The new Deutsche Bahn timetable takes effect on Sunday 13 December 2026, with tickets on sale from 14 October 2026. The €99.99 return family ticket, for up to five people, is a separate offer: it goes on sale on 26 October and is valid from 1 November 2026.
Checked on against the official sources cited (Deutsche Bahn press releases of 13 October 2026 and bahn.de pages).
On 13 December 2026, Deutsche Bahn changes its timetable, and its €99.99 family ticket becomes permanent. Both announcements are in the same press release of 13 October 2026, but they are two separate decisions, with dates that don’t overlap. We checked the dates and prices on 17 October 2026, against DB’s own pages and the sources cited.
1. The dates to note, from ticket sales to the timetable change
The change takes effect on Sunday 13 December 2026, the date given by DB, ÖBB, Newsworm and Leinetal24. Some articles say the change happens « on 14 December »: they describe the 2025 timetable, since 14 December 2025 was a Sunday.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 14 October 2026 (Wednesday) | Tickets for the new timetable go on sale on bahn.de, in the DB Navigator app and at ticket counters | DB central press release |
| 16 October 2026 | Hamburg-Berlin: journeys 35 to 45 minutes longer because of works at Spandau | DB Hamburg regional press release |
| 21 October 2026 | Long-distance time cards without a subscription at 25% off | DB central press release |
| 26 October 2026 (Monday) | Sales open for the permanent family ticket | DB central press release |
| 1 November 2026 (Sunday) | First travel day for the permanent family ticket | DB central press release |
| 2 October to 12 December 2026 | First phase of works on the Hanover-Berlin line | Leinetal24, citing DB |
| 13 December 2026 (Sunday) | 2026/2027 timetable takes effect | DB central press release |
| Summer 2027 | Planned start of the Frecciarossa Munich-Milan and Rome, subject to approval | DB central press release; int.bahn.de |
Source: Deutsche Bahn central press release of 13 October 2026, the Hamburg regional press release and the int.bahn.de page on the new timetable, checked on 17 October 2026.
2. The €99.99 family ticket: a permanent offer, not the timetable
This is the most common mix-up. The central Deutsche Bahn press release of 13 October 2026 announces the 2026/2027 timetable and, in the same text, makes the family ticket permanent. These are two separate decisions, each with its own dates. So the ticket isn’t for travelling on 13 December: it goes on sale from 26 October 2026 and is valid from 1 November 2026.
The principle is the same as for the summer offer. For €99.99 return, up to five people can travel second class on long-distance trains (Fernverkehr) in Germany, seat reservation included. The release says « deutschlandweit » (across Germany), but only for long distance: regional trains aren’t covered. It refers to long-distance trains without naming IC or EC services; the bahn.de page names the ICE. Our sources don’t say whether those two train types are covered, or whether a ticket can be changed after purchase.
Three points still need checking before you book. The one-way price of the permanent version isn’t in the release, although it was €59.99 during the summer. Cancellation terms aren’t detailed in our sources. On age rules, the bahn.de page we checked on 17 October 2026 says « up to 2 adults and 3 children », without saying which offer it refers to or from what age someone counts as a child. The English DB page for the permanent version adds that at least one child must be travelling and that no more than two travellers may be 15 or older. Check these rules on bahn.de the day sales open.
| Item | Summer 2026 offer | Permanent version |
|---|---|---|
| Return price | €99.99 | €99.99 |
| One-way price | €59.99 | Not confirmed in the release |
| People | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| Sales | 14 June to 12 September 2026 | From 26 October 2026 |
| First travel day | 26 June 2026 | 1 November 2026 |
| Trains | Fernverkehr (ICE mentioned) | Fernverkehr, second class |
| Coverage | Germany | Germany (« deutschlandweit ») |
| Age rules | Not attributed by the page: « Up to 2 adults and 3 children » (bahn.de, 17 October 2026); age limit for a child not stated | At least one child must travel, and no more than two travellers may be 15 or older (int.bahn.de, 17 October 2026). Child age limit not confirmed: the press says 14 and under |
Source: Deutsche Bahn central press release of 13 October 2026, bahn.de family ticket page and int.bahn.de, checked on 17 October 2026. The bahn.de page still shows « Coming back soon! »: the summer offer can no longer be booked on that date.
