A new direct train service connecting Oslo and Berlin is set to launch in 2028, marking the first time in 20 years that the two capitals will be linked by rail without requiring a change of trains. The service is the result of a collaboration between Norway's Vy, Denmark's DSB, and Germany's Deutsche Bahn.
The route will be operated by Deutsche Bahn's ICE L trains, travelling via Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö, and Gothenburg. Key stops include Moss, Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg, Halden, Trollhättan, Gothenburg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Lund, Malmö, Copenhagen Airport, and Copenhagen H. The trains will then continue through Odense, Kolding, Padborg, and Hamburg before arriving in Berlin.
The journey from Oslo to Copenhagen is expected to take around seven hours, while the full Oslo to Berlin route will take approximately 15 hours. Trains will feature a restaurant car and a family section. Round-trip services are planned to run twice daily from summer 2028, with departure times and ticket prices to be announced closer to launch.
Gro Bakstad, CEO of Vy, said: “It is fantastic that we are now getting a new, fixed train route in place between Oslo, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Berlin. The collaboration with DSB and Deutsche Bahn means that we will be able to connect Norway more closely to Europe, and in the long term, this could open up direct trains to more European cities.”
Michael Peterson, CEO of DB Fernverkehr, added: “If you want to experience Europe, jump on the train! With high fuel prices, long-distance trains are a good alternative to cars and planes. With the new, international route from Berlin via Copenhagen to Oslo, we are connecting Northern Europe and three capitals by train.”
