Germany and France have just unveiled a new direct high-speed train between Berlin and Paris, which is said to underscore the strong bond between the two nations and evidence Europe’s ability to lure in more rail travelers.
The new service is being operated by German rail company Deutsche Bahn, running once a day in each direction, connecting the two capitals in about eight hours. According to ABC News, it doesn’t provide any real time savings compared to indirect routes, but could make an appreciable difference in terms of convenience.
This latest launch coincides with Deutsche Bahn’s ongoing efforts to overcome its reputation for unreliable service. Last month, the company reported that only 60 percent of its long-distance trains were on time—defined as arriving less than six minutes late. In response, the national rail company is working toward achieving over 75 percent punctuality by 2027, with a comprehensive plan to modernize many stretches of railway infrastructure.
One of the first successes in this modernization initiative came this week as one of Germany’s busiest routes, a 45-mile stretch between Frankfurt and Mannheim, reopened after a five-month closure. The improvements included upgrades to tracks, stations and other railway infrastructure.
The new Berlin-Paris train, a symbol of European cooperation, stops in Frankfurt, Karlsruhe and Strasbourg before reaching the City of Lights. Passengers traveling from Paris will arrive in Berlin just after 6:00 p.m., while those heading west from Berlin will arrive in Paris by 8:00 p.m.
In addition to the new direct service, a slower overnight train between Berlin and Paris, operated by Austrian company ÖBB, has been running three times a week since last year. This revival of night trains follows ÖBB’s broader effort to bring back sleeper services—which had declined in recent years—across Europe. Deutsche Bahn discontinued its own sleeper service a decade ago.
This new connection between Berlin and Paris via Deutsche Bahn ICE train is part of the annual timetable changes that occur across Europe in mid-December. This year, these schedule alterations also include the introduction of a high-speed direct train between Munich and Amsterdam, with a seven-hour travel time.
Germany and France are the largest economies and most populous nations in the European Union. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the new rail link, operated in partnership with France's SNCF, as “a good symbol of German-French friendship”.
Meanwhile, German Transport Minister Volker Wissing opined that the connection is about more than just offering a new route. He said, “We still have a lot of potential to get as many people as possible onto the rails inside Europe with attractive offers, including for longer journeys, and live out this friendship.”
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