Published on
August 8, 2025 |
A new sleeper train service connecting Belgium to Slovakia is set to launch in 2026, offering travelers an eco-friendly, efficient alternative to flying. This groundbreaking overnight route will cover 50 stops across major European cities, providing a comfortable travel experience while helping to reduce carbon footprints. With a focus on convenience, sustainability, and affordability, the service aims to revive long-distance rail travel across Europe, making it easier for passengers to enjoy seamless, restful journeys between countries.
An ambitious new overnight train service is set to connect Ostend in Belgium with Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, offering a fresh and exciting travel option by the end of next year. The journey will cover approximately 750 miles, passing through a total of 50 stops along the route, with an estimated travel time of just over 19 hours. This innovative sleeper train aims to revive long-distance rail travel across Europe, providing a convenient and comfortable alternative to air travel.
The proposed route includes major cities such as Brussels, Cologne, Hanover, Dresden, and Prague, making it a vital link between the North Sea coast and the Danube River region. The train will operate overnight, allowing passengers to travel while they sleep and arrive refreshed at their destinations the following day. The service is planned to depart from Ostend at 7:10 pm, perfectly timed for passengers arriving from the UK via the Eurostar at Brussels Midi station. Arrival in Bratislava is scheduled for 2:18 pm the next day, facilitating daytime onward travel within Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
This project is spearheaded by a Czech-based subsidiary of Spain’s national rail operator, Renfe. The plans for this new sleeper train were recently published by the Belgian Railway Regulatory Authority and highlight that this is a completely new connection, not currently offered by any existing services. If successful, it will mark a significant step in reestablishing direct overnight rail travel routes between Western and Eastern Europe, which have largely diminished over the past few decades.
The train itself will feature refurbished carriages designed to accommodate different passenger needs. Options will include standard seats, couchettes with six bunks per compartment, and fully equipped sleeping berths to provide maximum comfort during the overnight journey. Initially, the service is expected to have a capacity for 450 passengers, catering to both budget-conscious travelers and those seeking a more premium experience.
Among the additional stops on the itinerary are charming and popular destinations such as Bruges and Ghent in Belgium, as well as Aachen and Dresden in Germany. These stops not only enhance the route’s appeal for tourists but also serve local travelers, making the service both practical and attractive for a wide range of passengers.
Overnight rail services once experienced a steep decline in Europe, mainly due to the rapid expansion of budget airlines which offered faster and often cheaper travel options. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence in interest for sleeper trains, driven by growing environmental concerns, the desire for more sustainable travel alternatives, and the appeal of relaxed, hassle-free journeys. Austria’s national rail operator, ÖBB, has been at the forefront of this revival, expanding its network of night trains and even reintroducing the popular Berlin-Paris sleeper route in December 2023.
Despite this optimistic outlook, some industry experts question the feasibility of the Ostend-Bratislava sleeper train. The project faces several challenges, including the need to secure operating permissions and train paths from multiple national railway authorities across Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Moreover, the train service will have to compete against extremely low-cost airline tickets, which continue to attract price-sensitive travelers.
For instance, in September, flights from Brussels South Airport to Bratislava are available for as little as eighteen euros, posing a significant pricing challenge to the new rail service. However, the train’s ability to offer a comfortable overnight journey without the usual airport hassles could provide a competitive edge, particularly for travelers valuing convenience and a greener footprint.
This new sleeper train will also compete with existing services like European Sleeper, a cooperative operating night trains from Amsterdam through Brussels and Berlin to Prague. The arrival of the Ostend-Bratislava route would expand the options available for overnight rail travel across Europe, potentially boosting demand and encouraging further investments in long-distance train networks.
The company behind this new service has an interesting history. It was founded in 2010 as a domestic competitor to the national railway in the Czech Republic and was majority acquired by Spain’s Renfe in 2021, bringing in significant resources and experience to pursue ambitious international routes.
Historically, Ostend played an important role as a gateway between the UK and Central and Eastern Europe. Regular ferry services connected English ports with Ostend, allowing passengers to seamlessly continue their journeys by train deep into the European continent. However, these connections ended about twenty years ago when the high-speed Seacat ferry service from Dover ceased operations, leaving a gap that this new train service aims to fill.
The planned overnight train linking Ostend and Bratislava offers an exciting opportunity to reconnect Western and Eastern Europe by rail. While challenges remain, including regulatory hurdles and competition from budget airlines, the growing demand for sustainable and comfortable travel options could make this sleeper train a successful addition to the European rail network by late 2026. With its combination of extensive stops, modern refurbished carriages, and convenient scheduling, it promises to redefine long-distance train travel across the continent.
