Deutsche Bahn (DB) announced on Wednesday that travelers between Germany and Italy will be able to take direct high-speed trains from Munich to Milan and Rome.
The route is expected to begin in December 2026, assuming approvals are on schedule. During the introduction of the Cooperation Agreement in Munich, DB said that this will be the first time that the Italian Frecciarossa train will run directly in Germany through direct routes.
Initially, there will be a connection every day. In two years, the service will gradually expand to include Berlin and Naples. Ultimately, five round trips per day will be offered between Germany, Austria and Italy.
The journey from Munich to Milan takes about six and a half hours, while the journey from Munich to Rome will last about eight and a half hours. A DB spokeswoman said that this would save about 75 minutes of travelers compared to the current travel time to Milan.
With the planned opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel, known as the world's longest underground rail link, travel time is expected to be reduced by about an hour by the end of 2032.
“We are seeing people increasingly wanting to travel across borders in an environmentally friendly way,” said Michael Peterson, a member of the DB Board of Directors of DB Long Distance Passenger Transportation Company. “Our joint project will provide further momentum for the booming international long-distance travel market.”
