European Sleeper signs Italian traction deal for Milan service
NIGHT TRAINS: European Sleeper has confirmed Arenaways as its Italian traction partner for the Brussels–Milan night train launching 9 September, completing the operational setup for the route ahead of a debut that was once expected in June.
Arenaways — the commercial brand of Longitude Holding, in which Renfe Proyectos Internacionales holds a 33% stake — will provide locomotive services on the Italian section of the route. The agreement was announced 11 June.
The train will depart from Milano Porta Garibaldi on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, stopping in Como and several Swiss locations before reaching Cologne, Aachen, Liège and Brussels. From December 2026, the route extends to Antwerp, Breda and Eindhoven.
Same partner, different route
Arenaways, founded in 2021 — the same year as European Sleeper — provides traction services on the Italian network. A previous partnership with Arenaways for a Venice service did not proceed.
The December extension adds three Dutch cities to the network, connecting Milan with Eindhoven in a single overnight journey of around 17 hours.