"Very uncomfortable"

Very uncomfortable. The cabins with five bunks are crowded and the bunks themselves are very narrow and hard.
It is tricky to get out of a shared sleeping cabin in the dark.

"Brussels to Prague couchette return"

Brussels to Prague couchette return
Great for kids who absolutely loved it.
Great staff, however carriages must be modernised for this to be a viable service (nostalgia doesn't overcome lack of comport after 8 hours trying to sleep!). I fear that old carriages are past sell by date and cannot be modernised - some serious investment in new couchette carriages to modern standards required (i.e. more comfortable beds, temperature and humidity control, proper blinds, working electrics, WiFi and sound insulation).

"Back to the Eighties"

I went from Brussels to Prague, and returned a few days later.
The coaches were sadly lacking in modern comfort and facilities. The couchettes are too narrow for comfort and need more padding.
With five to a compartment, it is difficult to move around if someone needs to get out, especially with the ladder raised.
Toilets were less clean than more modern trains and needed attending to more often.
Both journeys featured long stops, particularly around Berlin; my Prague bound service was an hour late, but the return was on time.
I suggest the curtains need replacing with blinds as too often there was light seepage.
If more modern coaches and facilities are provided, I would consider using the service again, but not before.

"I had a great experience using the…"

I had a great experience using the European Sleeper to Prague with my family AND dog! Will definitely use it again.

"Meedenkende steward zorgt voor geweldige reiservaring"

Elke reis is een avontuur. Voor mij was het de eerste keer met een slaaptrein. Een compleet nieuwe ervaring. Mijn coupegenoot stapte een station later in. De steward checkte ons slim tegelijkertijd in en bood een drankje van het 'huis' aan. In onderling overleg met mijn reisgenoot en de steward werden bedtijd en ontbijt afgesproken.
Het slapen was onwennig doordat alle wissels voelbaar zijn. Een wijntje van te voren kan helpen 😉 Ivm mijn glutenvrije dieet mocht ik de volgende dag een extra yoghurtje ipv brood. Dat had ik de avond te voren vriendelijk gevraagd. Top service. Van de catering wagon heb ik geen gebruik gemaakt, omdat bij boeken mijn dieetwens niet mogelijk was.
Heerlijk ontbeten met het uitzicht op een met rijp bedekt landschap.
De trein liep ruim voor op schema, waardoor een exrtra stop werd gemaakt in Dresden Neustadt. Mijn eindstation was Dresden Hauptbahnhof 3km verderop. Ondanks dat Neustadt geen officiële halte meer is, gaf de steward aan dat ik er wat hem betreft daar wel uit mocht. Op zijn advies heb ik zo een schitterende ochtend wandeling door het centrum van Dresden gemaakt. Een snellere optie gaf hij ook: overstappen op de S-bahn. Dat vond ik meer iets voor een regenachtige dag.

"Globally it was a great travelling…"

Globally it was a great travelling experience. Many interrail memories flooded back. The atmosphere onboard was great as this is no ordinary train experience. Yes the rolling stock is old but considering this no problems. The wagon manager was very helpful and enabled us to make the most of the compartment re heating and opening the window. Punctual as well

"My first experience on the European…"

My first experience on the European Sleeper from Prague to Brussels was quite enjoyable! I booked a 3-person couchette cabin but ended up being the only one there, which gave me a nice sense of privacy and comfort. The steward was very friendly and explained everything clearly, making the journey smooth and easy. The cabin itself was cozy, though the only downside was its proximity to the main coach door, which made it a bit noisy when people passed by to use the toilets. Overall, it was a great way to travel overnight.

"I want to offset the negative reviews…"

I want to offset the negative reviews here. My partner and I went from Amsterdam to Prague and back during the Christmas season and it was completely lovely experience.

Are the trains a bit older? Yes. Are they also completely fine? Yes.

Are the train toilet a bit smelly after 14 hours of use on a moving train. Kinda. Is it completely manageable? Yep.

If you expect a luxury experience, you might be disappointed, but if you expect a normal nice service, all will likely be fine.

Here is the information I was actually looking for before leaving:

We used a couchette with 5 people both ways. Both ways it was full. You get a blanket, pillow and a sleeping sack (and a bottle of water). In the couchette there is space for your luggage under the beds and in a nook above the hallway. We had each a big suitcase with presents and all fit completely fine.

The beds clap down with one side having 3 beds and one side having 2 beds (bottom bunk is the seats during the day). There is a small ladder under the seats that you can hook above the window or the door to get to the higher levels.

The train conductor does not announce stops between about 11PM and 8AM so people can sleep. We slept fine. My partner is almost 2 meters tall, so he could not fully extend his legs. Also if you do not like tight spaces, the middle bed might be a little uncomfortable.

There is a steward that will explain everything and has some drinks available over night. Otherwise there is a food cart where you can get drinks and snacks in the evening and some breakfast in the morning. The food cart is a bit pricey though.

"Op de website werd het mooier gemaakt…"

Op de website werd het mooier gemaakt dan het in werkelijkheid is. Oke verouderde wagons werden wel vermeld maar we hadden ook slaapplekken voor een heerlijke nacht....helaas bleken het harde planken te zijn maar dan met stof er omheen. Ik ben 1 dag ziek geweest van het slaapgebrek. En ook op de terugreis geen oog dicht gedaan. Ik kan zo door naar de fysio. Vind de prijs kwaliteit niet in verhouding. Het concept is top en de reis in het algemeen ook maar niet op deze manier. Personeel is vriendelijk en laten we de toiletten en wasgelegenheid maar verder achterwege

"Bad experience"

I've taken this train from Amersfoort to Prague twice, and unfortunately, both experiences were disappointing. The train is quite old, with uncomfortable seats that make the long journey challenging. Nights can be uncomfortably cold, and there's no WiFi available, which adds to the inconvenience. On my most recent trip to Prague a few weeks ago, I had a terrible experience when I was harassed by a man in my cabin. Unfortunately, no one intervened or seemed to care, which left me feeling unsafe. I cannot recommend this service based on my experiences