Surprisingly, among the vast rail network that covers Europe, there is currently no direct day train service between two of the continent’s most visited cities: Paris and Berlin. It’s all about to change starting in December 2024, however. Thanks to an agreement between the SCNF and DB, the national railway companies of France and Germany, a new direct, high-speed train service will connect both capitals in just eight hours.
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
A New High-Speed Train Links Paris to Berlin in Time for Christmas Market Season
The new rail service will be operated by German ICE trains (the fastest trains in Europe) and will run once per day, leaving Paris Gare de l’Est at 9:55 AM and arrive in Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 6:03 PM. The return route will leave Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 11:54 AM and arrive in Paris at 7:55 PM. There will be only three stops along the way: one in Strasbourg, France, one in Karlsruhe, Germany, and one in Frankfurt, Germany.
The route will launch on December 16, 2024, right on time for travelers to make their way to Berlin and see the German Capital’s many Christmas markets, including the one on Breitscheidplatz where revelers can enjoy mulled wine, gingerbread, and handcrafted toys from over 100 stalls, as well as carrousel rides.
A direct rail link between Paris and Berlin will not only satisfy travelers’ increasing interest in train travel, but it will also likely encourage everyone to opt for a mode of transport that is more sustainable than flying. According to the SCNF, traveling by train between the two European capitals will emit 100 times less CO2 than flying the same route, more precisely 2Kg instead of 200Kg of CO2.
Currently, traveling by train between Paris and Berlin requires at least one connection, but often necessitates more, and involves multiple stops, making the journey lengthy.
Take it from someone who’s experienced that route recently. I traveled between the two cities in July by way of one Eurostar and one ICE train, and had to connect in the extremely busy and crowded main train station in Cologne for over one hour. A direct ride would have been a lot more comfortable and practical on my very long train journey to reach the German island of Rügen.
Nightjet, operated by ÖBB, the national railway company of Austria, is currently the only one offering a direct rail link between Paris and Berlin, and only does so in sleeper trains that run overnight. The night ride take a little over 14 hours and starts at $38 (€34.90) for a seat in a six-person carriage and $98 (€180) for a private compartment with several berths.
Reservation for the new direct, high-speed train service between Paris and Berlin start at $65 (59.99 €) and will open on 16 October. 