Door-to-door time not modelled. Fastest train 1h47 (Berlin Hbf → Hamburg Hbf), Half-hourly long-distance; direct ICE/Railjet trips planned to grow from 38 to 52 per day after reopening. Checked 2026-11-01.
The comparison
| Fastest train | 1h47Berlin Hbf → Hamburg Hbf |
|---|---|
| Trains | Half-hourly long-distance; direct ICE/Railjet trips planned to grow from 38 to 52 per day after reopening (DB via dpa)Deutsche Bahn ICE, ÖBB Railjet |
| Flight | – |
| Door to door | Door-to-door time not modelled |
| Points | DB BahnBonus: 1 reward point + 1 status point per EUR spent on DB tickets; national free trip from 750 points (2nd class, one-way; 750-2,000 depending on route/date/demand), international free trip from 1,750 points (2nd class one-way). |
Added. Line reopened 14 June 2026 after a 10.5-month full closure (Generalsanierung); scheduled ICE time is 107 min for the 2026 timetable. Part of the Prague-Berlin-Hamburg-Copenhagen corridor.
Questions
Is the train faster than flying from Berlin to Hamburg?
Door-to-door time not modelled. The fastest train takes 1h47 city centre to city centre.
How often do trains run from Berlin to Hamburg?
Half-hourly long-distance; direct ICE/Railjet trips planned to grow from 38 to 52 per day after reopening (DB via dpa)
Can I earn or use points on this train?
DB BahnBonus: 1 reward point + 1 status point per EUR spent on DB tickets; national free trip from 750 points (2nd class, one-way; 750-2,000 depending on route/date/demand), international free trip from 1,750 points (2nd class one-way).
Sources: zeit.de, zdfheute.de, bahn.de
Points or cash, or the train?
Tell Points or Cash where you are going. On short European trips it checks whether the train beats the flight before you spend a point.
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