3. Buying your tickets: stable fares, one-off discounts and traps to avoid
Deutsche Bahn says long-distance fares stay stable for the timetable change. The Flexible fare (Flexpreis) and the BahnCard 25, 50 and 100 keep their prices. According to the Schwäbische Zeitung, this price freeze runs for one year from 1 May 2026, so it expires around May 2027, in the middle of the 2026/2027 timetable. It only applies to long-distance (Fernverkehr) fares.
Long-distance time cards without a subscription drop to 25% off from 21 October 2026. They only pay off if you chain several journeys in the same period: work out the saving on your actual route before you buy.
The Super Saver fare at €6.99 (Super Sparpreis) needs extra care. The official Last Minute offer page shows bookings from 9 May to 13 September 2026. An extension to 13 December is circulating on deal sites, but bahn.de hasn’t confirmed it. Don’t count on it for a December trip without checking in DB Navigator on the day you buy.
Your traveller profile changes the answer. A few pointers, to re-read depending on your case:
- Family of three to five: the family ticket may be the cheapest option, provided your group includes at least one child and fits the age rules, which you should check on bahn.de (the bahn.de page says « up to 2 adults and 3 children », without saying which offer it refers to). Otherwise, compare with individual tickets.
- Couple or solo traveller without children: the family ticket doesn’t apply, because at least one child must be travelling. Compare the Super Saver fare and the Flexible fare on your actual travel day: the choice depends on whether you can fix your train in advance.
- Last-minute booker: advertised low fares aren’t guaranteed. For a fixed-date journey, the fare shown is only a promise at the moment you confirm.
For a low fare, the study by the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv), Germany’s consumer federation, is the most useful. Using data from June 2024 to April 2026, the price actually available was higher than the advertised Super Saver fare on 76% of days, with gaps of +15% to +157%. Its advice: compare several days, book about twelve weeks ahead, and favour early-week or Saturday travel. To compare other overnight options in Europe, our overview of the night trains to try in 2026 covers the options.
Sources: bahn.de, Super Sparpreis Last Minute; vzbv, study on Super Saver fares (updated 4 August 2026); Deutsche Bahn central press release of 13 October 2026. Checked on 17 October 2026.
4. Munich: Hamburg in 5h 20 and one more train to Paris
Munich gains two connections worth knowing. The first is the ICE Sprinter between Hamburg and Munich: three trains each way per day, in 5h 20, with stops only in Hanover and Nuremberg. DB announces a twenty-minute saving. According to the Hamburg regional press release, departures from Hamburg leave at 7:23 am, 11:23 am and 3:23 pm.
The second concerns Paris. The new timetable adds a morning train from Munich, 30 minutes faster to Paris, and a direct weekend connection, with a stop in Augsburg. This comes from Voyages d’Affaires and the int.bahn.de page. Exact times may still shift, so check them on bahn.de when you book.
Munich, a starting point for a day trip abroad
Munich is also a good base for a day trip abroad. For Italy, while you wait for the Frecciarossa, our night train vs plane comparison breaks down price, journey time and CO2. The excursion below leaves from Munich and only runs in November and December 2026. Check the Viator listing for what the trip includes. Between 1 November and 31 December 2026, it was open for booking on 57 of 61 days when we checked on 17 October 2026.
- The morning train and the weekend direct connection are two separate services: check which days each one runs before you choose.
- 2027 timetables may change because of works: re-read your booking confirmation before departure.
5. Key routes: Stuttgart-Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam and Copenhagen
Stuttgart-Paris: twelve trains a day, six each way
Between Stuttgart and Paris, DB runs twelve trains a day, two more than before. The route doesn’t use the new Stuttgart 21 station: trains on the new timetable use the existing one. Media reports, cited by ZDFheute, now put the opening of Stuttgart 21 at the end of 2031. The int.bahn.de page adds one evening connection each day.
