The additional service will operate between Cologne and Brussels during the summer months, increasing the number of daily train pairs on the route to nine. On weekends, the trains will extend further west within Belgium, offering direct rail access to some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
The extension marks the first time that Germany’s ICE high-speed trains will run directly to the Belgian North Sea coast. The service is being introduced in cooperation with Belgian railway operator SNCB.
According to DB, the move responds to strong passenger demand for cross-border rail travel between Germany and Belgium, particularly during the summer holiday period. The route also strengthens international rail tourism connections between major German cities and Belgium’s historic towns and seaside resorts.
The trains will be operated using the latest ICE 3neo trainsets, which have already been deployed on existing services linking Frankfurt, Cologne and Brussels.
