Trenitalia launches Frecciarossa trials in Germany ahead of Rome and Milan to Munich routes

Published on 02/09/2026 – 18:38 GMT+2

Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) has commenced test runs of Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa high-speed trains in Germany and Austria, marking the start of the international certification phase for the project. Once fully operational, travellers will be able to journey from Rome and Milan to Munich via Innsbruck.

The FS Group has confirmed that commercial services between Milan and Munich, as well as between Rome and Munich, are scheduled to launch in the summer of 2027, contingent upon the successful completion of the approval process for the new rolling stock.

Following expansions into France and Spain, and with ambitions to eventually reach the United Kingdom via the Channel Tunnel by 2029, Italy’s state railway operator is now extending its footprint into the heart of Europe. The initiative is being executed in partnership with Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB, the national rail operators of Germany and Austria.

The anticipated opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel is expected to reduce journey times by approximately one hour. From December 2028, the full timetable will feature ten daily connections between Italy and Germany, initially covering routes from Milan, Rome, and Munich, with future extensions planned for Naples and Berlin.

Route details and intermediate stops

The initial commercial offering will include four daily connections on both the Milan-Munich and Rome-Munich corridors.

On the Milan to Munich route, with an estimated journey time of approximately six and a half hours, the primary intermediate stops will include Brescia, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano, and Innsbruck.

On the Rome to Munich route, expected to take roughly eight and a half hours, the principal stops will encompass Florence, Bologna, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano, and Innsbruck.

Paving the way for a High-Speed European Metro

FS chief executive and general manager Gianpiero Strisciuglio commented: “The start of test runs in Germany and Austria represents significant progress toward delivering a project that underscores our commitment to making rail the benchmark mode of transport for mobility across Europe.”

“Through our collaboration with Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB, we are advancing the creation of a High-Speed European Metro, providing passengers with a service capable of bringing regions, people, and economies closer together,” Strisciuglio added.

He further noted that Frecciarossa is continuing its international growth trajectory, taking the FS Group’s technological and industrial expertise to international markets while contributing to the development of a more integrated European rail network.

Italy’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, also welcomed the development. He characterised it as “a further step confirming the growth of the FS Group and its capacity to secure new markets abroad, while delivering improved services and infrastructure domestically. More jobs, more connections, more Italy in Europe.”

The agreement between Trenitalia and Deutsche Bahn will facilitate the sharing of technical expertise to enable the trains to adapt to varying power-supply and signalling systems, thereby accelerating the technical certification process and maintaining cost efficiency. Concurrently with the construction of the prototypes, dedicated training programmes for German and Austrian train drivers have been initiated.

The Frecciarossa, engineered in compliance with European interoperability technical specifications, has been designed to operate across Italy and the rail networks of France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

The new trans-Alpine connections are also anticipated to enhance rail links with neighbouring countries, capturing passenger demand for travel to destinations such as Frankfurt and Krakow.

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