Deutsche Bahn will expand its international connections and introduce a new high-speed route between Hamburg and Munich as part of its 2027 timetable, set to take effect on Dec. 13, the state-owned rail operator announced.

The updated schedule will offer more than 320 daily international trains—20 more than currently—linking Germany to destinations in 14 countries, including France, Italy and Austria. This marks a 20% increase compared to five years ago, with over 200 cities abroad now directly accessible from Germany.

A new Sprinter service between Hamburg and Munich will run three times daily in each direction, stopping only in Hannover and Nuremberg, cutting travel time to 5 hours and 20 minutes. The existing Berlin-Stuttgart Sprinter line will also expand from one to three daily round trips, reducing its journey to 4 hours and 45 minutes. Nationwide, around 70 Sprinter services will operate daily on key routes.

Tickets for the new timetable go on sale on Oct. 14, with no price increases in long-distance travel through May 2027, according to Fernverkehrsvorstand Michael Peterson. “In times of expensive fuels, the train remains a good and affordable alternative to cars and planes,” Peterson said. The company acknowledged ongoing punctuality challenges and noted some routes may be unavailable due to construction work.