Deutsche Bahn's (DB) international long-haul travel division has experienced an impressive surge, with 24 million travelers crossing borders in 2023, a significant increase of 21% compared to 2019.
This surge is well above pre-pandemic levels and reflects a strong recovery in long-haul travel. During the same period, DB expanded its seat capacity by 13%, introduced new routes and introduced longer trains to meet growing demand.
Dr. Michael Peterson, DB's Director of Long-Range Passenger Transport, commented: This growth highlights the appeal of rail travel, which offers convenient intercity connections with short journey times and competitive prices. Furthermore, every journey by rail contributes to Europe's active climate protection. ”
The Berlin-Amsterdam route recorded the strongest increase among DB international routes, carrying 64,000 more passengers in 2023 than in 2022, an increase of 23%. The Berlin-Warsaw route saw an additional 51,000 passengers, a huge 22% increase. For the Munich-Verona route, the number of passengers increased by 20% to 17,000. In addition, the Munich-Vienna route added an additional 72,500 travelers, representing a 17% increase in passenger numbers. Finally, the Munich-Zurich route saw an increase of 17,000 passengers, reflecting an increase of 16%.
Expanding DB's international services
Looking ahead, Deutsche Bahn plans to further strengthen its international services. Notable developments include the introduction of the ICE 3neo, which is scheduled to enter service on the Frankfurt/Main to Brussels and Frankfurt/Main to Amsterdam routes from mid-June 2024, six months ahead of schedule . This accelerated schedule is the result of a collaboration between Siemens Mobility, regulators and European railway partners. The introduction of state-of-the-art trains is aimed at replacing older rolling stock, improving reliability and passenger comfort on international flights.
Major schedule updates for 2024 include a 30-minute reduction between Berlin and Amsterdam, aimed at improving efficiency and convenience. In addition, direct trains from Frankfurt/Main to Bordeaux will resume on Saturdays in the summer, and services to and from Stuttgart will be extended from mid-July, giving passengers more travel options. In addition, the introduction of night trains between Berlin and Paris/Brussels three times a week, in addition to the Munich-Vienna-Wrocław-Krakow-Warsaw night trains, will offer travelers more flexibility and overnight travel options. .
Another notable update is the introduction of a second direct connection between Berlin/Erfurt – Linz/Vienna, in response to growing demand on this route. The expansion of the daily (Berlin -) Frankfurt/Main – Stuttgart – Innsbruck service will strengthen connections between major cities. Additionally, passengers will benefit from increased direct connections between Hamburg and Copenhagen. In addition, in response to growing demand, the service will be expanded with the addition of seven pairs of round-trip trains between Munich and Zurich. Finally, special trains run between Berlin and Prague during the summer months from June to September to accommodate the increased travel volume during the peak season.
New vehicles planned for 2024
Several new vehicles will be in service for the 2024 schedule. This includes the increasing replacement of intercity trains between Germany and Austria with ICE trains, with the aim of offering faster and more efficient journeys. Additionally, passengers can look forward to improved connectivity to Italian destinations with the deployment of a new Railjet between Munich and Italy from April 2024.
From June 2024, ICE 3neo will be introduced on the Frankfurt/Main to Brussels and Frankfurt/Main to Amsterdam routes, bringing cutting-edge technology and comfort to these popular international routes. In addition, a new NightJet will be introduced on the Hamburg-Vienna/Innsbruck overnight service, which will be extended to the Vienna/Munich-Rome route from autumn 2024, offering passengers the option of overnight travel. The debut of the SBB high-speed train Girno on the Frankfurt-Zurich-Milan line in the summer will further improve travel between these major European cities.
In addition, passengers traveling between Berlin and Prague can look forward to the gradual introduction of new Railjet from Czech Railways ČD from autumn 2024, enhancing connectivity between the two capitals. Finally, to meet high demand, trains with double his capacity will run between Frankfurt and Paris on certain days, offering more seats for travelers during peak times.
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