"Rather basic travel experience, for true rail enthusiasts only"

Travelled from Prague to Brussels in a 5-berth “comfort” couchette compartment (with family of 4). Rather basic travel experience, for true rail enthusiasts only. Old and run-down carriages from the 80ies (or early 90ies), no air conditioning (despite having announced the contrary on the website), with > 30 degrees in the carriage during the travel more of a rolling sauna really. Electric sockets didn’t work, no wifi (as announced), very rudimentary yet pricy breakfast, rather moderately comfortable couchettes. More of an 80ies rail experience, rather unworthy for 21st century rail offer.
That said, train was punctual (not at departure, but at arrival), staff was friendly, kids enjoyed the experience, and managed to get some sleep / rest despite the heat.

"Delays, last-minute stop cancellations "

Honestly, I didn’t have the best time traveling with the european sleeper… I first took it from Rotterdam to Dresden, where it arrived to the station 1h30 late. While it was not stated very clearly, I understood that there were some technical difficulties with the train itself. The state of the cabin was fine and I admit I didn’t have the best night, but that’s to expect if you’re sleeping on a somewhat hard surface with a cabin you have to share with 4 other people. I think that the cabin, the beds, and the other facilities reflected the price I paid.

A week later I took the train back and was again surprised by the train being late. This time 30min that quickly turned into 1h. And even though the train did go through every stop last time with a 1h30 delay, it now decided to not stop at two stops in Berlin. Those poor people, some of which were my later cabin neighbours, explained to me how they were told less than an hour in advance that their stop was cancelled and somehow had to find a way to the next station, that was 1h walking distance away, on their own without any assistance of the company.
The cabin and other facilities were fine, except for a missing curtain and the lights not functioning too well.

I really liked the idea of the European Sleeper, but I was just a tad too disappointed. I can understand that the delays etc were maybe not their fault, but it’s hard to empathise with they way they’re handling it.
I will probably try this company again at another time to see if all of those problems were just unlucky coincidences.

"For a long range biker"

For a long range biker, it is a very nice opportunity ! Rather good capacity for bikes, it is a good start. The company people where very kind, in any language...
Hoping more availability of food and drink, better to bring some reserve ;-)
I am waiting for new destinations like Barcelona or Scandinavia, to extend my biking experience without the usual long rain trip with multiple changes (so difficult for bikes and luggages).

**Sleeper Train is for me the best bike-friendly opportunity**

"The way of traveling is ideal"

The way of traveling is ideal. We were just unlucky that it rained a lot, so the compartment was not waterproof and we had a leak on the lower beds, so our pillows and beds were wet. This was not ideal for a good night's sleep.

"The train company double booked my…"

The train company double booked my seat, and the conductor wouldn’t give me a different seat, so I sat on the floor with the bikes until someone else in my assigned carriage got off at a future station stop. This is not okay when you literally pay for a seat, especially a night train where the plan is to sleep. Also, there should be more identification of the station stops and where we are. My phone did not have service in the train, so I took a risk on being ready. The carriages do not have wifi or outlets to charge phones either, which also should be improved.

"Een nachtmerrie, heen en terug"

The "Good night train naar Berlijn"? Een nachtmerrie, ja...

De eerste indruk was al niet veelbelovend. Een oude, afgeleefde trein uit de jaren stillekes uit een of ander Oostblokland (niet gezeverd: de aanwijzingen op de deuren en dergelijke waren in het Duits en een Slavische taal).

De tweede en derde indruk was al even erg: een muffe, oude, afgeleefde couchette. Vieze geur, vuile vlekken op de zetelbekleding, overal stof en viezigheid, onfris ruikende dekens (het moet gezegd: de lakens waren wel proper), ...

Het was superheet (geen spoor van de airco die op de website vermeld stond), dus de enige oplossing was alle ramen (op de gang en in de couchette) open te zetten, maar dan maakt zo'n oude trein pokkeveel herrie.

De bedden zijn ook niet comfortabel, in het middelste bed zijn 3 harde bulten van de hoofdsteun van de zetels.

De toiletten zijn al even afgeleefd en vuil, ook in tegenstelling van wat op de website staat.

Dit is absoluut geen waar voor je geld. En in niks vergelijkbaar met de foto's op de website of op hun social media.

