The highly anticipated night train connecting Belgium to various Italian destinations will finally be able to reach its final destination in Venice from March. Until now, passengers had to transfer to another train in Austria.
Dutch train company European Sleeper launched the inaugural trip of its night train from Brussels to Venice at the start of February. The service was designed to offer night train journeys to a mix of winter sports and city trip destinations. However, technical issues cast a damper on this momentous occasion, as European Sleeper's co-founder Chris Engelsman confirmed that the train would not make it all the way to Italy on its first trip.
"The train has not been given the green light to ride the Italian railway tracks," he said. This was later put down to internal approvals not being aligned. Passengers had to get off in Innsbruck in Austria and get on another train to cross the border.
However, the company has now confirmed that the brand-new Good Night Train to Austria and Italy is back on track to run to Venice in March. "We now confirm that our two March departures will travel through the scenic Brenner Pass, stopping in Bolzano/Bozen and several other fascinating destinations in Italy. The journey will end in one of the world’s most magical cities: Venice," the company said on Friday.
Pilot project
The southbound trains will be departing on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 12 March, while the northbound trip will depart on Saturday 8 and Sunday 18 March.
The 2025 season is a pilot project, with an initial plan of seven round trips in two months. Ticket prices start from €49 for standard seats, from €79 for couchette beds and from €159 for sleeper beds. The company is now evaluating the winter train project to develop a plan for winter 2026.
However, this involves solving various challenges. "The main challenges have been securing a suitable timetable across five countries and ensuring reliable operations in Italy, a brand-new destination for us," the company said. "Beyond the challenges of operating in Italy, the long journey times are a key concern."
