Paris to Berlin New High-Speed Train to Launch In Winter 2024

Travelers can easily get around Europe by rail as train companies continue to add more options. The latest is the new high-speed train to be introduced this winter, connecting people from Paris to Berlin at affordable prices, using high-speed ICE trains.

Traveling between Paris and Berlin by high-speed train

Starting this winter, a high-speed train is set to start running from Paris to Berlin with daily connections available. Using high-speed ICE trains, it is set to stop at three German cities, with ticket prices from $65 (€59).

A night train was launched between the French and German capitals late in 2023, but a daytime counterpart has lagged behind. Now, as confirmed by France’s SNCF and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, that daytime train will start running in December. Moreover, the new train will bring faster and more regular connections between Paris and Berlin at a competitive ticket price.

How long does the high-speed train take?

The current daytime train between Paris and Berlin involves a connection and usually takes between nine and 10.5 hours. Meanwhile, the ÖBB Nightjet overnight train between the cities takes around 13 hours and 15 minutes.

Moreover, that train only departs three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. That service has been suspended since August due to major work on the rail network, but it is expected to return in October.

Meanwhile, the new direct high-speed is set to run daily and will take around eight hours. It will depart from Paris Gare de l’Est at 9:55 am and arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 6:03 pm.

When does the new train launch from Paris to Berlin?

The new high-speed ICE train from Paris to Berlin will launch on December 16, just in time for Europe’s Christmas markets. Along the route, the train will stop at Strasbourg, Karlsruhe and Frankfurt.

Tickets will go on sale from October 16, starting at $65 (€59) one way.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Bahn plans to make the new trains more reliable. In recent years, Germany’s reputation for punctuality has not extended to its rail service. Figures from the company reveal that in 2022 and 2023, more than one-third of long-distance trains were delayed.

The main reasons for the delays include short-term construction works, staff strikes, rail repairs and extreme weather. Deutsche Bahn hopes to improve this situation in the coming year, partly by adding more long-distance services with fewer stops. Moreover, starting in October, the rail service will also allow passengers to pre-book their journey 12 months ahead, up from the current six months.

Alain Krakovitch, Managing Director of TGV-Intercités, said of the new rail link:

This creation of a connection contributes to a common objective of our two countries: to promote carbon-free mobility.

Compared to the plane, the [train] journey between Berlin and Paris generates only one hundredth of the CO2 emissions.