Paris – Berlin direct TGV train link to start December 16

A direct TGV train linking Paris and Berlin is to start operations in December, fulfilling a long-held promise from both governments. 

The service, which will launch on December 16, will see one train per day go between the cities, via Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Frankfurt. 

It will be jointly operated by the French and German state rail operators (SNCF and Deutsche Bahn), and is the first direct day-time rail route between the two cities.

One train will leave Paris Gare de l’Est at 09:55, arriving in Berlin at 18:03. In the opposite direction, the service leaves Berlin at 11:54, arriving in Paris at 19:55. 

This journey time of just under eight hours cuts more than an hour from a current train trip between the two cities, which involves at least one change for travellers.

It means the number of direct heavy-rail links between Germany and France will rise to 26 per day, up from 24 (excluding local public transport in Strasbourg). 

Tickets start from €59

Tickets for the 333 second-class seats on the service will begin from €59 one-way, rising to €69 for the 111 first-class seats, although they will be sold on a first-come first-served basis. Tickets will become more expensive when scarce.

They will go on sale from October 16, via the Deutsche Bahn and SNCF websites.

A one-way rail journey between the cities emits around 2 kgs of CO² per passenger, compared to 200 kgs by flight. 

“This new link is further concrete proof of the Franco-German friendship and contributes to an objective shared by our two countries: to promote low-carbon mobility,” said Alain Krakovitch, a director of SNCF.

A night-train between the two cities is in operation, which takes around 12 hours, however it has not run for more than a month due to vital works on both the German and French rail networks. 

It is expected to return on October 28. 

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