What do train operator Flix’s expansion plans mean for Germany’s railway system?
FlixTrains’ choice to maneuver additional into the rail business means Germany will quickly have a extra accessible practice community.
FlixTrain, certainly one of Germany’s largest practice operators, has introduced it should quickly provide considerably extra regional connections.
FlixTrain is certainly one of Deutsche Bahn’s few rivals within the long-distance rail sphere within the nation. It can work along with regional practice operators, together with Deutsche Bahn, to attach its routes to extra regional locations, opening up lots of of recent connections throughout Germany.
Passengers will be capable of use one ticket throughout each a long-distance journey with FlixTrain, earlier than transferring onto one other practice operated by a regional transport associate to achieve their closing vacation spot.
“Round 200 extra cities could be reached with the mixed tickets, which include a FlixTrain and a regional practice journey,” a spokesperson for the corporate mentioned.
At the moment FlixTrain routes are solely lengthy distance, between main hubs reminiscent of Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, however smaller cities together with Kiel, Lübeck and Kaiserslautern will now be simpler to achieve.
Flix hopes to increase its companies additional nonetheless
FlixTrain is a part of the broader Flix mobility platform, which is finest recognized for its FlixBuses, which supply long-distance journeys round Europe.
The corporate is at the moment the market chief on this sector in Germany in addition to in quite a few surrounding nations.
It was praised final 12 months for the launch of its first long-distance electrical coach service, which guarantees an excellent greener future for bus journey.
Now, it’s hoping to supply actual competitors for Deutsche Bahn inside the rail business. At the moment, that firm successfully operates as a state monopoly inside Germany.
Flix has seen potential for change and made the choice to cooperate with regional practice operations within the German Tariff Affiliation (DTV).
“The cooperation with the DTV is a vital step in direction of connecting increasingly cities all through Germany with our provide – even outdoors the metropolitan areas,” Flix’s spokesperson says.
For now, although, Flix is not going to function any of the regional trains itself, however that might change because it expands its ambitions additional.
