Deutsche Bahn (DB) plans a direct train connection from Berlin to Oslo (2028+)

Interesting, yes. With a pinch of salt as we say here. The mention of ICE-L and a short implementation date makes me wonder.

DB's ICE-L trains were supposed to be in service at least 2 years ago, in fact the out of date manufacturers website still says this in the future tense! In reality they are trickling out now, with a gradual build up through the summer. But as far as I can tell the compatible locomotives are still not ready, meaning operations are not as slick as they should be.

The matching trains for Denmark were also delayed and are still having problems.

But let's go back to DB, they decided how many to buy based on a service plan. Since then Flix train have made a big order (who'd have thought, Flixtrain have trains younger than the drivers!). Now DB need 2 full trains to operate the Oslo service - with compatible locomotives. So there is just 2 years to get the delayed original plan to work, with the correct locomotives, and get 2 more trainsets built in a factory with a full order book. Or then can take two new trainsets away from services that have only just received them. Oh, and don't forget the need to test them in Sweden and Norway...

It's not impossible, just very tight. And maybe making life unduly pressured for the people doing the work. Because around 2030 the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel should open, which will alter the routings of trains from Germany to Scandinavia.

That's interesting. 14 to 15 hours is a long train ride, though. Will there be sleeper cars at all?

no sleepers on that type of train, and no real restaurant, DB specified ICE-L have just 12 seats near a counter where there is choice of 3 or 4 microwaved hot dishes. ICE-L is the DB version of Talgo 230 - both have various photo shoots via Google, they are fixed formation trainsets, no adding or removing cars on certain days.

Sleepers is a whole new political fantasy world. A few years ago there was an aspiration for new night trains and there was an invitation to tender to provide some routes, Malmö to Brussels didn't get any bidders!! Sleeper trains are expensive to build, buy and run and the passengers expect fares on a par with a 90 minute flight - or the competing bus lines.

Another piece of good train travel news. No doubt this night route will have the sufficient demand.

Avoiding the flying option, one can still go from Germany to Oslo by ferry, departing from Kiel. Kiel ferry station is nice, within walking distance from Kiel Hbf , and an eye-opener on travel on the Baltic area and directly north to Norway.

Going to Oslo I had always thought of using the ferry option. Still may do that . This train route to Oslo from Berlin is even better, far more flexible and advantageous, just exactly using a Eurail Pass for.

Why? The flight from Berlin to Oslo is 90 minutes and real easy. 14-15 hours on a train? Ouch! There goes two days of a vacation.

Why?

Maybe because Europe takes climate change seriously?

Also, the route offers a number of stops short of the final destination:

Berlin to the Norwegian capital, Oslo – via Hamburg, the Danish capital Copenhagen, and Malmö and Gothenburg in Sweden. "We're connecting three capital cities by rail," Michael Peterson, head of long-distance passenger services at Deutsche Bahn, told the Funke media group

That this Berlin- Oslo train route will be operational I am simply glad, doing the 14 hr or so stretch is no problem or any inconvenience at all, since presumably several hours of the route is at night, ( even better ! ), sleeper or sleeper, which is moot anyway because that is no option for me.

My main concern is that this route will / may be so popular , obviously the demand is there, that reserving a 2nd class seat may be be out of the question if done at the last minute.

I don't like hearing from the DB staff..."sold out / ausgebucht " thinking it could not happen since these passengers chose to reject the flying option. ...bravo.

Maybe because Europe takes climate change seriously?

The question was kind of simple? Why would you choose to sit on a train for 14-15 hours instead of flying for 90 minutes?

I never had any intention of turning the question into a leveling accusation of "Europeans take climate change seriously", which I read as "non-Europeans don't take climate change seriously."

Whether you take climate change seriously or not, you are still sitting on a train for 14-15 hours versus 90 minutes on a plane. According to Google maps you can bike the route in 57 hours. So if you are really serious about climate change, get off the train and strap on the bike shorts. 😊

I'll take the train any day over the plane, which is no option anyway from A to B. In France last summer and in 2024 in the train stations, big stations as in Paris, Strasbourg, Metz, are info picturegrams comparing the various modes of the transport and the amount carbon dioxide output. The result was the plane was the number one offender. By far. Believe it or not ! True, the picture-grams are a plug for the train, so what? Economically motivated? Why not?

