paths across the countries covered by the service. They are working with the relevant infrastructure managers on a viable timetable, with a formal application for train paths due to be submitted in April 2027. The proposed timetable, stopping pattern and April 2028 launch therefore remain subject to capacity approval.

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Accommodation on the Scandinavia night train

The train is expected to offer several types of overnight accommodation, including seats, couchettes and sleeper compartments. Higher-end options are also under consideration, potentially including double beds and private en-suite bathrooms. The final train composition has not yet been confirmed.

Fares for the Scandinavian service have not yet been announced, and tickets are not on sale. On European Sleeper’s Paris–Berlin night train, a one-way ticket in a shared Classic compartment currently starts at €79.99 (£68) per person.

European Sleeper co-founder Chris Engelsman described Scandinavia as the next stage in the operator’s network development.

“Our network is growing quickly, and Scandinavia is a natural next step. Together with RDC, we can create a night train that directly connects the Benelux with Copenhagen and Malmo, bringing another part of Europe within a comfortable night’s journey.

“It also marks an important next step in our strong cooperation with RDC, which already supports our Paris and Milan services through the provision of night train rolling stock.”

RDC already provides rolling stock for European Sleeper services involving Paris and Milan and has experience operating night trains between Germany and Scandinavia.

RDC chief executive Markus Hunkel said:

“RDC has many years of experience operating night trains between Germany and Scandinavia. Together with European Sleeper, we can build on that experience and create a strong new connection between the Benelux, Denmark and Sweden. We see real potential in combining our operational expertise with European Sleeper’s growing network and customer reach.”

European Sleeper expands its overnight network

European Sleeper currently operates international night trains including Brussels–Prague and Paris–Berlin. Its Brussels–Milan service, connecting the Benelux with Switzerland and northern Italy, is scheduled to begin on 9 September 2026. The journey is planned to take 17 and a half hours.

Preparations are continuing for a Brussels–Barcelona overnight connection planned for 2028.

The Scandinavian project comes amid renewed demand for international overnight rail travel, while operators continue to face constraints including a shortage of suitable sleeping cars, cross-border approval requirements and limited capacity on heavily used European railway corridors.

European Sleeper presents the planned Brussels–Malmö service as a direct alternative to flying between the Benelux and southern Scandinavia. Its launch remains dependent on satisfactory train paths being secured across the national rail networks involved.