Travelling from Berlin to some of Germany's biggest cities by train may soon be faster and easier, as rail operator Flixtrain expands its network.
Starting from the national timetable change on December 13th, the company will increase services on several popular routes, including to Hamburg, Frankfurt and cities in the Ruhr region, while also launching a new direct connection between Berlin and Bremen.
For passengers, the change brings more departures, more flexibility when planning trips and another rail alternative to Deutsche Bahn.
Tickets for the new timetable will be available to book from October 14th.
More, and faster, connections
The biggest increase in services will be on the Berlin-Hamburg route, where Flixtrain plans to raise the number of daily trains from up to 14 to up to 20. On particularly busy days, trains will run hourly between the two cities.
The route is one of Germany's busiest rail corridors and recently underwent extensive renovation work, including upgrades to tracks, switches and overhead lines, as well as improvements at dozens of stations.
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Despite those upgrades, passengers haven’t seen shorter travel times on the route. Flixtrain says some of its services will be faster than comparable ICE connections operated by Deutsche Bahn, although exact journey times will vary.
Berlin travellers will also see more services to Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen, Duisburg and Frankfurt.
Flixtrain is also introducing a new Berlin-Bremen direct connection with up to ten trains per day.
The expanded timetable should make it easier for travellers to find a departure time that suits them.
When to book and what to expect
The new timetable comes into effect on December 13th.
Passengers will be able to book tickets from October 14th.
Alongside the additional services, Flixtrain is continuing to modernise its fleet. The company says its refurbished "Comfort" trains offer air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a guaranteed seat reservation included in the ticket price.
Some trains also have traditional compartments, which may appeal to families or travellers looking for a quieter journey.
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But passengers should bear in mind that Flixtrain is not immune to the delays and cancellations that affect Germany's wider rail network. It uses the same rail infrastructure as Deutsche Bahn, meaning construction work and network disruptions can still cause problems.
Why is Flixtrain expanding now?
The company says it is currently experiencing its strongest period of growth since launching and wants to attract more passengers to long-distance rail travel.
Flixtrain is already Deutsche Bahn's largest competitor in the long-distance market and plans to continue expanding in the coming years. The company has ordered 65 new high-speed trains from Spanish manufacturer Talgo and is investing around €2.4 billion in growing its fleet.
For travellers, that investment is intended to translate into more trains, more departure options and a wider range of rail services on some of Germany's busiest routes.
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