EUROPEAN Sleeper has been forced to delay the opening a new train route connecting Barcelona to Amsterdam. Trains linking the holiday destinations were meant to start operating in 2025, but the launch of the line has been postponed until 2026. Train operator European Sleeper confirmed the delay last week after citing several issues.
Co-founder Chris Engelsman told Treinreiziger , a Dutch travel agent, the delayed launch date was because of issues negotiating with French railway manager SNCF Réseau. He said: "Things are improving step by step. We also hear from other parties that it is simply difficult to do business with SNCF Réseau.
" According to Travel Tomorrow , Engelsman added: "They [SNCF Réseau] plan a lot of work in advance that does not always happen. Read More on Trains "They do not even have that many contractors. They are playing it very safe, and that does not make a night train possible.
" European Sleeper have also struggled to acquire the right train carriages for the service, with a larger number acquired. Despite the year-long delay, train bosses remain hopeful for its future , with 2026 slated as the launch year. When the service does open in two years, it will run overnight between Amsterdam and Barcelona .
Most read in News Travel It is thought the route will make it easier to reach the Catalan capital for those who don't want to travel by plane. European Sleeper have previously said that the route will stop at Rotterdam , Antwerp, Brussels and Lille .