After staging a “pyjama party” protest on the platforms of Paris Gare de l’Est, French rail activists are claiming a “partial victory.” Their campaign, which included a 91,000-signature petition, was launched to fight the cancellation of ÖBB’s Nightjet services from Paris to Berlin and Vienna. Now, the Dutch cooperative European Sleeper has announced it will take over the Paris-Berlin route, proving the activists’ point about public demand.

The Nightjet service is being axed in December after the French government ended its subsidies, a move that was seen as a major blow to the “renaissance” of sleeper trains. European Sleeper’s intervention, with a first train planned for March 26, 2026, ensures that this key European artery will remain open for sustainable travel. Nicolas Forien, a spokesperson for ‘Oui au train de nuit!’, welcomed the new operator’s arrival.

The new service will be a robust operation, running three times per week. Departures from Paris Gare du Nord are planned for Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings, with return trips from Berlin on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This schedule is designed to capture the market of travelers who were set to be abandoned by the Nightjet’s withdrawal.

European Sleeper’s co-founder, Chris Engelsman, is confident the service will be a success, highlighting its superior capacity. The new train will run 12-14 coaches, all dedicated to Berlin, allowing for 600-700 passengers. This is a significant increase from the Nightjet, which had to split its 12-coach train between two destinations. The new service will also forge a new path via Brussels.

While the news is positive, the service will reflect the company’s “no-frills nostalgia” brand. European Sleeper, which has carried over 230,000 passengers since 2023, will use 1990s-era German coaches. In a candid admission of the economic challenges, Engelsman also confirmed the service will launch without a dining car, citing the high costs that make it “difficult to break even.”