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TRAIN TRAVEL

What to know about new night train connecting Belgium, Germany, Austria and Italy

The new night train route from Brussels to Venice, which will launch early next year, will allow passengers to make an overnight journey to the North Sea, the Mediterranean or to the Alps. Here’s what you need to know.

Published: 21 August 2024 16:08 CEST
sleeper car passenger
A passenger takes in the view from a sleeper cabin on a European Sleeper train. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-tmn | Zacharie Scheurer

Night train transport firm, European Sleeper, is introducing a new Brussels – Venice route to begin in February 2025.

The line will also connect Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Italy – with stops in Cologne, Munich, Innsbruck, Bolzano and others along the way.

European Sleeper is one of a few privately owned international train operators in Europe. Currently it operates night trains on just one international line that connects Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden and Prague several times weekly.

READ ALSO: The destinations you can reach by direct night train from Berlin

According to the company, the new line comes in response to high-demand for winter sports travel, more city trip options and the current lack of suitable train connections in Europe.

The new route is intended to make it easier for passengers to choose greener travel options without compromising on comfort.

“This marks a new important milestone for European Sleeper, and the convenience of night travel across Europe more sustainably,” said Chris Engelsman, co-founder of European Sleeper in a statement released by the company.

Itinerary

Starting on February 5th, 2025, the Brussels – Venice line will initially run twice a week.

Southbound trains will depart the Belgian capital at 5 pm and arrive in Venice at 2 pm the following day. Passengers departing Cologne can catch the train at 11 pm and get a good night’s sleep before the train stops in Munich at 7 am the following morning.

Northbound trains will depart Venice at 3 pm, stopping in Innsbruck by 7 pm and Munich at 10 pm. They’ll arrive in Cologne at 6 am the next morning and reach the end of the line in Brussels by 11 am.

What you can expect

Mark Smith, author of The Man in Seat 61, a popular blog about train travel in Europe, told The Local that he’s had two experiences riding on European Sleeper trains – once in a sleeper bed and once in a new couchette car.

Sleeper cars are the equivalent of a hotel room on wheels, typically equipped with proper beds and washbasins, whereas cheaper couchettes are smaller padded bunks often fitting four or six in a cabin.

Asked how European Sleeper trains compare with those run by Europe’s bigger operators like Nightjet, Smith said, “Their newer 5-berth couchettes are as good as Nightjet, the sleeping-cars are older than Nightjet’s sleeping-cars (so no showers) but very comfortable.”

READ ALSO: Five ‘coolcation’ spots you can reach by train from Germany

He added that a perk about the new Brussels – Venice line is that the trains will have a dining car, “which promises lunch and a glass of red while you pass through the mountains of the scenic Brenner Pass.”

Ticket prices

Booking for trips on the new route will officially open on September 1st.

European Sleeper hasn’t yet published ticket prices. But to give a general idea tickets from Brussels to Prague start at €69 for seats, €99 for couchettes and €159.

As for scoring the cheapest tickets: “Like anything, book as far ahead as you can and the booking horizon allows, mid-week is cheaper than weekends, February is cheaper than June,” said Smith, the man who rides trains for a living.

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TRAVEL NEWS

What return of liquid limits at airports means for travel in Germany

After the European Commission announced it is reintroducing limits on liquids in hand luggage at airports around Europe, many are wondering what this means for travellers in Germany.

Published: 23 August 2024 09:32 CEST
What return of liquid limits at airports means for travel in Germany

The European Commission (EC) recently said it will temporarily reintroduce limits to liquids carried in hand luggage at some airports around Europe.

For the last several years, travellers around Europe have been looking forward to being rid of pesky hand luggage restrictions on liquids and electronic devices across all airports. In Germany, some airports have already spent millions on new high-tech scanners and were even beginning to phase them in and scrap the rules. 

However, following the EC decision, in certain airports the 100ml limit will now actually be reintroduced on liquids, aerosols, and gels (known as LAGs).

This comes after concerns emerged about the reliability of CT scanners as part of the new EDSCB systems installed in airports around the continent.

In a press release, the EC states: “The European Commission will temporarily enforce restrictions on liquid screening at EU airports utilising Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB). 

“These systems, installed in certain EU airports, currently allow passengers to carry liquid containers exceeding 100ml.”

What does this mean for travellers?

Basically, if you’re travelling through an airport that has already installed new CT scanners, you’ll soon need to abide by the old 100ml limit on carrying liquids in hand luggage.

If you travel through airports that are yet to install them or change the rules, nothing changes.

Frankfurt, Germany’s biggest airport, has dozens of these new scanners. 

A notice on Frankfurt airport’s site says: “Starting September 1st, 2024 an EU-wide restriction on taking liquids in carry-on luggage will be applied again for all passenger security checkpoints (including CT scanners).”

The airport goes on to say that “only liquids in containers no larger than 100 milliliters may be taken, and these must be placed inside a re-closable bag with a maximum capacity of 1 liter”.

Some other German airports have also been installing these scanners, including Munich and Berlin. 

What about unpacking electronic devices and liquid bags?

The other time-saving benefit of these new scanners is that you no longer need to take out your electronic devices or liquid bag from your hand luggage.

According to the latest EC information available, the rule change will not affect this.

Frankfurt airport adds that the checkpoints with CT technology “will continue to benefit passengers because electronic devices and allowed amounts of  liquids, aerosols, and gels do not have to be removed from the carry-on luggage”.

When does this change come into effect?

From September 1st 2024. The EC statement says from this date “the maximum allowed size for individual liquid containers will revert to the standard 100ml for airports operating this type of equipment”.

A person sits in an airport lounge

Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay

Why are they doing this?

The EC claims this is a “precautionary measure” due to a technical issue and not due to a heightened security risk.

This is according to a decision taken by the Airports Council International (ACI) when it was revising EU Aviation Security Regulations, which has introduced severe restrictions on the use of these new sorts of scanners.

Due to their state-of-the-art technology they previously allowed travellers around Europe to carry liquids in their hand luggage without the 100ml restriction, but the technical measure means this has been scrapped for now.

Why are there limits on liquids in airports?

EU Aviation Security Regulations limits liquids, aerosols, and gels to 100ml. This is because traditional security equipment cannot detect liquid explosives effectively. The rule was brought in back in 2006. 

However, there are exceptions made for medicines and baby products. If you have a prescribed medicine over 100ml, you’re advised to bring the doctor’s prescription with you incase a security agent asks to see it.

Though the EC describes the reintroduction of this liquid limit rule as “temporary”, it is unclear how long it will be in place for. 

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