New Oslo–Berlin Direct Train Set for 2028 Launch

A new cross-border rail service connecting Oslo, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Berlin is scheduled to launch in summer 2028, creating one of Europe’s longest continuous daytime train routes and offering travelers a lower-carbon alternative to short-haul flights across Northern Europe.

Daily Capital-to-Capital Link Across Northern Europe

Publicly available information from Scandinavian and German rail operators indicates that the future line will run as a daily, year-round service, linking the Norwegian, Danish and German capitals via Gothenburg, Malmö and Hamburg. From summer 2028, passengers are expected to be able to board a single direct train in Oslo and stay on all the way to Berlin without changing.

The planned journey time between Oslo and Berlin is currently reported at around 14 to 15 hours, with roughly half of that spent between Oslo and Copenhagen. The service is conceived as a daytime connection, with early-morning departures in one direction and afternoon or evening departures in the other, enabling travelers to cross several borders within the same calendar day.

The service will rely on existing mainline infrastructure that is gradually being upgraded, including sections between Hamburg and Copenhagen and onward through southern Sweden. The opening of the Fehmarnbelt fixed link later in the decade is expected to further shorten travel times between Denmark and Germany, which would indirectly benefit the Oslo–Berlin corridor as timetables are refined.

Rail industry coverage describes the project as one of Europe’s longest single-seat daytime routes, comparable in scale to other emerging cross-border corridors such as Prague–Berlin–Copenhagen. By extending existing Hamburg–Copenhagen services at both ends, the railways involved aim to create a continuous “spine” connecting Northern Europe to the continental network.

Vy, DSB and Deutsche Bahn Coordinate Operations

The new service is being developed as a joint initiative between Norwegian operator Vy, Danish national rail company DSB and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn. According to company statements and press materials, each operator will be responsible for specific sections of the route, with staff changes and operational control handed over at key border points while the train continues under a single train number.

Early information suggests that the train will operate along the familiar Oslo–Gothenburg–Malmö axis before crossing the Öresund toward Copenhagen and continuing to Hamburg and Berlin. This builds on existing and planned cross-border services in the region, including new Malmö–Oslo links and enhanced Hamburg–Copenhagen and Berlin–Copenhagen connections due to come on stream before 2028.

Industry analyses describe the project as a strategic move to capture growing demand for international rail journeys and to position the three operators strongly on the emerging North European long-distance market. The route is expected to attract not only end-to-end riders but also large numbers of passengers traveling between intermediate city pairs such as Gothenburg–Copenhagen or Copenhagen–Hamburg.

Coordination between infrastructure managers in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany will be required to secure train paths along busy main lines, especially south of Hamburg and on approaches to Berlin. Timetable planners are expected to refine schedules as ongoing construction works in northern Germany and Denmark are completed.

Modern Rolling Stock and Passenger Experience

Rail trade publications report that Deutsche Bahn intends to use its new ICE L long-distance trains on the core Hamburg–Copenhagen–Berlin section, with compatible stock continuing northward through Sweden and into Norway. The ICE L is a low-floor, locomotive-hauled train designed for cross-border operation and high accessibility, including step-free boarding from standard-height platforms.

The trains are designed with long-distance comfort in mind, with air conditioning, power outlets, on-board catering facilities and generous luggage space. Seating layouts are expected to cater to both business and leisure travelers, offering a mix of open-plan and compartment-style areas depending on the configuration chosen for the Oslo–Berlin service.

Accessibility has been highlighted as a key feature, with level boarding and wide doors intended to simplify travel for passengers with reduced mobility, families with strollers and cyclists. Space for bicycles is likely to be in high demand on this route, which passes through regions popular with outdoor enthusiasts and long-distance touring cyclists.

Although the initial concept foresees a daytime service, rail commentators note that the route’s length and growing interest in overnight rail could make it a candidate for future night-train offerings. For now, the focus is on creating a reliable, high-quality daytime corridor that can compete with air travel on both comfort and total journey time when airport transfers and security checks are taken into account.

Sustainable Alternative to Short-Haul Flights

The Oslo–Copenhagen–Hamburg–Berlin link is being framed in public communication as part of a broader European effort to shift passengers from air and road to rail. Cross-border daytime and overnight trains have been expanding across the continent in recent years, with new connections announced between cities such as Prague, Berlin and Copenhagen, and additional night services linking Central Europe with Scandinavia.

Environmental organizations and transport researchers have repeatedly pointed to the emissions savings achievable when passengers choose rail over short-haul flights on corridors of up to 1,000 kilometers. On electrified routes powered increasingly by renewable energy, long-distance trains can emit a fraction of the greenhouse gases per passenger compared with aviation.

For Northern Europe, the new line is expected to have particular significance. Until now, there has been no direct daytime rail link between Norway and Denmark, and travelers between Oslo and continental Europe often relied on a combination of domestic trains, regional services, ferries or flights. A one-seat train connection to Berlin would offer a compelling low-carbon alternative for both business and leisure trips.

Tourism boards along the corridor are likely to see new opportunities as well. Easier rail access may encourage multi-stop itineraries taking in fjords, archipelagos and historic port cities along the Skagerrak and Baltic coasts, appealing to travelers who prefer to avoid flying and who value slow, scenic journeys.

What Travelers Can Expect by 2028

According to current projections, the first Oslo–Berlin direct trains should enter service in the summer timetable of 2028, subject to regulatory approvals, infrastructure readiness and rolling stock delivery schedules. Ticket sales are expected to open closer to launch, once final timetables and intermediate stops are confirmed.

Journey times are likely to improve gradually as upgrades in Denmark and northern Germany are completed and the Fehmarnbelt connection shortens the Hamburg–Copenhagen leg later in the decade. Rail observers anticipate that operators will use the first years of service to refine the schedule and adjust capacity in response to demand.

Travelers planning future trips are advised to monitor official information from Vy, DSB and Deutsche Bahn as the launch date approaches, especially as long-distance rail timetables in the region are undergoing broader changes with new services and infrastructure projects. Advance-purchase fares, rail passes and international ticketing platforms are expected to play a central role in making the route accessible to a wide range of travelers.

The 2028 launch is being closely watched by advocates of cross-border rail, who view the Oslo–Copenhagen–Hamburg–Berlin link as a test case for how national rail operators can collaborate on complex, multi-country corridors. If successful, the model could strengthen the case for additional high-quality daytime and overnight routes connecting Scandinavia with the rest of Europe.