GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn’s December 2025 timetable change will bring a near-doubling of destinations served by half-hourly ICE services, plus reduced Berlin – Stuttgart timings and introduction of the new Talgo ICE L fleet.
The rollout of 30 min interval services between major cities is a key part of the federal government’s strategy to increase both passenger and freight transport by rail.
The changes mean a recast of the major north-south Hamburg – Hannover – Kassel – Frankfurt – Stuttgart ICE route. Half-hourly services are also being introduced to the Berlin – Halle – Erfurt – Nürnberg corridor, as the 30 min interval high speed network grows from the current 900 km to 2 300 km, and the number of towns and cities served to 21.
A new Berlin – Nürnberg – Stuttgart ICE Sprinter service will take about 4 h 45 min, approximately 1 h quicker than current typical fastest connections.
DB’s long-awaited ICE L fleet will operate between Berlin and Köln from December, with expansion to routes to Westerland (Sylt) and between Dortmund and Oberstdorf during 2026.
Also being introduced in December is a EuroCity connection between Leipzig and Kraków in Poland.
