It’s almost the summer … have you forgotten about one of Europe’s overnight rail services?
The European Sleeper, chugs its way from Germany’s capital to Belgium’s capital, stopping at Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Antwerp, as well as a few other cities along the route.
It has three different classes:
- Sleepers – Deluxe, with three beds and a sink in the compartment, breakfast, and a welcome drink included.
- Couchettes – Comfort, with a maximum of six beds, as well as a smaller breakfast, and a bottle of water.
- Seats – Budget, six seats per compartment — seating reservations are included — but drinks and snacks can be purchased by train attendants. The entire budget compartment can also be purchased, save for trips only between the Netherlands and Belgium.
Pictures, anyone?
Starting in Berlin:
Although daily schedules might slightly differ due to track maintenance, the European Sleeper overnight rail service is typically expected to leave at 22:56 from Berlin.
From Berlin, you’ve got 7.5 hours until Amsterdam, where the European Sleeper is slated to arrive at Amsterdam Centraal — the model for Tokyo Station — at around 06:31.
An hour later, you’re in Rotterdam, one of the modern architecture centers of the continent:
Then, Antwerp at 08:43:
Finally, Brussels by 09:27:
Oh, sorry about that. Can’t find my Brussels photos. No matter … let the European Sleeper take you there to snap your photos.
Speaking of which, the return journey from Brussels is expected to depart at 19:22 from Brussels Midi, and should make it to Berlin by 06:48.
Would you consider taking the European Sleeper?
I’m guessing you didn’t actually ride that train? If so, I would have expected photos of the train.
Certainly haven’t ridden this train, nor did I mention experiencing it. After all, my usual beat is Asia.
Nevertheless, perhaps some readers were interested in learning about it.
There is a night train with couchettes from Malmo/Copenhagen to Berlin.
Have taken couchette night trains a bunch in Europe. Used them for various reasons ranging from going to and from ski trips, to dealing with hotels sold out or extra-expensive, to deal with when dinners finished too late to make the last flights out for the night, to avoid having to do with airport security lines and restrictions, to it being cheaper to get from point to point and better way to start and/or finish the visit at the destination point.
Thanks for your comment, GUWonder! Good to see a FlyerTalk mainstay here.
In your experience, are these trains typically on time?
I know that Ryanair and Easyjet excel in using awfully distant airports, but would you say
that these trains are still a better deal?
Do some hotels offer forwarding options so that passengers don’t have to lug bags to the train?