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They are two of Europe's best cities with millions of tourists visiting each every year. Now a new high-speed direct train service between them is scheduled to launch in 2026. This project, a collaboration between French (SNCF) and German (Deutsche Bahn) rail operators, will provide a faster, more sustainable alternative to air travel, increasing the number of direct daily connections to five and utilizing both TGV and ICE trains. The new service is made possible by infrastructure upgrades, including the opening of a new train station.

The project is part of a drive to strengthen European rail links while reducing carbon footprints. European rail links continue to expand and 2026 will see the arrival of a new direct train line between these two ever popular cities with British tourists. This project, driven by a desire to accelerate the transition to more environmentally-friendly transport, is in line with the European trend to favor rail over air travel for medium distances.

With this future direct line, travel time will be considerably reduced, making this link more attractive to tourists and business travellers alike. This new announcement is part of the collaboration between SNCF and Deutsche Bahn,the German railway company.

After the success of the Paris to Berlin improved route last year, now it's now Munich's turn to be honoured. The new service between the French capital and the beuatiful Bavarian city of Munich is expected to launch towards the end of next year.

The initiative is part of a wider drive to strengthen connections between major European cities, with a much lower carbon footprint than air transport. Many companies are investing in high speed rail seeking to offer a competitive alternative to air travel, particularly for journeys of less than 1,000 kilometres. (620 miles). The distance between Paris and Munich is 842km (523 miles)

The new service will significantly increase the frequency of direct connections, with plans for five fast, direct trains per day.

Both TGV and ICE trains are expected to operate on the route, offering high-speed, modern travel. The new service is dependent on the completion of infrastructure upgrades, particularly the new station in Stuttgart and the rest of the high-speed line to Ulm.

Around 2.7 million Brits visit Paris every year, part of 48 million tourists that flock annually to the French capital. And while there arent any figures on the number of Brits who visit Munich each year Britain ts consistently listed among the top international countries for visitors to Oktoberfest, the city's annual beer festival from mid September through to October.

The cost for the new direct train service from Paris to Munich is not yet published, but current prices for existing routes range from approximately £15.88 for the cheapest tickets booked in advance to £122 for last-minute tickets. The existing overnight service has tickets starting from €29.90 (£26).

Most current services require one or more change, typically in a German city like Stuttgart or Mannheim, so the new service will shave time of the journey.

The current average train journey time between Paris and Munich is approximately six to seven hours. The new direct high-speed train service between Paris and Munich, launching in 2026, is expected to take 4 hours and 40 minutes

So see you in 2026 for a direct trip from Paris to Munich!