A new route between Berlin and Paris now offers travelers high speed transport between the two famous cities, getting passengers there in just 8 hours.
The route connects the European Union’s two most populous countries. According to The Independent, the move is also believed to be a sign of the EU’s hopes to attract more people to rail travel. Before the bullet train offering, rides from Berlin to Paris typically took just over 11 hours.
The new service, operated by Deutsche Bahn on an ICE train, will run once a day. The daytime service offers an alternative to a slower overnight direct route offered between the two cities. Ahead of the launch, however, Deutsche Bahn has built a reputation for unreliability, with only 60% of trains in November arriving at their destinations on time. The company now hopes to improve service, which also includes updating railways and overall infrastructure.
The new route signifies a strong friendship between France and Germany, AP reports. German Transport Minister Volker Wissing said of the partnership “we still have a lot of potential to get as many people as possible onto the rails inside Europe with attractive offers, including for longer journeys and to live out this friendship.”
