Paris and Berlin Connected for the First Time by High-Speed Rail

For the first time, Paris and Berlin will be directly connected by a high-speed rail line, reducing travel time to just eight hours. This new service, which starts on Monday, marks a major step toward a more railway-focused Europe, challenging the dominance of air travel. The new route will operate daily, with one train in each direction, and will be inaugurated with the first train departing Paris' Gare de l’Est at 9:55 a.m. and arriving in Berlin at 6:03 p.m.

Inaugural Trains and Celebrations

The inauguration ceremony will feature Jean-Pierre Farandou, CEO of SNCF, and Anja Shöllman, Production Director of Deutsche Bahn (DB). The first train will depart from Berlin at 11:54 a.m. and arrive in Paris at 7:54 p.m., also in the presence of the two company leaders.

This new connection will be operated by Germany’s ICE trains, not France’s TGVs, and will also serve Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Frankfurt in Germany. This is a significant development as there has previously been no direct rail link between Paris and Berlin, with travel typically requiring more than eight hours and at least one transfer.

Environmental Benefits of Rail Travel

This new high-speed rail link is an environmentally-friendly alternative to air travel, with trains emitting just 2 kg of CO2 per passenger, compared to 200 kg for a flight. SNCF and Deutsche Bahn emphasize the sustainability of this new service, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of long-distance travel.

Ticket Pricing and Travel Time

The inaugural ticket prices are set at €59.99 for second-class and €69.99 for first-class. The pricing will be subject to yield management, meaning ticket costs may vary depending on demand. Despite the eight-hour travel time, the two operators are confident that growing enthusiasm for rail travel will make the journey a viable option for passengers.

A Step Toward Greater European Connectivity

With this new service, the number of daily connections between France and Germany will increase from 24 to 26. This new high-speed route follows the December 2023 relaunch of the night train between the two capitals, further promoting cross-border rail travel.

The European Union has set ambitious goals to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and triple it by 2050 to meet its climate commitments. These initiatives include adding 20,000 km of high-speed rail lines to the continent, which currently has 11,300 km.