Oslo–Berlin Direct Train Planned for 2028 to Boost Rail Travel

A planned direct daytime train between Oslo and Berlin from summer 2028 is being hailed as a milestone for European rail, reconnecting Norway with Denmark and extending a continuous cross-border corridor from Scandinavia to Germany.

A Historic Link Between North and Central Europe

Publicly available information from Deutsche Bahn, Vy and DSB indicates that the new service will run daily between Berlin and Oslo via Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö and Gothenburg, creating one of the longest continuous international rail routes in Europe. The journey time between the two capitals is currently expected to be around 14 to 15 hours, with the Oslo to Copenhagen leg taking about seven hours.

The daytime connection is described in published coverage as the first direct train between Norway and Denmark in more than two decades, restoring a cross-border rail link that disappeared with the end of earlier services. For travelers in southern Norway and western Sweden, it will also provide the first opportunity to reach Berlin on a single train without changing.

The planned route will call at a series of regional hubs. In Norway, the service is expected to serve Oslo, Moss, Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg and Halden before crossing into Sweden, where stops such as Trollhättan, Gothenburg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Lund and Malmö are currently outlined. In Denmark the train will serve Copenhagen Airport, Copenhagen Central, Odense, Kolding and Padborg, before continuing through Hamburg to Berlin.

Reports indicate that two daily departures in each direction are planned year-round, creating morning and afternoon options suited to both leisure and business travel. The timetable concept would allow passengers to board in Oslo in the morning and arrive in Berlin late the same day, with intermediate journeys tailored to regional demand along the corridor.

Partnership of Three National Operators

The project is being developed through a cooperation between Norway’s Vy, Denmark’s DSB and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn. Each operator is expected to take responsibility for its domestic sections of the route, using shared rolling stock and coordinated timetables to ensure through operation between the three countries.

According to company announcements, Vy crews are planned to operate the train in Norway and Sweden, while DSB and Deutsche Bahn staff will take over in Denmark and Germany. The approach mirrors other recent cross-border European rail initiatives, where national operators combine resources to create long-distance links that would be challenging for a single company to run alone.

The service is planned to use Deutsche Bahn’s new ICE L locomotive-hauled trainsets, manufactured by Talgo. These low-floor trains are designed for cross-border compatibility and offer a mix of first and second class seating, a restaurant or bistro car, family areas and step-free access, which can be important for passengers with reduced mobility and for travelers with luggage or bicycles.

By selecting a standard train family that is already slated for other international routes, the partners aim to simplify maintenance, staff training and regulatory approvals. Industry commentary suggests that this common fleet strategy may accelerate the launch and improve reliability once the service begins.

Climate-Friendly Alternative to Short-Haul Flights

The Oslo to Berlin corridor is currently dominated by air travel, with passengers typically flying via hubs in Scandinavia or Germany. Analysts note that the introduction of a competitive daytime rail service could shift a portion of this demand to lower-emission transport, particularly among leisure travelers and those already inclined to avoid flying.

Published assessments of European transport trends show rising political and consumer interest in replacing short and medium-haul flights with rail when practical options exist. Recent examples include new or strengthened daytime connections between Berlin and Paris, as well as night trains linking major cities across the continent.

The new Oslo to Berlin service is expected to integrate with this wider network. Hamburg and Copenhagen are already important interchange points for long-distance trains heading toward the Netherlands, Belgium, France and central Europe, allowing passengers to continue their journey without flying. For residents of Norway and western Sweden, this could significantly expand the range of destinations realistically reachable by rail.

Environmental advocates have pointed to the corridor’s potential to demonstrate how coordinated timetable planning and investment in rolling stock can create viable alternatives to air travel even on journeys exceeding 1 000 kilometers. While the planned 14 to 15 hour travel time will not match the speed of flying, observers suggest that comfort, city-center to city-center convenience and reduced climate impact may make the train attractive to a growing segment of travelers.

Infrastructure and Capacity Challenges Ahead

Delivering a reliable 2028 start date will depend on a range of infrastructure and capacity factors across four national networks. Existing lines between Oslo and Gothenburg, the busy West Coast line in Sweden, and the routes south of Copenhagen and Hamburg are already heavily used by domestic and international services.

Rail industry publications highlight that the corridor will need careful scheduling to accommodate the new long-distance trains alongside regional and freight traffic. Some sections, particularly around major junctions and in congested urban approaches, are the focus of ongoing or planned upgrades that could influence the final timetable and journey times.

The project also coincides with broader European efforts to standardize signaling and improve cross-border rail operations through the rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System. As ICE L trains are designed for multi-system operation, they are expected to navigate these technical interfaces more easily than older rolling stock, but the regulatory approvals and testing regime will still be significant.

Observers note that disruptions on any one part of the corridor, whether due to engineering work or unforeseen incidents, can have knock-on effects along the entire route. The operators are therefore expected to develop contingency plans and clear passenger information strategies to maintain confidence in the long-distance service once it launches.

Positioning Oslo as a Northern Rail Gateway

Beyond the immediate Oslo to Berlin market, the new connection is seen in European rail commentary as part of a broader trend to knit together Scandinavian cities with continental Europe by rail. With existing routes from Oslo toward Stockholm and Trondheim, and ferry connections to multiple ports, the Norwegian capital is gradually evolving into a multimodal gateway for long-distance travelers.

The Oslo to Berlin train is likely to be marketed to international visitors as well as residents, offering city-to-city access through landscapes ranging from the Oslofjord and Swedish west coast to Denmark’s islands and northern Germany. Tourism boards and travel companies are expected to build new itineraries around the route once the timetable is confirmed.

The launch targeted for summer 2028 aligns with a wider pipeline of new European rail products scheduled for the second half of this decade. These include additional high-speed and long-distance connections that collectively aim to make travel across borders by train more seamless and frequent than at any time in recent decades.

While full details of ticketing, pricing and onboard services are yet to be finalized, early indications suggest that the Oslo to Berlin direct train will play a prominent role in reshaping how travelers in northern Europe think about long-distance journeys, reinforcing rail’s position as a core part of the continent’s future transport mix.