The new DB timetable will go into effect tomorrow, Sunday 11 December.
The main improvements of the 2023 timetable at a glance:
- Faster and more frequent between Stuttgart and Munich: With the commissioning of the new Wendlingen–Ulm high-speed line, the journey time between Stuttgart and Munich will be reduced by around 15 minutes. At the same time, the daily service between the two state capitals will increase from around 70 to 90 trips.
- A Germany clock anticipation getting passengers between NRW and Bavaria. In future, the DB will run quickly twice an hour and without train changes between Cologne and Munich, and up to 15 minutes faster than before.
- Of the new ICE 3neo it is used almost daily between Dortmund, Cologne and Frankfurt. On Saturdays there is a return journey between Dortmund and Munich on the new high-speed line Wendlingen–Ulm. DB will gradually expand this offering with the delivery of additional 3neo ICEs.
- Faster and more direct at Frankfurt Airport: With new or additional direct connections to Frankfurt Airport, DB will offer other German cities a fast and environmentally friendly alternative to short-haul flights from December. DB is expanding the number of seats here by up to 60 percent.
- More night rail traffic: A new night train line connects Zurich with Berlin and Prague and, with stops in Erfurt, Halle, Leipzig and Dresden, among other locations, especially benefits passengers from Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony. Existing night rail links connect other cities to the international night rail service. From Stuttgart there is now a direct night route to Venice, among other locations.
DB board member for long-distance passenger transport Dr. Michael Peterson: “In the coming year, we will bring even more new trains to the climate-friendly tracks. With an average of three new ICE trains a month, 2023 will be a real record year. And our passengers can expect more space and comfort on our trains.”
Additional trains at Christmas and New Year’s
With 80 additional trains over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, DB is expanding its range of services during the festive season. In the period from 23 December 2022 to 2 January 2023, the trains will mainly run on the most popular routes, such as between Berlin and Stuttgart or Munich or between Cologne, Düsseldorf and Berlin. This means that an additional 40,000 seats are available over the Christmas period. The connections are stored in the timetable information on bahn.de and in the DB Navigator app and can be booked via all DB sales channels.
The service team is also being expanded: around 800 new employees will help our passengers on board the trains by Christmas.
Since the holidays fall on the weekend this year, DB expects particularly high traveler numbers for the days immediately before Christmas and after the two Christmas holidays, i.e. December 22nd and 23rd, as well as December 27th and 28th. DB recommends that you find out about the capacity display on bahn.de and in the DB Navigator app and book a seat.
