German rail operator Deutsche Bahn is reporting rising passenger numbers in its cross-border services and aims to attract more customers with new European connections, board member Michael Peterson told dpa.
Peterson, who is responsible for long-distance services, said that of last year's roughly 140 million passengers on Deutsche Bahn's long-distance network, 25 million travelled on cross-border services - 30% more than in 2019.
"This year, the figure is expected to rise slightly once again and to grow significantly in the coming years as more European routes are added," he noted.
According to the rail operator, passenger numbers on several routes rose sharply in 2025, including the Munich–Zurich route which saw a 27% year-on-year increase. Services from Frankfurt to Paris increased by 22% and the Cologne-Brussels route saw a 16% rise.
"International rail travel has become more attractive for many people," Peterson said. "They appreciate that long-distance trains go directly into city centres, whereas flights often land far outside the centre."
He said passengers had become more tolerant of long-distance rail travel. Before the Covid pandemic, he said, people were prepared to take trips lasting four to five hours; now it was six to eight hours.
Deutsche Bahn sees urgently needed growth opportunities in international services. The company posted a €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) loss in 2025. The situation at its long-distance rail division is also strained, with a restructuring programme being drawn up.
Deutsche Bahn is responding to rising demand for European travel with several expanded services.
From mid-June, the direct link between Copenhagen and Prague via Hamburg and Berlin will be expanded to two daily train pairs. From June to the end of August, the ICE high-speed service between Cologne and Brussels is also set to extend at weekends to Ghent, Bruges and the Belgian coast.
In July and August, Deutsche Bahn will additionally operate a direct Saturday service between Frankfurt and the French city of Bordeaux. From September 7, four daily ICE trains are to run between Cologne and the Belgian city of Antwerp, for the first time stopping at Brussels Airport.
Given high demand, Deutsche Bahn is also examining whether to deploy a second train pair on the Berlin–Paris route. "There is interest in expanding the connection on both sides, in Germany and in France," Peterson said.