Inauguration of the New Milan–Brussels Night Train: ENIT Promotes Italy through Sustainable Rail Travel

The new service connects Northern Italy with the heart of Europe. Through its Brussels office, ENIT is strengthening Italy’s positioning in the Benelux market by promoting new forms of slow tourism.

On 9 September 2026, the new Milan–Cologne–Brussels direct night train operated by European Sleeper departed from Milano Porta Garibaldi, connecting Northern Italy with Belgium without the need to change trains. The inaugural service left Milan at 4:45 pm and arrived at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid on the morning of 10 September, marking the launch of a new international rail connection between Italy and Northern Europe.

The new service travels through Switzerland along the Gotthard route, stopping at Como San Giovanni, Lugano, Bellinzona, Arth-Goldau, Göschenen and Aarau, before continuing to Cologne and Brussels. The connection operates three times a week in each direction: from Milan on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and from Brussels on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

For the inaugural journey, European Sleeper brought together institutional representatives and members of the media to present the new route and celebrate the launch of the service. The collaboration also provided networking opportunities with journalists, tour operators, travel agents and institutional representatives, with the aim of strengthening relations between ENIT, the travel trade and stakeholders in the Belgian market.

The project also has strategic significance in terms of improving access to Italy for international visitors. From Milan, passengers can continue their journey via high-speed rail connections to Florence, Rome and numerous other Italian destinations, expanding travel opportunities from Northern Europe to destinations across the country.

Through this initiative, ENIT continues to promote Italy by supporting new models of international accessibility, helping to foster more sustainable forms of tourism while strengthening connections between Italy and its key European markets.