Dutch-Belgian start-up European Sleeper has confirmed that its new thrice-weekly night train will begin running on 18 June, bringing Switzerland back onto the continental sleeper map after a decade-long hiatus. The service will depart Bern late evening and arrive in Brussels and Amsterdam the next morning before continuing south to Milan, with northbound trains operating on alternate nights. For Swiss corporates, the launch offers a low-carbon alternative to short-haul flights on one of Europe’s busiest business corridors. A Bern–Amsterdam return emits about 25 kg of CO₂ per passenger, less than one-sixth of the footprint of the equivalent flight, according to calculations by the Federal Office of the Environment. The timetable has been structured so that travellers can hold morning meetings in the Benelux capitals and return to Switzerland the following night, effectively creating two extra office days compared with daytime rail. European Sleeper will participate in SBB’s integrated ticketing system, meaning holders of Swiss Travel Passes and Half-Fare Cards can book discounted couchettes directly through SBB channels. The company will also test corporate ‘quiet cabins’ equipped with secure Wi-Fi and ergonomic seating, aimed at consultants and lawyers who bill working hours while on board. The roll-out comes amid a renaissance of night trains spurred by EU ‘Green Deal’ objectives and growing corporate travel mandates to cut aviation emissions. Zurich Tourism expects the new route to stimulate inbound leisure traffic as Dutch and Belgian visitors gain a direct rail link to the Bernese Oberland and onward services through the Lötschberg Base Tunnel.
Source: The Local Switzerland
