July 24, 2020

Berlin/Köln/Hamburg, 23. Juli 2020

FlixTrain returns to the railways: From today on, the green long-distance trains of FlixMobility will run ten times a week between Berlin and Cologne and Cologne and Hamburg. An increase of the offer on both routes is already planned for August. From now on, the green mobility provider will be using comprehensively renovated rolling stock on all journeys, thus enabling its passengers to travel in even greater comfort. Furthermore, thanks to 100% green electricity from Greenpeace Energy, FlixTrain remains not only the most sustainable alternative by rail, but also the most affordable: tickets can be booked from as little as EUR 4.99, including guaranteed seating.

On the connection between Cologne and Berlin, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen, Dortmund, Bielefeld and Hanover will also be served directly for the restart. The route is operated by the train partner SVG, based in Horb am Neckar. On the connection between Cologne and Hamburg, operated by train partner IGE from Hersbruck, Gelsenkirchen, Münster and Osnabrück are also served. Both FlixTrain lines stop in Düsseldorf, Duisburg and Essen.

FlixTrain implements a comprehensive hygiene concept on all trips to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. In addition to regular cleaning and disinfection of the vehicles, this includes contactless check-in, continuous fresh air supply and a load indicator for passengers.

New coaches for an even more comfortable travel experience

Just in time for the restart, the trains of FlixTrain shine in a new look: All coaches purchased by FlixTrain together with its financing partner Railpool have been completely renovated and converted
from compartment coaches to large-capacity coaches. Each of them is equipped with completely new seats, power sockets at the seats and modern Wi-Fi technology including onboard entertainment. Modernised restrooms round off the relaunch and provide passengers with a pleasant travel experience. “With FlixTrain, we are now bringing back the most sustainable and affordable alternative by rail,” says Fabian Stenger, Managing Director FlixTrain DACH. “Just in time for the new start, we are also presenting our trains, which have been completely renovated from the ground up and which our passengers can now travel in even more comfort. And the best thing about it: With us, the seat is guaranteed free of charge”.

Dr. Tamara Zieschang, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure: “The Federal Government’s goal is to double the number of passengers in rail transport by 2030. Providers such as FlixTrain are ensuring competition on the railways. This is good for the passengers above all. Because everyone can choose the most attractive offer from a wider range of services.

Close cooperation with medium-sized companies

For the resumption of operations, FlixTrain relies on close cooperation with two partners, thus combining the digital expertise of a tech group with the many years of operational experience of
medium-sized companies. The line Cologne – Berlin is operated by the Stuttgart-based company SVG. Marc Baumgartner, Managing Director SVG: “We are looking forward to the long-term cooperation with Flixtrain and are convinced that together with Flixtrain and our team we will be able to launch an attractive new offer for environmentally conscious yet affordable travel by rail, which will enrich the long-distance transport market”.

On the Cologne – Hamburg connection, IGE from Hersbruck is taking over operations with immediate effect. Armin Götz, Managing Director of IGE: “As an established medium-sized company that remains on course for growth even in difficult times, we want to contribute to the success of the new start of our partner FlixTrain in the passenger transport sector with our knowledge and skills gained from decades of experience in the international market. We regard the Cologne-Hamburg connection as an important link for the long-distance transport market and we congratulate FlixTrain on the groundbreaking innovations of modern travel close to the customers, which really convince us. “With SVG and IGE we have gained two very strong partners whose expertise in rail transport, together with us as a tech group, will create a strong offering for travellers. We are looking forward to a longterm cooperation”, says Stenger.

About FlixMobility

FlixMobility is a mobility provider and offers under the brands FlixBus and FlixTrain a new alternative to travel comfortably, cheaply and environmentally friendly. Thanks to a unique business model and innovative technology, the start-up has established Europe’s largest long-distance bus network in a very short time and integrated the first green long-distance trains in 2018. Since its launch in 2013, FlixMobility has changed the way people travel across Europe and has created thousands of new jobs in the industry.

About SVG

SVG is a rail transport company founded in 1996, which has specialised in long-distance passenger rail transport in the form of charter trains for the past 25 years or so and has been active throughout Germany. By intensively dealing with the special wishes of a wide range of different groups of passengers, SVG has succeeded in gaining long-standing regular customers. SVG will bring this experience and its experience with long-distance trains to bear in a motivated team for the passengers in the “green trains”. In addition, the opportunity for attractive new jobs in a medium-sized company will open up.

About IGE

The International Company for Railway Transport (IGE) is a medium-sized railway transport company (EVU) based in Hersbruck, Franconia, with around 100 employees. IGE has been operating successfully on the market as a private railway company for 38 years now, working in the field of rail transport and offering its customers a wide range of railway services. Having grown from the organisation of Europewide trips with special trains, the company was licensed as an EVU in 2003. Since then, the focus has been on national and international freight transport and, more recently, on long-distance passenger transport.

For more information, please contact:
Carina Beyer
+49 89 5108 577-198
carina.beyer@railpool.eu

About RAILPOOL

RAILPOOL is one of the leading railway vehicle leasing companies offering real expertise for full service from a single source. The company was founded in Munich in 2008 and now operates in 16 European countries.

RAILPOOL is one of the largest providers in Europe with more than 400 locomotives and an investment total of over one billion euro. The RAILPOOL fleet covers 70,000,000 kilometers every year and makes an important contribution to the modal shift to rail. RAILPOOL has its own warehouse with over 78,935 items from 2,700 different spare parts and components.

RAILPOOL. Flexibility For Rent.