Deutsche Bahn’s only major competitor in Germany, FlixTrain, has announced that it will launch three new routes over the next couple of months, covering various destinations, including a Swiss city. 

FlixTrain adds three new lines in Germany, covering multiple destinations

Following on from the announcement that FlixTrain would resume operations in 40 destinations in April, the long-distance rail operator has announced further expansions to its network in Germany. In May and June, three new lines are set to go into operation, a spokesperson announced, adding a dozen more stops. 

The cities of Wiesbaden, Braunschweig, Hildesheim and Offenbach will be served by the route from Berlin, while a new connection between Hamburg and Stuttgart will be up and running by May 19, calling in on the cities of Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Kassel and Hannover. 

On top of this, from June 23 FlixTrain will connect with its first destination in Switzerland - the city of Basel - on a route that also takes in popular German destinations like Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden, Freiburg, Bad Hersfeld and Weil am Rhein. 

Existing routes will also be served by more trains, with daily journeys increasing on the Munich - Cologne - Hamburg and the Leipzig - Berlin - Hamburg routes. 

Ticket prices as low as 4,99 euros one way

The green train operator is further trying to tempt customers with special offers, including the waiving of seat reservation fees, and ticket prices as low as 4,99 euros one way. 

The railway group’s announcement has almost certainly been timed to coincide with the beginning of the nine-euro ticket on June 1, which has sparked renewed interest in train travel across the country. However, the ticket is valid on regional trains only, and therefore does not cover ICE, IC, Intercity, EC or FlixTrain connections. 

Nonetheless, Flix management have been keen to highlight the advantages of travelling via their routes rather than regional transport, with managing director André Schwämmlein directing some choice words at the government’s plan: “During the summer, the half-baked nine-euro ticket threatens to completely overcrowd trains throughout Germany. With us, everyone has a seat, can easily stow their luggage, and doesn’t have to change trains,” he said.