Trenitalia begins Frecciarossa test runs in Germany and Austria

Trenitalia, in partnership with Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB, has commenced test runs of Frecciarossa high-speed trains in Germany and Austria. These trials are part of the international certification process required to launch direct rail links between Italy and Germany.

Scheduled for debut in the summer of 2027, the initial service will include four daily connections: two from Milan to Munich and two from Rome to Munich. The Milan-Munich route is expected to take approximately 6.5 hours, while the Rome-Munich route will take about 8.5 hours, with stops in cities such as Verona, Trento, and Innsbruck. The upcoming Brenner Base Tunnel is expected to reduce travel times by roughly one hour.

By December 2028, the service aims to expand to ten daily connections, potentially extending routes to Naples and Berlin. The project involves technical cooperation to ensure the trains can operate across different electrical and signaling systems used in the various countries.