New high-speed trains: Munich-Rome without changing trains from 2026!

New high-speed trains: Munich-Rome without changing trains from 2026!

Expectations for international rail traffic between Germany and Italy are increasing because Deutsche Bahn, the Austrian Federal Railways and Trenitalia have announced new direct connections from Munich to Milan and Rome. This project is supported by the European Commission as part of ten pilot projects to promote new cross-border rail connections. The first Frecciarossa high-speed trains, which will be able to travel directly from Munich to the Italian cities without having to change trains, are scheduled to be used from the end of 2026. The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports that Munich is now becoming the northernmost city in Italy.

The new direct connections promise significantly reduced travel times. Travelers can expect a journey time of around 6.5 hours between Munich and Milan and around 8.5 hours between Munich and Rome. This means a saving of around 75 minutes on the route to Milan and 45 minutes to Rome compared to the current connecting connections. The faster connection to Rome is attributed in particular to the high-speed route between Bologna and Rome, which ensures a faster connection. The Tagesschau highlights that initially one connection per day will be offered, with the aim of later enabling five daily return journeys.

Technical challenges and adjustments

However, the introduction of the new compounds faces challenges. In order to be able to run the Italian Frecciarossa trains on the Austrian and German power grids, they must be technically adapted. This change is necessary to comply with the safety standards that apply north of the Brenner. The train approval process takes additional time, delaying the original plans. DB board member for long-distance passenger transport, Michael Peterson, emphasizes the importance of cooperation for functioning cross-border long-distance transport in Europe.

The Süddeutsche Zeitung also mentions that Deutsche Bahn is handing over the route to its Italian competitor Trenitalia. This happens because converting an ICE train for use in Italy is considered more expensive and time-consuming. The trains of the Frecciarossa series, which already operate successfully in countries such as Spain and France, are to be converted accordingly to German and Austrian requirements.

Further developments and perspectives

For the connection between Munich and Milan, additional stops are planned in Bolzano, Trento, Rovereto, Verona and Brescia, while for the route to Rome the trains will stop in Innsbruck, Bolzano, Trento, Rovereto, Verona, Bologna and Florence. In addition, with the opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel in 2032, travel times are expected to be further reduced by around an hour, which will further increase the attractiveness of these connections.

In the long term, connections between Milan and Berlin and between Naples and Berlin are even planned from December 2028, which could further boost international rail traffic in Europe. The trains are equipped with eight cars and 462 seats in four comfort categories, thus offering a comfortable travel option for users.