There are many trains between Germany and France. Passengers can choose between high-speed TGV, ICE and Thalys/Eurostar trains, overnight trains (twice a week) and some cross-border trains (not all of them run daily).
Last updated: 03.06.2024
Railway border crossings between Germany and France:
Saarbrücken DB – Forbach SNCF
Berg DB – Lauterbourg SNCF
Hanweiler-Bad Rilchingen DB – Sarreguemines SNCF
Kehl DB – Krimmeri-Meinau SNCF
Neuenburg (Baden) DB – Bantzenheim SNCF
Niedaltdorf DB – Guerstling SNCF (freight only)
Perl DB – Apach SNCF
Schweighofen DB – Wissembourg SNCF
In addition, Tram D line from Strasbourg was extended to the railway station in Kehl, Germany in 2017. Following year, the line was extended to town hall in Kehl.
Trains between Germany and France useful websites
Deutsche Bahn – journey planner and online shop
SNCF – international trains and online shop
Nightjet – official website and online shop
Train travel in Germany – a comprehensive guide
Train travel in France – a comprehensive guide
Trains between Germany and France – promotional tickets
Deutsche Bahn offers Super saver fare for low-cost travel between Germany and Switzerland. Promotional tickets are called in German Super Sparpreis Europa. You can book tickets up to six months (180 days) before you journey until shortly before a train is due to depart. Super saver fare tickets are excluded from exchange and cancellation. You may only travel on long-distance trains (IC/EC) and on the days indicated on the ticket.
Most flexible are Saver fare promotional tickets – there is a cancellation fee. Deutsche Bahn offers also Group Saver tickets for groups of under six passengers
TGV and ICE trains between Germany and France
High-speed TGV and ICE trains connect daily Paris and major cities in Germany. Trains currently run on the following routes:
Frankfurt am Main – Paris (TGV and ICE) via Kaiserslautern and Saarbrücken Hbf
Frankfurt am Main – Paris (ICE) via Karlsruhe and Strasbourg
Frankfurt am Main – Bordeaux (seasonally, TGV) via Strasbourg, Poitiers and Angouleme
Frankfurt am Main – Marseille (on designated days, TGV) via Strasbourg, Lyon and Avignon
Munich – Paris (TGV) via Stuttgart
Stuttgart – Paris (TGV)
TGV trains between Paris and Frankfurt am Main or Munich are served by TGV Euroduplex double-decker trainsets with new interiors with rotating seats and USB sockets. Maximum speed is 320 km/h. 1st and 2nd class are available, each trainset consists also bistro car.
Intercity Express trains (ICE) are modern and comfortable German trainsets with open-plan 1st and second class carriages and bistro car. Personally, I hate seats at a table but generally I like all of these trainsets.
Eurostar trains
High-speed trains operated by Eurostar run daily between Cologne and Paris. Some of the trains are extended to Düsseldorf. In 2023 Eurostar and Thalys have joined forces under the Eurostar name all trains now carry the Eurostar name and new logo.
Travel classes from 4 November 2024:
Eurostar Standard
Eurostar Plus
Eurostar Premier
I will extend a description in the future.
Eurostar trains are generally very expensive, but you can find much cheaper promotional tickets, if you book well in advance.
Eurostar – official website
Nightjet trains between Germany and France
Nightjet trains between both countries currently run twice a week on the following routes:
Berlin – Paris
Wien – Paris (train passes through Germany)
Nightjet trains are comprised of seating carriages with compartmens, couchette cars and sleeping cars. Passengers can choose between standard sleeping cars and deluxe sleeping cars with a private shower in compartment.
Ticket prices for Nightjet train start at:
seating carriage – 29.90 EUR
6-berth couchette – 49.90 EUR
4-berth couchette – 59.90 EUR
3-bed sleeping car – 89.90 EUR
2-bed sleeping car – 109.90 EUR
1-bed sleeping car – 159.90 EUR
3-bed sleeping car with shower – 99.90 EUR
2-bed sleeping car with shower – 139.90 EUR
1-bed sleeping car with shower – 189.90 EUR
In fact, available tickets are much expensive. Book well in advance for the cheapest prices.
Cross-border trains between Germany and France
There are several cross-border trains between both countries.
Cross-border trains between Trier and Metz run only on weekends via Perl – Apach border crossing. On weekdays regional trains from Trier terminate at Perl station and border crossing is used only by freight trains. There are plans to introduce daily passenger service from Trier to Metz from December 2024.
Cross-border trains between Strasbourg and Offenburg are operated by Ortenau S-Bahn GmbH.
There are cross-border trains from Saarbrücken to Forbach, Metz and on designted days also to Strasbourg. Alternatively you can travel between Saarbrücken and Metz with transfer in Forbach.
It is very likely, that from December 2024 new cross-border trains will be introduced or reinstated:
Neustadt – Strasbourg via Schweighofen – Wisembourg border crossing and Karlsruhe – Strasbourg.