En dan hebben we het nog niet over de terugreis. De couchette was marginaal beter (wel airco, maar even vuil, afgeleefd, muf - denk stoffen, velouren zetelbekleding uit 1900-en-een-beetje en sigarettengeur van toen er nog gerookt werd in treinen - en oud, maar de aanwijzingen stonden wel in Europese talen), maar we hebben onderweg 5 uur vertraging opgelopen! We waren niet om half 10 's ochtends, maar om half 3 in de namiddag in Brussel. Rond 9 uur zijn ze water komen rondbrengen, ergens in de vroege middag riepen ze af dat we een 'voedselpakket' konden gaan afhalen in wagon 10. We zaten toen al meer dan 13 uur op de trein!

Ondertussen spoelde de wc niet meer door (het liep bijna over), waardoor er mannen (veronderstel ik) in de lavabo hadden geplast. Degoutant. Er kwam in onze wagon ook geen water meer uit de kraan (misschien was dat het geluid van stromend water dat ons 's nachts uren wakker had gehouden), dus handen wassen kon ook niet.

Opnieuw een heel vriendelijke steward die heel hard zijn best deed, maar zoiets kan je onmogelijk goed maken.

Ik was echt heel enthousiast over reizen met de nachttrein. Ik herinner het uit mijn jeugd als een avontuur en wou dat voor mijn kinderen ook. Maar dit was geen avontuur, het was een nachtmerrie.

En als ik er iets van zei via social media, kreeg ik als antwoord dat ze inderdaad sommige oude treinen hebben moeten refurbishen door een schaarste op de markt en een jarenlang gebrek aan investeringen. Dat snap ik, maar deze reis was veel te duur voor wat het was? Volgens mij was dit dezelfde trein als die waarin ik in de jaren 80 als kind met mijn ouders naar Frankrijk reed. Ondertussen niet eens fatsoenlijk gepoetst of onderhouden.

Als het hun echt menens is om de nachttrein terug leven in te blazen - wat ik echt fantastisch zou vinden - zal dat toch met comfortabelere en recentere toestellen moeten. Want dit is een schande.

Heel veel respect wel voor de stewards. Dat waren superjonge gasten die er het beste van probeerden te maken, maar er is maar zoveel dat je als steward kan rechttrekken.

"lack of basic services"

no wifi, no plugs for charging the phone in my cabin; for a night trip they're big problems
the cabin next to mine was plenty of young boys disturbing for all the night and the ispector didn't help us keeping them quiet

"The most uncomfortable sleeper experience I've ever had"

My trouble began before my journey, when I received an email from Eurosleep telling me that I would arrive in Brussels one hour later than scheduled. I then received a further email, telling me that due to an issue with the rolling stock, I had been downgraded from my booked sleeper berth to a couchette. I decided to go ahead anyway. This turned out to be a mistake.

We boarded the train in Prague almost half an hour late, and I made my way to my couchette, where I found that the staff hadn't provided my complimentary water, or my bedding. In fact, they seemed a bit surprised I was there at all. I was eventually given the bedding, and stole a bottle of water from another, empty, couchette. I then settled in for an incredibly uncomfortable night.

In the morning, I didn't receive any breakfast. Nor, it turned out, did anyone else in my carriage, which meant a long and hungry trip into Brussels.

I contacted European Sleeper about this, and was told I could not receive a refund for my breakfast, since I'd already received a whole 50 euros for being downgraded. I pointed out that I'd been explicitly assured my downgrade still included breakfast, but they remained firm.

I was offered 5% off any future bookings (in addition to the 20% off I'd been offered because of the downgrade) but the experience has left me unwilling to ever book with them again, despite my fondness for sleepers, and cross-European trains. I strongly suggest anyone else take a daytime train, which will also have working electricity and WiFi.

"Loved it! "

An exciting adventure for the kids, we had a spacious cabin and watched the amazing scenery slip by. Worth noting that not all plug sockets work so take a battery pack. We'll definitely be back.

"Décadente boel"

Wie wil er nu aan zo een degoetant hoge prijzen met dan nog oud matriaal, rijzen. Ze zullen snel faït zijn met zo een prijzen. Dit is weer iets, enkel voor de super rijken. Als gewone mens, zal ik wel met de auto, of zelfs met de vlieger, goedkoper, en vooral, veel comfortabeler rijzen.