ICE 1658 returns: Bad Hersfeld to Frankfurt again in the morning!

ICE 1658 returns: Bad Hersfeld to Frankfurt again in the morning!

Good news for commuters in the Rhine-Main area: From Wednesday, September 23, 2025, the long-awaited ICE connection 1658 from Bad Hersfeld to Frankfurt am Main will be put back into operation. We owe this announcement to Bundestag member Wilhelm Gebhard (CDU), who campaigned for the return of the connection. The route had been on hold since June 14, 2025, leaving many passengers frustrated.

After the connection was canceled, passengers had to switch to the RB 5 regional train to find their way to Frankfurt. However, this change was often associated with delays, as the regional train often arrived late in Fulda and many connecting trains were missed. A circumstance that caused great dissatisfaction among users as they were often late for work. Gebhard emphasized that restoring connectivity is of utmost importance for mobility and quality of life in the region. “We also have to find long-term solutions for commuters,” demanded Gebhard in a dialogue with Deutsche Bahn and Cantus Verkehrsgesellschaft.

Reinstatement of the ICE connection

Deutsche Bahn justifies the return of the ICE connection by reaching the required minimum limit of passengers. From September 24, 2025, the connection will be operated independently, and the ICE 1658 will stop in Bad Hersfeld as scheduled at 6:16 a.m. in the future. This means that commuters will finally have a direct connection to the metropolitan region again, which will certainly make many people happy.

But that's not all that Deutsche Bahn is planning for the future. From the timetable change in mid-December 2024, the range of international train connections will be expanded. A new highlight is the daily ICE direct connection from Berlin via Strasbourg to Paris with a stop in Frankfurt South. There is also a new continuous two-hour service between Frankfurt and Amsterdam as well as additional connections to popular holiday regions.

Modernization measures and new offerings

The timetable is constantly being adjusted, also to reflect the changed travel habits after the corona pandemic. Among other things, the range of Sprinter trains will be expanded, while some connections will have to be canceled due to weak demand. For example, the IC train pair from Siegen to Frankfurt will be canceled.

Deutsche Bahn also strives to continuously modernize the rail network and train stations in order to enable travelers to travel more pleasantly and efficiently. Starting next year, we can look forward to numerous new connections and direct offers that will make traveling easier and more pleasant.

Overall, it shows that the return of the ICE connection to Frankfurt is not only a benefit for commuters, but also represents a positive development for the entire region. It remains to be seen how the new international connections and the improved timetable will further influence mobility.

Read more about this topic on East Hesse News and German railway.