The evidence in the last few years that the demand for night trains has been growing, that's fact, Then ask who are those fueling this demand , these people opting to do the 9 to 14 hour night train ride, sleeper or no sleeper. Very revealing to see the nationalities on board. Bravo for them. Yes, they are the same passengers booking early enough to deny me a last minute seat reservation on the same multi-hour night train.

I think it’s great news, the only real problem is that we have to wait 2 years before the service starts.

I am surprised to see so many negative comments about the 14-15 hour journey. Yes, it would be a very long travel day, and I also can’t imagine passengers going all the way from Oslo to Berlin is intended as the main passenger base for the train.

Unlike a plane, the train makes many stops along the way. Quick estimations off the top of my head, it can connect Copenhagen-Oslo in something like 7-8 hours, or Gothenburg-Hamburg in something like 7-8 hours as well. That’s a long train ride, but not outrageous at all - and exactly the kinds of journeys this train will enable to complete without a transfer.

It’s fair enough to not be a fan of DB’s bordbistro, but it’s incorrect to say there won’t be food available on this train.

I like the creativity (and energy) to take the bicycle all the way from Oslo to Berlin. But unless you find a way to take the really long way round via Russia, you will be forced to board a train, bus or ferry at some point when crossing Kattegat/the Baltic Sea. Or you can bring your swimwear ;)

Yes, unfortunately 2 years. There is always food and hot coffee on trains. Regardless, no food, no sleeper equals no deterrent to ridership as there still will be enough folks taking this night route that could result in shutting me out of a seat if I literally wait until the last or two before reserving. That has happened to me twice in last summer trips since 2023 because I procrastinated, dilly-dallied thinking a seat in 2nd class would always be available...dead wrong.

The question was kind of simple? Why would you choose to sit on a
train for 14-15 hours instead of flying for 90 minutes?

I would. But not on an ICE-L :-)

DB and SNCF recently introduced a direct Paris - Berlin train. They did that buy just stitching together two existing services. The expectation was that it was still going to be used mostly by people traveling stretches. But it turned out that 80% of the passengers on that train travel the whole stretch, and DB is planning to add more trains on this route.

So it appears, the yes, there are people willing to travel long distances by trains. CD is for example starting a service from Prague to Copenhagen. There already exist quite a few train services in the 10+ hour range elsewhere.

Berlin - Hamburg - Copenhagen is supposed to get a lot faster in a few years, with the fixed link to Denmark getting ready. Currently the train must make quite a detour.

correct about the fixed link - this is why I am asking why they are rushing to introduce this service now when it will soon be so much shorter.

Possibly because both Vy and SJ are planning new Malmo to Oslo trains, possibly extending to Copenhagen. Vy have already run a 6 week trial and are awaiting the completion of engineering work in the Gothenburg area to start a full service.
Snalltaget have also started a Hamburg to Stockholm day service so there is a lot of competition on parts of the route.
Also this summer the missing link to Finland from Sweden will be reopened to passenger traffic.
Things are getting exciting in Scandinavia.

correct about the fixed link - this is why I am asking why they are rushing to introduce this service now when it will soon be so much shorter.

There’s also the question of how soon that really is. The announcement from earlier this year is that the tunnel will be delayed by at least 2 more years, so the tunnel will be ready in 2031 at the earliest. But once it’s ready, Copenhagen-Hamburg will become around 2 hours shorter than it is today.

And Snälltåget will start running Malmö-Oslo next month. The competition is indeed heating up.

Heads up: about 15 to 16 % of Germans suffer from a severe fear of flying (aviophobia), while another 20 to 22 % feel significant discomfort when flying. Overall, therefore, more than a third of passengers experience a queasy feeling or genuine fear. I guess the numbers are on the same level in other countries.

Additionally the ratio of people who want to travel environmentally responsible is raising since years.

That proposed route has Copenhagen as one of its stops...great. This night train option is additional flexibility for me to see that city by way of doing one straight shot .

I wish that the Vienna to Paris night route with stops in Salzburg and Strasbourg would be put back into operation..... oh well , maybe it might.

Heads up: about 15 to 16 % of Germans suffer from a severe fear of flying (aviophobia), while another 20 to 22 % feel significant discomfort when flying.

Who doesn't feel significant discomfort when flying unless you are in you own private jet. 😂

Interesting statistics.

Who doesn't feel significant discomfort when flying unless you are in you own private jet.

I do not know. I like my private small 118 meter yacht named Launchpad. Or was that another Mark? ;-)