European Sleeper is starting the connection with rental carriages and wants to invest in its own carriages in the short term. “By refurbishing the existing second-hand seating cars and converting them into sleeping cars, we expect to have around thirty sleeping cars available within two to three years with more comfort, more options for privacy and a modern look. We are also working on ordering completely new sleeping cars, but the delivery times are much longer,” said Engelsman. Finding the necessary carriages is the most difficult aspect of establishing a new night rail link, they say.
It will be the second night train in Belgium, after the NightJet of the Austrian railway company ÖBB to Vienna. European Sleeper had previously announced plans for overnight trains to French ski resorts and Barcelona, but details are not yet known.
European Sleeper previously merged with the Belgian night train initiative Moonlight Express. Approximately 1,400 new shareholders joined the latest share issue, who together invested 2 million euros in European Sleeper. Discussions are ongoing with possible investment partners for the financing of refurbished carriages.
