Train travelers have hardly any alternatives to Deutsche Bahn in German long-distance transport. But a cheaper competitor is significantly increasing its offering.
The long-distance train platform Flixtrain wants to significantly expand its offering in the coming weeks and months and, among other things, add additional connections on the Berlin-Cologne and Berlin-Frankfurt routes.
“From now on, the long-distance train provider is gradually increasing its offering – and plans to achieve around 40 percent more capacity in the summer than in 2023,” the company announced on Thursday. This also includes the resumption of the route between Berlin and Mainz, which could not be offered for a long time due to construction work. Dozens more stops are to be added to existing connections.
Frequency between Berlin and Frankfurt will be increased
Instead of the previous four times a day, the green trains will now run six times between Berlin and the Rhineland. The frequency between Berlin and Frankfurt will be increased from six to eight trips per day.
“We have succeeded in gradually reducing our travel times in recent years,” said Flix co-founder André Schwämmlein. “Our travel times in long-distance transport can now compete with all our competitors.”
Long-distance transport in Germany is still dominated by Deutsche Bahn. For several years now, the long-distance travel platform Flix has been gradually expanding its rail offering as the only major competitor. In addition to trains, Flix is best known for long-distance buses. The company does not operate any of its own vehicles – neither on the road nor on the rails. Instead, it cooperates with bus and train companies that handle the transport. Flix only arranges trips on its own platform.
Source: Stern
