It’s taken a while, but it’s finally official: the Intercity service that runs between Amsterdam and Berlin will be 30 minutes shorter from the end of next year, meaning it will take travellers less than six hours to reach the German capital. 

From Amsterdam to Berlin by train in under six hours

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) first announced these plans back in 2020, and had initially hoped the changes to the route would come into effect in 2021. Sadly, this timeline wasn’t quite realistic, as the structural changes that were needed in order to reduce the travel time wouldn’t be completed in time. 

Since then, however, rail operators in Germany and the Netherlands have worked on a new, temporary solution that allows the new Amsterdam-Berlin route to be implemented as of December 10, 2023. The solution includes the use of so-called multi-court trains that can run on the voltage used in both countries, and the building of a new platform at the station in Oldenzaal to allow for through traffic.