Revolution in rail transport: New timetable brings turbo speed!

Revolution in rail transport: New timetable brings turbo speed!

The Deutsche Bahn (DB) timetable change is just around the corner: the new timetable will take effect on December 14, 2025, which will bring many positive changes to long-distance transport. DB CEO Michael Peterson emphasizes that the adjustments are based on a thorough analysis of demand and capacity. The goal: Passengers should benefit from an improved offer.

The plans to increase long-distance traffic on central routes are particularly encouraging. What is new, for example, is the ICE half-hourly service from Mannheim to Stuttgart and Göttingen. There is also news for travelers between Stuttgart and Berlin: a sprinter takes you from one city to the other in just around 4 hours and 45 minutes. In addition, an additional ICE direct connection from Mannheim to Strasbourg and Paris will be introduced. What makes travelers happy is the earlier departure of the ICE from Munich to Amsterdam.

Stability in punctuality

But the focus is not just on new connections; stability also plays a major role. Deutsche Bahn has understandably been concerned about punctuality, which is currently just under 60%. A new program called SB² is intended to specifically strengthen rail operational stability from 2023. This is achieved through a structured construction regime and standardized closure times. In this way, DB wants to address the issue of maintenance measures in a targeted manner and increase planning security for everyone involved, which is of great importance for travelers.

Further innovations will be added in 2026: a new ICE connection from North Rhine-Westphalia will go into operation on the Black Forest Railway. Night trains are also being expanded, with a new connection from Zurich to Amsterdam/Hamburg. These new night train offers, which are an attractive option for many travelers, use the innovative Nightjet trains.

Changes in the route

However, the new timetable also brings with it some restrictions. The Railjet connection between Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Friedrichshafen and Innsbruck will be eliminated, and some connections with low demand will be abolished. For example, the connections from Leipzig to Nuremberg via Jena will be reduced to just two daily long-distance journeys. This is because seat occupancy on this route is sometimes only 10%. The aim is to focus on routes that are in high demand.

Another feature of the new timetable are the temporary stopping concepts on the Upper Rhine, which have become necessary due to planned construction work. Travelers wanting to travel to Vienna will have to be prepared for changes, especially on the long direct routes that many travelers previously found convenient.

In summary, it can be said: Deutsche Bahn's new timetable is a step in the right direction to meet the needs of passengers. Bookings for the new connections can be made from October 15th, which increases the anticipation of the new offers. With an improved network, more Sprinter connections and a strategic focus on operational stability, DB is committed to continually improving its customers' travel experience.