French rail operator SNCF has said it hopes to launch a high-speed Paris-Berlin service next year with Germany’s Deutsche Bahn to take advantage of passengers ’apparent willingness to make longer train journeys.
SNCF head Jean-Pierre Farandou said the operator hopes to start offering one trip a day between the capitals of France and Germany in December 2023.
A few years ago, the SNCF did not think travelers would be willing to travel by rail for up to seven hours, but that has changed, he said.
“Together with our German colleagues, we will take a risk and launch this train,” Farandau said.
Both SNCF and Deutsche Bahn offer high-speed trains between Paris and Frankfurt, but for now you need to change trains to get to Berlin.
Traveling on a high-speed rail results in far fewer emissions than air.
Railway operators are also reviving night trains to attract travelers seeking to reduce the carbon footprint of their long journeys.
The Paris-Berlin night communication is also expected to be resumed next year.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/24/paris-berlin-high-speed-train-set-to-be-launched-next-year
