Admittedly, it’s not particularly out of the ordinary for you to find me partaking in a spot of transport talk. Travel-loving people, listen up – because I come bearing some news that’ll be right up your street train track.
Prepare to stare wistfully out of a train window (a la 90s music video) as you’re whisked past some of the most scenic spots in northern Europe – because a handy new rail route has just been announced. And this one will transport travellers between two of the continent’s best-loved capital cities.
The new train on the tracks will come courtesy of a trio of train companies: Vy, DSB, and Deutsche Bahn. The direct service will seamlessly and sustainably link Oslo and Berlin via the likes of Hamburg, Copenhagen, and Gothenburg.
The route will be served by Deutsche Bahn’s new long-distance vehicles; the ICE Ls. These particular trains offer step-free access throughout the majority of the carriages, offering an accessible, sustainable, and downright dreamy alternative to flying.
The new continental cross-border service will become one of Europe’s longest train routes, spanning four different countries. The route will also mark the first time that Berlin and Oslo have been connected by a direct train in over 20 years.
Now, before you start requesting your annual leave and dusting off your suitcase, it might be worth mentioning that the route won’t hit the tracks until summer 2028. No timetable or ticket prices have yet been revealed, but once the service is up and running, it’s set to run twice daily and take between 14 and 15 hours. Blimey.
Gro Bakstad, CEO of Vy, said: “It is fantastic that we are now getting a new, fixed train route in place between Oslo, København, Hamburg, and Berlin.
“The collaboration with DSB and Deutsche Bahn means that we will be able to connect Norway more closely to Europe, and in the long term, this could open up direct trains to more European cities.”
Flemming Jensen, CEO of DBS, said: “We are proud that together with Vy and DB we will soon be able to offer one of Europe’s longest train routes. The path to strong train connections in Europe is through strengthening the good partnerships we have with other train companies.”