Deutsche Bahn also announces more than 320 international journeys a day in 2027, about 20% more than five years ago, and more than 200 cities in 14 countries reachable directly from Germany. That global figure says little about a specific trip. The table below answers route by route, with the source for each connection.
| Connection | Before | After | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stuttgart-Paris | 10 trains a day | 12 trains a day (6 each way) | DB central press release; int.bahn.de |
| Frankfurt/Nuremberg-Vienna | 12 trains a day | 14 trains a day | DB central press release |
| Hamburg-Munich (ICE Sprinter) | Not published in the release | 3 trains each way, 5h 20, stops in Hanover and Nuremberg | DB Hamburg regional press release |
| Berlin-Stuttgart (Sprinter) | Not stated in the release | 3 trains each way, 4h 45 | DB central press release |
| Hamburg-Amsterdam | Not published in the release | Up to 4 direct ICEs a day (2027) | DB Hamburg regional press release |
| Hamburg-Copenhagen | Not published in the release | 7 pairs of trains a day from March 2027 | DB Hamburg regional press release |
| Munich-Milan and Rome (Frecciarossa) | Not published in the release | 1 pair a day from summer 2027, subject to approval | DB central press release; int.bahn.de |
| Lausanne/Geneva-Paris (Swiss project) | Not published in the release | 3 TGVs each way from April 2027, still a project | SRF, federal consultation May-June 2026 |
Source: Deutsche Bahn central press release of 13 October 2026, DB Hamburg regional press release, int.bahn.de, and SRF for the Swiss project, checked on 17 October 2026.
6. Berlin: works, longer journeys and end-of-year precautions
The first phase of works on the Hanover-Berlin line runs from 2 October to 12 December 2026, with further stages planned until the end of 2027. During this period, ICEs between Berlin and Hanover can run 60 to 80 minutes longer, depending on the train, and several are cancelled or diverted. The central DB release mentions around 80 minutes more for journeys between North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin. The precise list of affected ICEs, including ICE 9, 10, 16, 19 and 77, comes from regional press: check it on bahn.de.
Hamburg-Berlin is affected from 16 October 2026. Journeys are 35 to 45 minutes longer because of works at Spandau, according to the Hamburg regional press release. For a trip booked before December, the times shown when you book are the ones that count. On the same line, a shuttle runs at Büchen up to five times a day in each direction.
What this means for your journey
During the works, ICEs between Hanover and Berlin run 60 to 80 minutes longer depending on the train, which can break a connection. If you’re changing to another train in Berlin or Hanover, or have booked a room for arrival, re-check your timings. For an overnight trip to Berlin, our guide to European Sleeper’s Paris-Berlin night train is a useful alternative to compare.
7. What other guides don’t tell you
Mainstream summaries often mix official announcements, plans and expired offers. Here are six points checked on 17 October 2026, each with its source and date of consultation.
- The €6.99 Super Saver fare isn’t a confirmed December fare. The bahn.de offer page shows a booking window from 9 May to 13 September 2026; an extension to 13 December is only mentioned by a deal site. bahn.de, Super Sparpreis Last Minute (checked 17 October 2026).
- Stuttgart 21 doesn’t open in December 2026. According to ZDFheute, citing media reports, the opening has been pushed back to the end of 2031. ZDFheute, Stuttgart 21 (checked 17 October 2026).
- The Frecciarossa Munich-Milan and Rome isn’t a service yet. DB talks about a start from summer 2027, with one pair of trains a day, subject to approval of the rolling stock. Guides that give a firm date go further than the source. int.bahn.de, new timetable (checked 17 October 2026).
- The Swiss connections are a project, not a decision. The draft Swiss 2027 timetable, with three TGVs each way between Lausanne or Geneva and Paris from April 2027, went to consultation from 22 May to 9 June 2026. No final publication had been found on 17 October 2026. SRF (checked 17 October 2026).
- The rise in family travel isn’t in the press release. Evelyn Palla, quoted by ZDFheute, says DB welcomed « 100,000 more families than the year before »; that figure doesn’t appear in the central press release of 13 October 2026. ZDFheute, family ticket (checked 17 October 2026).
- Punctuality is slipping. Operational punctuality on long-distance trains was 52.4% in September 2026, against 55.3% in September 2025. According to ZDFheute, Evelyn Palla doesn’t expect a « quick jump » in punctuality. DB, punctuality figures (checked 17 October 2026).
Practical info before you book
If your next stop is a village or valley with poor transport links, a car hired at the station saves one more connection. Compare dates and pick-up points before you book.
