New direct TGV between Paris & Berlin

thanks Kim. No map for me, but I am also too cheap to pay.

Trying to work out in my head what the route might be? De L'Est - Strasbourg - Offenburg - Karlsruhe - Frankfurt - then where?

Strasbourg seems out of the way. Why south to go north?

Nigel, looks like Paris, Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, Frankfurt, Berlin. I’d do it!

Laurel has it right !

I'm also with Laurel. 8 hours on a comfortable train, versus 6 - 8 hours total of stress getting to the airport, flying, getting into town from the airport. The train will win every time.

Thanks for the info, Kim! Here's another article describing the new route (no paywall). https://railway-news.com/db-and-sncf-launch-direct-berlin-to-paris-ice-service/ And I'm another one who would definitely take it!

It looks like it's stopping in Strasbourg, Karlsruhe and Frankfurt South. According to the article, tickets for the journey will be available from €59.99 for 2nd class and €69.99 for 1st. Ticket sales begin on October 16.

December 16, I think (tomorrow is the 16th, and it's the day of the inaugural train runs)

Thanks Laurel (&R) and Kim.

Sounds good to me for Paris - Frankfurt or Paris - Karlsruhe.

Oops - I see what Mardee's article meant. They started taking reservations for the trains back on October 16. Today is the first day they are operating the trains.

An article today in Les Echos points out that this is the first time DB and SNCF are cooperating in this manner: DB will run all the trains, and open reservations to SNCF customers. (On their current routes that they "share," DB runs its trains, and SNCF runs its trains.)

This is a video of the inaugural run of the Berlin bound train- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97yNGAS6duM

Fantastic...another travel option, a direct link between these two capitals. Presumably, this once day departure lasting 8 plus hours is a day train.

This summer I did the Berlin to Metz night route with one change in Offenburg arriving 05:45 before connecting to Strasbourg, no matter as I was in no real hurry.

Yes, this is a day route.

Paris Gare de l'Est 9.55 am —> Berlin Hbf 18.03

And

Berlin Hbf 11.54 —> Paris Gare de l'Est 19.55

The new Paris-Berlin night train, which only started last year and then was suspended in August, finally came back into operation about a week ago. The night train takes around 13 hours and 25 minutes, and only departs three times a week.

Thanks for this very useful and pertinent information. Both dep/arr times in either direction daytime are satisfactory .

Spending all those hours daytime I would rather opt for the night train route, 13 hours regardless, which is exactly why a Eurail Pass is needed.

Here's an article in The Guardian from someone who took the train on the opening day:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/dec/24/paris-to-berlin-by-train-faster-service-via-strasbourg?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

The train calls at Frankfurt South, rather than Frankfurt Hbf as that saves about 30 minutes of journey time. One interesting detail (maybe not to the casual traveller) is that between Karlsruhe and Frankfurt the train uses the Necker Bahn line rather than the parallel Riedbahn as the latter will shortly have ETCS (a new type of signalling) which is not compatible with the ICE3 sets being used on the service.
For the same reason the train runs via Kassel between Frankfurt and Berlin rather than the faster Erfurt line.
The train also has a BordBistro for sit down meals (with just 4 tables)- albeit microwaved meals, not chef prepared.

The inaugural train terminated at an underground platform at Berlin Hbf to allow a party to be held. Normally it will use an overground platform but those platforms lacked the space for such a party.

(Detail from the you tuber - doc7austin)

A pity that the Paris-Berlin 13 hour night train runs only 3 days per week. I would bet it fills up, which means early disciplined planning is absolutely needed if you want to get the date you desire.

The last 2 post-pandemic summer trips totaling 23 weeks proved to me that night trains do sell out, happened to me 2 times, and the night trains I managed to reserve a seat in 2nd class were packed, where some not having reserved and seeing an empty seat got bumped later on en route, all in the general seating area. I don't do the couchette or sleeper option.

Apparently 75% or the passengers on that train make the whole trip. Which is quite remarkable as on such long distance trains the majority of the passengers are usually between intermediate stops.

I hope we see more trains like that. For example, Zurich - Vienna is also about 8 hours, and that train runs every 2 hours. They could easily extend a few Paris - Cologne services to Berlin.

I hope we see more trains like that. For example, Zurich - Vienna is
also about 8 hours, and that train runs every 2 hours. They could
easily extend a few Paris - Cologne services to Berlin.

That would make a lot of sense and be the logical next step. But since SNCF is involved in this one I would count on it happening.