Germany and France introduced a direct high-speed train service between Berlin and Paris on Monday, a new connection seen as a symbol of the countries’ close ties and Europe’s potential to boost rail travel.
The service, operated by German railway company Deutsche Bahn, features ICE trains and provides an additional, convenient option for travelers, though it does not offer significant time savings compared to other indirect routes.
The journey lasts about eight hours, with the once-a-day train making stops in Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, and Strasbourg before reaching Paris in the evening. The eastbound train from Paris arrives in Berlin just after 6 p.m.
While the new service is a positive development, it comes as Deutsche Bahn works to improve its reputation for reliability. Last month, only 60% of its long-distance trains were on time, defined as being no more than six minutes late. The state-owned company has set a target for better punctuality, aiming for over 75% by 2027. A significant part of this effort includes modernizing the country’s rail infrastructure, with the recent reopening of a major stretch of track between Frankfurt and Mannheim marking progress.
Germany’s government has attributed the railway’s current issues to years of underinvestment. Alongside the new Berlin-Paris ICE service, there is also an overnight train between the two capitals, launched by Austrian operator ÖBB, which is helping revive Europe’s night train network.
This new connection is part of the annual mid-December European train timetable overhaul, which also includes a new direct high-speed train between Munich and Amsterdam, a seven-hour journey.
