Prague–Berlin–Copenhagen, Non-Stop: A New Spine for European Rail

From 1 May 2026, a direct Prague–Berlin–Copenhagen train joins Europe’s map—a three-capital corridor on ČD’s ComfortJet with two daily pairs and a seasonal night train.

Operators say demand for long-distance international rail is booming, and the new route aims to capture that momentum, offering both daytime and seasonal overnight options, according to Deutsche Bahn and České dráhy.

It's official: From 1 May 2026 there'll be a direct train between Copenhagen and Prague, using a new Czech Comfortjet train. //t.co/JfvY4FJ5gs

— The Man in Seat 61 (@seatsixtyone) July 7, 2025

Three Capitals, One Direct Line

The link will be jointly operated by DB (Germany), DSB (Denmark) and ČD (Czechia), beginning once the Berlin–Hamburg line overhaul is complete on May 1, 2026. Trains will call at Dresden and Hamburg in Germany, restoring a through service that has been absent for more than a decade, according to the Deutsche Bahn and České dráhy press releases. "Rail is bringing Europe closer and closer together," said Michael Peterson, DB Board Member for Long Distance Passenger Transport, pointing out the surge in demand for journeys over four hours in international service, as noted by DB.

Journey times are targeted at about seven hours between Copenhagen and Berlin and roughly eleven hours between Copenhagen and Prague. The year-round pattern features two daily train pairs (two out-and-back services), with a seasonal night train extending today’s Hamburg–Copenhagen summer sleeper onward to Prague via Berlin and Dresden from 2026. Ticket presales are expected around six months before launch, ČD added.

Timetable, Frequencies, and Night Service

Two daily pairs year-round mean predictable daytime options in both directions, while the seasonal overnight adds a sleeper alternative on peak travel dates. ČD says that Prague departures are planned around 06:30 and 10:30 year-round, with an additional ~16:30 departure in summer, structuring the offer for both business and leisure flows.

City pairs across the corridor—Ústí nad Labem, Dresden, Hamburg, Odense—gain same-day rail connectivity to the three capitals. "This will strengthen Berlin as a hub in Europe," said Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, calling the service "an important component in decarbonising the transport sector," since it expands low-carbon options for travellers to and from the city.

ComfortJet Rolling Stock and Onboard Experience

The service will be operated with ČD’s new ComfortJet formations, providing 230 km/h capability and 555 seats (including 99 in First Class). Trains feature RF-transparent windows for better mobile signal, Wi-Fi, an on-board restaurant, adjustable seating, a children’s cinema, and space for 12 bicycles. Accessibility includes wheelchair lifts and a barrier-free interior, according to ČD. "It is prestigious that our German and Danish colleagues entrusted us to operate the entire line with our most modern ComfortJets," said Michal Krapinec, Chairman and CEO of ČD, adding that the sets will run up to 230 km/h on the upgraded Berlin–Hamburg section.

ČD notes an autumn familiarisation run to Copenhagen to introduce DB and DSB crews to the rolling stock and to verify technical and operational parameters on the route. Staffing will be provided by the partner operators in Germany and Denmark, while the restaurant-car crew will cover the entire journey, as stated by ČD.

EU Backing and Strategic Impact

The Prague–Copenhagen link is the first realised service among the European Commission’s ten pilot projects to improve cross-border rail connectivity, tackle market barriers, and expand sustainable mobility across the continent (according to DB and ČD). "Improving high-speed rail, especially across borders, is our top priority," said European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, framing the route as an early proof point for EU-supported integration.

DSB pointed out the passenger upside of the tri-national partnership. "We are proud to be part of this partnership," said Charlotte Kjærulff, DSB Director for Customer Relations, noting that the link adds convenient, sustainable ways to discover Europe’s history and culture. For Berlin, Prague, and Copenhagen, the service consolidates tourism and business travel on a low-carbon mode, while connecting regional centres along the corridor.

Future Time Savings via the Fehmarnbelt Link

Initial Copenhagen–Berlin (~7h) and Copenhagen–Prague (~11h) timings are set to improve later in the decade as the Fehmarnbelt fixed link—an 18-km immersed-tube tunnel between Germany and Denmark—comes online, compressing Hamburg–Copenhagen timings and cascading end-to-end savings on through services (as highlighted by ČD and broader EU corridor plans). Additional infrastructure upgrades, such as speed improvements between Dresden and Berlin, are also expected to trim journey times.

While flagship launches like Paris–Berlin and the upcoming Prague–Copenhagen strengthen the case for rail, Europe still faces cross-border hurdles—from rolling-stock approvals and interoperability to fragmented ticketing—that can blunt convenience, as reported by The Guardian. The ComfortJet deployment, EU pilots, and modern multi-system fleets are intended to chip away at those frictions and shift travellers from short-haul flights to rail.