Trenitalia, ÖBB and Deutsche Bahn announced an agreement at Innotrans in Berlin for new cross-border high-speed services. From summer 2027, Frecciarossa trains are to run from Munich via Innsbruck to Milan and Rome – as an EU pilot project for cross-border long-distance rail passenger transport.
Quick overview
This news is primarily relevant for rail travelers because it can have concrete effects on planning, connections or infrastructure. The focus is on Frecciarossa, Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB, high-speed rail, Munich-Innsbruck-Milan, Brenner and Innotrans 2026. The key points are summarized compactly below.
Key points
- From summer 2027, Frecciarossa trains (Hitachi ETR 1000) are to run daily from Munich via Innsbruck to Milan (around 6.5 hours) and to Rome (around 8.5 hours).
- Planned intermediate stops on the route: Bolzano, Trento, Rovereto, Verona, and depending on the routing, Brescia or Bologna and Florence.
- In a second expansion phase from December 2028, an extension from Berlin to Naples along the North–South corridor is planned.
- A prerequisite is still the multi-system approval of the trains for the German and Austrian power and train control systems (ETCS), as well as sufficient track capacity on the Brenner line.
- The project has been classified as an official EU pilot project to promote cross-border long-distance rail passenger transport; a noticeable capacity increase on the Brenner line is not expected until the commissioning of the Brenner Base Tunnel in the 2030s.
What this means for travelers
For travelers, it is worth taking a close look at the timeframe, route and booking conditions. It is crucial whether the announcement already triggers concrete timetable changes or initially describes a political or strategic development.
Context
The report is based on an announcement by the three state railways Trenitalia, ÖBB and Deutsche Bahn on the occasion of the Innotrans trade fair in Berlin (as of 29 September 2026).
What to watch now
- Check concrete timetable or construction information only once travel dates are set.
- Allow more generous connection times for international journeys.
- Monitor the source and operator information in case dates are still provisional.