Deutsche Bahn (DB) has joined forces with Trenitalia and ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) to launch a cross-border rail partnership, planning to open direct routes from Munich to Milan and Munich to Rome by the end of 2026. As part of a pilot project supported by the European Commission to strengthen cross-border rail connections, this initiative is among ten selected projects aimed at expanding international rail transport, with the first lines set to be operational ahead of others.
The new routes will be operated by Italy’s Frecciarossa 1000 trains. These 200-meter-long trains, composed of 8 carriages and capable of carrying up to 462 passengers, have been in service on Trenitalia’s network since 2015. Hitachi and Alstom are currently modifying the trains specifically for the German and Austrian markets, with plans to expand their operations beyond existing routes in Italy, France, and Spain to other European countries. According to the plan, lines from Milan to Berlin (approximately 6.5 hours) and Naples to Berlin (approximately 8.5 hours) will open in December 2028, with travel times expected to be further reduced upon the completion of the Brenner Base Tunnel in late 2032.
The Munich-Milan line will stop at Bolzano, Trento, Verona, and Brescia; the Munich-Rome line will include Innsbruck, Bolzano, Trento, Verona, Bologna, and Florence. Michael Peterson, a board member of DB Long-Distance Passenger Transport, noted that Europe’s rail networks are becoming increasingly integrated through collaboration. With growing demand for eco-friendly cross-border rail travel, this partnership will inject new vitality into the booming international long-haul transport sector. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the EU Commissioner for Sustainable Mobility and Tourism, emphasized that developing high-speed rail networks, particularly cross-border ones, is a top priority. The launch of these new lines connecting Germany, Austria, and Italy represents a key milestone in this strategic initiative.
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