Price depends on date and durationIf your plan doesn’t cover Germany or Switzerland, an eSIM avoids data roaming charges from the moment you land. Check your operator’s coverage before you leave.
Plans by country or regionFrequently asked questions
When does the new Deutsche Bahn timetable take effect?
The 2026/2027 timetable takes effect on Sunday 13 December 2026. Tickets have been on sale since Wednesday 14 October 2026, on bahn.de, in the DB Navigator app and at ticket counters. The central Deutsche Bahn press release of 13 October 2026 confirms this, and the date applies to the whole long-distance network.
Does the €99.99 family ticket work for 13 December?
No. The family ticket is a permanent offer, separate from the timetable. It goes on sale from 26 October 2026 and is valid from 1 November 2026. It covers long-distance trains in Germany, in second class, for up to five people, seat reservation included, and at least one child must be travelling.
Who counts as a child on the permanent family ticket?
The bahn.de family ticket page, checked on 17 October 2026, says « up to 2 adults and 3 children », without saying which offer it refers to or from what age someone counts as a child. The English DB page on the new timetable says that at least one child must be travelling and that no more than two travellers may be 15 or older. The press reports that a child is 14 or under, but no official page confirms that age limit: check it on bahn.de before you buy.
Does the family ticket work outside Germany?
The release says « deutschlandweit » (across Germany) and refers to long-distance travel. It doesn’t describe any journey outside Germany, and regional trains are not included.
Is the €6.99 Super Saver fare still available?
The bahn.de Last Minute offer page shows bookings from 9 May to 13 September 2026. A deal site reports an extension to 13 December 2026, but there’s no official confirmation. Check the offer in DB Navigator on the day you buy before you rely on it.
How many trains run between Stuttgart and Paris from December 2026?
Twelve trains a day from 13 December 2026, six each way, two more than before. The central DB release and the int.bahn.de page confirm it, with one extra evening connection a day. The trip uses Stuttgart’s current station: according to media reports, the new Stuttgart 21 station isn’t expected to open before the end of 2031.
Do long-distance fares go up with the new timetable?
No. Deutsche Bahn announces stable fares for the timetable change, with the Flexible fare and the BahnCard 25, 50 and 100 unchanged. According to the press, this freeze runs for one year from 1 May 2026, so it expires around May 2027, in the middle of the 2026/2027 timetable. It only applies to long-distance (Fernverkehr) fares.
Does the Frecciarossa Munich-Milan run yet?
Not yet. Service is planned to start gradually from summer 2027, with one pair of trains a day, subject to vehicle approval. The date isn’t firm, so it may still move. Check the status on int.bahn.de before you plan a trip to Italy.
Is Deutsche Bahn punctuality improving?
Not in the short term. Operational punctuality on long-distance trains was 52.4% in September 2026, against 55.3% in September 2025, according to the DB punctuality page. Evelyn Palla, quoted by ZDFheute, doesn’t expect quick progress, so build more time into your connections.
Sources
- Deutsche Bahn, central press release: 2026/2027 timetable, fares, family ticket, 13 October 2026
- Deutsche Bahn, Hamburg regional press release: Hamburg-Munich, Amsterdam and Copenhagen connections, Spandau works
- Deutsche Bahn, int.bahn.de: sales dates, Stuttgart-Paris, Frecciarossa subject to approval, family ticket rules
- bahn.de, family ticket: price, people included, offer status
- ÖBB, Fahrplan 2027: Freilassing-Rosenheim closure from 8 February to 9 July 2027
- bahn.de, Super Sparpreis Last Minute: booking window
- Deutsche Bahn, punctuality figures: punctuality for September 2026
- vzbv, study on Super Sparpreis fares: fares actually available, updated 4 August 2026
- ZDFheute, permanent family ticket: statements by Evelyn Palla
- ZDFheute, Stuttgart 21: opening reported for the end of 2031
- SRF: federal consultation on the Swiss 2027 timetable draft
- Leinetal24: list of ICEs affected by the Hanover-Berlin works, citing DB
- Voyages d’Affaires: Munich-Paris and Stuttgart-Paris connections, 13 October 2026
Information checked on 17 October 2026. Detailed timetables and the terms of the permanent family ticket should be re-checked on bahn.de when you book.
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