A new direct train between Oslo and Berlin is planned for summer 2028, promising one of the most significant improvements to Norway’s international rail links in decades.
For many years, travelling from Norway to mainland Europe by train has been possible, but rarely simple.
A journey from Oslo to Germany typically means changing trains in Sweden and Denmark, coordinating different timetables, and sometimes navigating several booking systems along the way.
That could soon change. Vy, Denmark’s DSB and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn have announced plans for a direct international train linking Oslo with Copenhagen, Hamburg and Berlin.
If everything goes according to plan, passengers will be able to board a train in Oslo and step off in the German capital without changing trains.
The new route is planned to launch in summer 2028. Vy says it will be the first time in more than 20 years that passengers in Norway have been able to travel directly by train from Oslo to Berlin.
It is not exactly a quick trip. The full journey from Oslo to Berlin is expected to take around 14 to 15 hours, while Oslo to Copenhagen should take around seven hours.
But for travellers who prefer rail to flying, or who simply enjoy the idea of crossing northern Europe by train, the announcement is a big deal.
A New Direct Route Through Northern Europe
The planned route will connect four countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. From Oslo, the train is expected to travel south through Østfold before crossing into Sweden and continuing via Gothenburg and Malmö.
From there, it will continue across Denmark via Copenhagen, before heading south towards Hamburg and finally Berlin.
Vy says the preliminary plan is for the train to stop at Moss, Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg and Halden in Norway. In Sweden, planned stops include Trollhättan, Gothenburg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Lund and Malmö.
The train is then expected to serve Copenhagen Airport and Copenhagen Central Station, before continuing through Odense, Kolding and Padborg in Denmark, then Hamburg in Germany, before reaching Berlin.
That makes the route interesting not only for people travelling the full distance to Germany. It could also become a much easier way for people in southeastern Norway to reach Gothenburg, Copenhagen and Hamburg by train.
At the moment, international train travel from Norway often feels like something for enthusiasts. It can be rewarding, scenic and more relaxed than flying, but it usually requires patience and planning.
A direct route would remove one of the biggest barriers: the need to change trains several times.
Why This Matters For Norway
Norway has a strong rail tradition within the country, especially on scenic long-distance routes such as the Bergen Line, Dovre Line and Nordland Line. Yet international rail connections have long been limited.
That has always felt a little odd. Oslo is much closer to continental Europe than many people imagine, but the practical reality of travelling south by train has not always matched the map. Flying has usually been faster, cheaper and much easier to book.
Vy says such a direct connection disappeared more than 20 years ago, at a time when low-cost flights became difficult for rail operators to compete with.
Since then, demand for rail travel has changed. More travellers are looking for alternatives to flying, especially for journeys within Europe.
Vy has already been expanding its international offer. In 2024, the company doubled the number of departures to Gothenburg. In summer 2025, it tested extending some trains onwards to Malmö, and from 2026 it is running regular services to Malmö during weekends and holiday periods.
The Berlin route would be a much bigger step. Instead of Norway sitting at the edge of Europe’s rail network, Oslo would be directly linked to three major northern European cities: Copenhagen, Hamburg and Berlin.
For residents of Norway, that opens up obvious travel possibilities. For visitors, it could make Norway a more realistic part of a wider European rail itinerary.
The Train Itself
The route is expected to use Deutsche Bahn’s new ICE L trains. The “L” stands for “low floor,” a design intended to make boarding easier, especially for passengers with reduced mobility, heavy luggage, prams or bicycles.
Vy says the trains will include a restaurant car, family section and first-class section. The service will be developed in cooperation with Vy, DSB and Deutsche Bahn, with Vy staff operating the train between Oslo and Copenhagen.
Part Of A Wider European Rail Push
The Oslo to Berlin route is part of a broader effort to improve cross-border train travel in Europe. In 2023, the European Commission announced support for ten pilot projects designed to establish new rail services or improve existing ones.
One of those projects focused on better connections between Germany, Denmark and Sweden, including a day train from Hamburg to Gothenburg and potentially Oslo. The new Oslo to Berlin plan appears to build on that idea.
Much of the recent attention around European rail has focused on night trains, but long daytime routes can also be useful. A full day on a train will not suit everyone, but for some travellers it is preferable to airports, transfers and short-haul flights.
What We Still Don’t Know
There are still some important unknowns. The route is planned for summer 2028, but exact launch dates have not yet been announced. Tickets are not yet on sale, and final timetables are still to come.
Prices are also unknown. This will be important. If the train is much more expensive than flying, it may struggle to win over casual travellers. If pricing is competitive and booking is straightforward, the service could find a strong audience.
It is also worth remembering that international rail projects can change before launch. Rolling stock, infrastructure work, staffing and cross-border regulations can all affect the final details.
For now, this is a planned service rather than something travellers can book. But the announcement from Vy, DSB and Deutsche Bahn is still significant, with a named route, expected journey time, planned stops and target launch period.
