European Sleeper’s much-anticipated inaugural night train service from Brussels to Venice faced an unexpected setback on Wednesday evening, February 5.
Technical difficulties forced the train to halt in Innsbruck, Austria, preventing it from continuing to its final destination in Italy.
The new overnight train service, which was launched as part of a pilot project aimed at offering a more sustainable travel alternative, was expected to reach Venice on the first trip.
However, at a press conference earlier in the day, European Sleeper co-founder Chris Engelsman confirmed the unfortunate news that the train would not be allowed to continue its journey into Italy.
“We were informed that the train cannot ride on to Italy because of technical issues,” Engelsman explained. “The train has not been given the green light to ride the Italian railway tracks.”
As a result, passengers, including several members of the press, were required to disembark in Innsbruck and board a different train operated by Austrian railway company ÖBB, which would continue the journey to Italy.
For many, this was a frustrating inconvenience, as they had been eagerly anticipating the new overnight service.
However, the technical issues serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of train travel, as Engelsman noted with a chuckle: “This is not the best start to this journey. This is proof that train travel is all about unexpected events.”
The train’s maiden voyage marks the first of six scheduled trips as part of a pilot program to establish overnight connections between Belgium and Italy.
The aim is to provide a more eco-friendly and relaxed travel option compared to traditional air travel.
The service, which departs from Brussels each evening, is designed to offer an alternative to travelers seeking to reach Venice and other Italian destinations without the hassle of airports.
Despite the hiccup, European Sleeper remains committed to the project, with Engelsman expressing optimism about the future of the route.
The company is still awaiting clarity on whether it will be able to continue its planned journey to Italy for the return leg of the trip, scheduled for Sunday, February 9.
“We’ll have to wait and see what the situation is by then,” Engelsman said, leaving uncertainty over the feasibility of the return trip.
This inaugural trip is a key milestone for European Sleeper, which hopes to revolutionize long-distance rail travel in Europe.
The company’s pilot project aims to connect Brussels with various major cities across Europe, offering comfort and sustainability to travelers.
However, as this first trip demonstrated, even the most well-laid travel plans can be subject to unforeseen challenges.
In the meantime, passengers were left to adjust their plans as they continued their journey to Venice with ÖBB.
Despite the inconvenience, many remained hopeful that the remaining scheduled trips of the pilot project would run more smoothly.
