A NEW train linking two of Europe’s most popular cities will be up and running in time for Christmas market season.
The high-speed service will run from Berlin to Paris, between Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Paris Gare de L’Est, with stops in Frankfurt, Strasbourg and Karlsruhe.
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Passengers will be able to get from Berlin to Paris in just eight hours using the service, which will be run by German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and France’s SNCF.
The first departure is scheduled to happen in December.
Michael Peterson, an executive at Deutsche Bahn, said: “This is the first daytime direct connection between the capitals of Germany and France, and it is also a symbol of a growing Europe.”
Alain Krakovitch, from SNCF, added: “This new connection is further proof of the Franco-German friendship and contributes to a shared foal of our two countries: more CO2-free mobility.”
Read more on train journeys
The train journey will depart from Berlin at 11:54 am and arrive at Paris’ Gare de l’Est at 7:55 pm.
In the reverse direction, it will leave Paris at 9:55 am and arrive in Berlin at 6:03 pm.
Stops on the route will include Strasbourg, France, but not Saarbrücken, as initially requested by Deutsche Bahn.
The train will also make stops in the German cities of Frankfurt and Karlsruhe.
Second-class tickets will be available starting at €60 (around £50), which is slightly more expensive than the cheapest flights between the two capitals.
But with this route, the number of daily connections between France and Germany will increase from 24 to 26.
A long-distance night train service, operated by Austrian Railways, has connected Berlin and Paris previously, although it’s currently suspended due to construction work.
As the new route between the two capital cities only takes eight hours and is set to launch before Christmas, you could technically visit Christmas markets in two cities in one day.
Berlin Christmas Time at the Red Town Hall is usually open from 11am, and from there to the train station it’s a 12 minute taxi ride.
Jardin des Tuileries Christmas Market in Paris is open until 11:45pm.
Deutsche Bahn is also planning other new international connections.
Among them are routes from Munich to Milan and Rome, in collaboration with Trenitalia, scheduled for 2026.
According to Peterson, demand for international train travel has grown faster than for domestic routes.
The new service adds to the high-speed rail network between Germany and France, which already includes routes to Marseille and Bordeaux from Frankfurt.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Sun Travel’s favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel’s journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray
Brits could one day travel to Spain by train, with new routes planned for 2026.
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