Night train operator European Sleeper has started a €2.3 million crowdfunding campaign to help pay for its further expansion across Europe.
European Sleeper, which started services in 2023 with a train connecting Brussels, Amsterdam and Berlin, plans to add overnight trains from Paris to Berlin and from Brussels/Amsterdam to Milan next year.
The Dutch-Belgian company said it was now “inviting the public to invest in the next phase of its European network”, with individuals and organisations able to make investments from €280 upwards. Those investing €2,000 or more will receive a 20 per cent discount on European Sleeper train tickets.
European Sleeper said it had carried more than 230,000 passengers so far on its night trains linking Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden and Prague. It extended its route to Dresden and Prague in 2024.
“This rapid growth has been made possible not by traditional investors, but by a community of more than 4,000 supporters across Europe who believe in sustainable mobility and a more connected continent,” said the company in a statement.
The firm aims to initially raise €1.3 million in new funding followed by another €1 million.
This money will help European Sleeper to fund the launch of the Paris-Berlin night train, which is due to start in March. It will replace the Nightjet services between the cities which ÖBB and SNCF are terminating on Monday (15 December).
The company then plans to introduce the Brussels/Amsterdam to Milan night train in June 2026, which will also include stops in cities such as Cologne and Bern in Switzerland.
“Starting a train company is no small feat, yet our community has already shown what is possible when thousands of people pull in the same direction," said Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper.
“This new sharefunding round allows us to strengthen our network, bring back key connections like Paris–Berlin, and build the night trains that Europe urgently needs."
As well as funding the launch of the new routes, European Sleeper wants to invest in new night train carriages and upgrade its existing stock. The company also plans to introduce a route from the Netherlands and Belgium to Barcelona.