Paris–Berlin. Just one year ago, France and Germany inaugurated the return of the overnight train between the two capitals.
On December 16, 2024, a direct train will connect Paris and Berlin during the day. This historic first aims to compete with air travel by highlighting its environmental benefits. While the route is new, passengers’ rights remain unchanged. The European Consumer Center outlines the protections available to rail passengers in Europe.
Monday, December 16, 2024. 9:55 a.m. Gare de l’Est. The moment has arrived—and it was long-awaited! For the first time, a train will travel from Paris to Berlin. After three stops in Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Frankfurt am Main—and an 8-hour journey—you’ll arrive in the German capital. Until now, a transfer was required. At the same time, another train will depart at 11:54 a.m. from Berlin bound for Paris. Paris–Berlin for €59 Tickets are on sale starting at €59 for second class and €69 for first class on the SNCF and Deutsche Bahn (DB) websites and apps. Of course, as with all trains, fares vary depending on demand. You’ll need to book in advance to take advantage of these prices. The good news is that discount cards (such as the Adult Advantage Card) are valid for direct long-distance trains between France and Germany. These two new routes operated by the SNCF and DB are in addition to the 24 daily connections between the two countries, including Marseille–Frankfurt, Paris–Frankfurt, and Paris–Munich. No need to reserve a seat For French travelers, buying a train ticket automatically reserves a seat. But in Germany, this is not the case. You must pay a surcharge to secure a seat on the ICE, the German equivalent of the TGV. However, this requirement does not apply to the Paris–Berlin route. As with all cross-border rail routes between France and Germany, a seat will be automatically assigned to you when you purchase your ticket.Guaranteed passenger rights It makes no difference whether the route is operated by the SNCF or the DB. Rail passengers are entitled to a minimum set of harmonized rights throughout the European Union in the event of a cancellation. If your Paris-Berlin train is canceled, the carrier must offer you alternative transportation to your destination station. If the train arrives more than one hour after the original schedule, you are entitled to compensation equal to 25% of the ticket price. This increases to 50% for delays of more than two hours. However, if you have to cancel your trip, you are entitled to a refund of your ticket. Be sure to let the company know that you have a return train and that you want to cancel that as well. In the event of a delay, rather than a cancellation, the rail company must also pay you the same compensation. It must also provide you with assistance (food, drinks, etc.) once the delay reaches 60 minutes. Please note that, in principle, no compensation is due if the delay is caused by exceptional circumstances (snowstorms, etc.) or due to the fault of a third party (sabotage, person on the tracks, etc.). What to Do If You Miss a Connection If you’ve planned a trip from Paris to Berlin and then from Berlin to Dresden but miss your connection because the first train was delayed, the situation isn’t always straightforward. As long as you purchased tickets for both trains from the same carrier, you can request re-routing on another train as soon as possible at no additional cost. Or you can request a refund for the trip if you have to cancel it. However, if you paid for the Paris–Berlin trip on the SNCF website (or app or at the ticket counter) and then paid for the Berlin–Dresden trip through DB’s sales service, the situation is different. Compensation and refunds apply only to the first train, not the second. For more information on your rights in Germany, visit the European Consumer Center’s website: www.cec-zev.eu
