A new high-speed train service connecting Paris and Berlin is scheduled to begin in December, as announced by the operators. This daytime route will complement the popular night train between the two capitals, which was reintroduced last year with much enthusiasm but has since faced technical issues.
The new daytime train service has been delayed due to logistical challenges and will take an hour longer than initially planned. It will operate between Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Paris Gare de L’Est, making stops in Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Frankfurt Süd, with a total travel time of approximately eight hours.
Currently, the quickest journey between the French and German capitals takes just under nine hours but involves two or three transfers, often resulting in a cumbersome and unreliable experience. The new service aims to streamline this journey.
Initially, there will be just one train per day. It will depart from Paris at 9:55 AM and arrive in Berlin shortly after 6:00 PM. The return trip will leave Berlin at 11:54 AM, arriving in Paris just before 8:00 PM.
SNCF and Deutsche Bahn hope that travelers will view this as a relaxed and convenient alternative to flying, offering a significant improvement over the current options. Ticket prices will start at €59 for a one-way second-class fare and €69 for first-class, with prices varying based on demand.
Reservations for the new service will open on October 16, and rail enthusiast networks predict strong interest. Each train will have about 530 available seats.
SNCF and Deutsche Bahn have been collaborating since 2007, with their fast-speed ICE and TGV trains operating on busy routes like Frankfurt-Paris and Stuttgart-Paris. The addition of the Berlin-Paris line has been long-awaited, especially with increased pressure on train operators across Europe to expand services as part of efforts to reduce reliance on air travel and cars. This also aligns with a growing trend for slow travel, especially post-pandemic.
Train enthusiasts believe the new route will broaden travel possibilities across Europe and serve as a valuable complement to other popular connections, such as the Frankfurt-Marseille route launched in 2012 and the Frankfurt-Bordeaux line introduced last year, which runs in the summer.
The night train service between Berlin and Paris, operated by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), was relaunched last December after being discontinued for about a decade. However, it has faced technical issues and was suspended last month due to construction work. It is expected to resume service by the end of next month.
