Deutsche bahn is struggling with a crumbling network. Now new connections are being added, especially abroad. The railway is particularly proud of an ICE train between two capitals.
Berlin.
Paris, Venice, Krakow, amsterdam – Deutsche Bahn passengers will benefit from new connections and more frequent service to European cities when timetables change.The federally owned company focuses primarily on international travel. According to the railways, more than 330 journeys from Germany to twelve neighboring countries have been made every day since Sunday.
In Germany the railway, struggling with a dilapidated connection network and poor punctuality, wants to score points, among other things with more sprinters between Berlin and Frankfurt. Since Sunday, two main routes have reopened after months of closure: Frankfurt-mannheim and Hamburg-Berlin. This reduces travel times on the national network and more trains can run again. However, train travel will sometimes become more expensive for customers. The changes in brief:
From Berlin to Paris in eight hours
From the German capital to the French capital without changing trains: from Monday the new ICE connection will come into operation via Frankfurt Süd, karlsruhe and Strasbourg. It leaves Berlin Central Station at 12.02pm and arrives eight hours later
Departure from Paris is scheduled for 9.55am and arrival in the federal capital is scheduled for 5pm: 56.
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From Berlin it passes through frankfurt, Karlsruhe and Strasbourg to Paris – Michael Peterson (l) of Deutsche Bahn and Alain Krakovitch of the French SNCF presented the route at the end of September. (archive image) Image: carsten Koall/dpa
Other international connections include the fact that, for the first time, Amsterdam can be reached daily by ICE from Stuttgart and Munich without changing trains. From mid-April to early November there is a new delayed connection in both directions between Frankfurt and Brussels every day. There are two other trains running between Munich and Zurich, and also on the route between Berlin, Wroclaw and Krakow. In the summer, other direct trains will also be added from munich via Verona to Venice or Bologna. Compared to 2019,there are approximately 25% more connections with neighboring countries,explains the railway.
More sprinters between Berlin and Frankfurt
The railway wants to use more trains on particularly popular domestic routes. Another six so-called sprinters travel without stopping between the capital and the metropolis in around four hours. If on time, sprinters travel about 20 minutes faster on the connection than on regular long-distance trains. or else, at a national level there are relatively few changes.
Among other things, the railway will set up an additional direct train between Berlin and saarbrücken and, from mid-March, between Rostock, leipzig, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. A second daily direct train will also run between Bremen and Berlin.The new timetable also brings a new ICE night connection between Berlin and Switzerland. The night train service, which the railway offers mainly in collaboration with the Austrian Federal Railways, will not undergo any changes.
Flexible pricing and Bahncard 100 are becoming more expensive
Anyone who in the future wants to travel with a flexible-price ticket will have to dig into their pockets more than before. according to the railways,prices increase on average by 5.9%. With a flexible price ticket, customers can take any long-distance train on the respective connection during the day and are therefore more flexible. The so-called savings and super savings offers remain unchanged. The starting prices are still 17.99 euros for super saver tickets and 21.99 euros for super saver tickets.
The railway has announced an average increase of 6.6% for Bahncard 100,with which travelers can travel on all DB trains as often as they want. For example, the normal bahncard 100 for second class costs 4,899 euros for one year; if you want to travel first class, you have to pay 7,999 euros.
When does the train arrive? The whites’ plans are blocked for now
First they had to disappear,now the arrival plans of the whites are blocked in the train stations. (archive image) Image: Andreas Arnold/dpa
First they had to disappear, now the arrival plans of the whites are blocked in the train stations. (archive image) Image: Andreas Arnold/dpa
Do they disappear or not? At the end of November there was a lot of talk about the plans for whites to arrive at Deutsche Bahn stations. the company initially announced that it would no longer display alerts if the time changed. Only two days later the railway backed down after clear criticism from, among others, passenger representatives. The arrival plans remain, at least for now.
30,000 passengers per day: renewal of the Hamburg-berlin line
Deutsche Bahn and its passengers suffer from frequent delays. The group attributes this mainly to an outdated and dilapidated railway network and wants to put it back on track with a general renovation. The first section of the route between Frankfurt and Mannheim has just been completed. The significantly more complex modernization of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line will follow next year.
This route has just been reopened following track construction work. But not everything is done yet. The subsequent fundamental renovation will start in August and last until April 2026. During this period the route between Hamburg and Berlin will be completely closed. Freight and passenger traffic will be diverted.
What are the best night train options between Rlin and Munich?
Rlin and Munich, providing travelers with more options for night travel.
Moreover,Deutsche Bahn is aiming to improve customer satisfaction amidst ongoing challenges with its network. To tackle issues related to punctuality, they are investing in infrastructure upgrades and more reliable services. While some fare increases might potentially be expected with the new timetable changes, the emphasis on enhanced frequency and new routes is seen as a positive step toward making train travel more convenient and efficient for passengers across Germany and into neighboring countries.
Deutsche Bahn’s new timetable, which includes expanded international connections and increased domestic services, reflects their commitment to enhancing rail travel and catering to the needs of modern commuters and travelers.
