Anyone taking the train to Germany today often encounters slow journeys and the stress of transfers. That needs to change quickly. The Netherlands and Germany have joined forces to significantly speed up the main rail lines and increase the frequency of service, giving a major boost to travel throughout Europe.
Half as many trains as to Paris
While travelers to France can count on frequent high-speed lines, rail service toward the east continues to lag painfully behind. The new plan therefore prioritizes the three most important routes from Amsterdam Central Station: the routes to Berlin, Hamburg, and Frankfurt.
The acceleration must primarily come from opening up the market. By removing barriers for new rail operators, the governments aim to increase the number of trains on the tracks and gradually reduce travel times.
Faster connections to Vienna, Prague, and Copenhagen
The benefits extend far beyond Berlin or Frankfurt alone. A smoother connection to Hamburg makes onward travel to Copenhagen considerably more attractive, while the route via Berlin provides direct access to Prague and Warsaw. Those heading south can more easily transfer in Frankfurt to trains bound for Basel and Vienna
In addition, regional rail will receive a boost. Alongside the reopened Wunderline and the new Coevorden–Bad Bentheim connection, both governments are looking to the future. For example, they are investigating whether the planned Lely Line can be extended directly across the German border.
