Deutsche Bahn adds international trains and Sprinter services in 2027 timetable

Tickets and prices

Tickets for the new timetable can be bought from Wednesday, 14 October, and Deutsche Bahn says fares will not rise. Bahn chief Evelyn Palla announced in April that long-distance passengers would be spared fare increases until May 2027. Michael Peterson, the long-distance board member, framed the offer around high fuel costs.

In times of expensive fuel, the railway remains a good and affordable alternative to car and plane.

The company said the timetable stays stable in the regions, though some connections may not be offered, mainly because of construction work. Punctuality remains a weak point, and the company still trails its own expectations in this area.

More international trains

From 13 December, Deutsche Bahn offers more than 320 international trips a day, including connections to France, Italy and Austria. That is 20 more than before. According to the company, more than 200 cities in 14 countries can be reached directly from Germany. Ticket sales for partner operators have also become simpler, and more than 10,000 European destinations can already be booked in the DB Navigator app, including tickets from the Austrian Federal Railways, Trenitalia and Eurostar. Tickets from the Dutch railway NS are planned to be included by the end of 2026.

A new Frecciarossa service is planned to run from Munich via Verona to Milan and Rome without changing trains. The company says it could save up to one hour of travel time. It is planned to start from summer, with one trip a day toward Italy, departing Munich at 14:32 for Rome (arrival 23:10) and at 16:32 for Milan (arrival 23:05), plus one morning return from Italy. Test runs have already taken place in Germany.

On weekends, a second direct TGV from Munich and Augsburg via Strasbourg to Paris is being added, departing Munich at 14:29 and Augsburg at 15:17. Until now there has been only one such direct connection a day. A morning departure from Paris at 7:42 will also be available for the return trip to Bavaria.

Sprinter and fast connections

Deutsche Bahn promises a 20 minute time saving on the new Sprinter between Hamburg and Munich, which runs three times a day in each direction. The trip takes 5.20 hours, and the trains stop only in Hannover and Nuremberg, so Lueneburg, Goettingen and Fulda are no longer served as intermediate stops. The existing Sprinter between Berlin and Stuttgart will increase from one to three daily trips in each direction, taking 4.45 hours. That service was introduced only a year ago. Nationwide, the company says about 70 Sprinter trips a day will run on major routes from mid-December.

From Nuremberg, two additional ICE Sprinter services a day will run to Stuttgart and two to Berlin from 13 December. The trip to Stuttgart takes just under two hours, and the non-stop trip to Berlin takes two hours and 45 minutes. Because of low demand, the company is cutting an early and a late Intercity connection between Stuttgart and Nuremberg, with stops in Ellwangen and Ansbach, on most weekdays. Koblenz will get a second direct ICE to Berlin, departing at 9.42.

Punctuality and construction

Deutsche Bahn presents the new timetable as a strong offer, but the company acknowledges that its punctuality still falls short of its own standards. Construction work is causing new problems for commuters, and some connections may not be offered at all. Bavarian travellers are expected to benefit most from the faster links to Hamburg, Berlin and the Italian cities, while the Paris and Italy services are planned to run from summer.