Germany’s rail regulator opens long‑distance tracks to Italo, letting the MSC‑backed Italian operator launch Siemens‑supplied services from 2028
Executive summary: Germany’s Federal Network Agency set a cap on Deutsche Bahn’s long‑distance train services to make room for rivals, enabling Italo to announce plans to operate on German rails from 2028 using Siemens‑built trains. The move breaks Deutsche Bahn’s quasi‑monopoly on lucrative long‑distance routes, potentially lowering fares and expanding choice for passengers while giving a major Italian rail operator its first foothold outside Italy.
Who is involved: German Federal Network Agency (regulator), Deutsche Bahn (incumbent), Italo (MSC‑backed operator), Siemens (train builder), Mediterranean Shipping Company (parent of Italo).
Likely next: Italo will begin trial runs on selected German corridors in early 2028, Siemens will deliver the first train sets by late 2027, and the regulator will review the capacity cap later in 2026 to adjust quotas as needed.
The German Federal Network Agency has imposed a ceiling on Deutsche Bahn’s long‑distance train paths to create space for competitors, a move that clears the way for Italo to enter the German market starting in 2028. Italo, controlled by Mediterranean Shipping Company, intends to use trains built by Siemens for the cross‑border service. The decision reflects Germany’s broader push to increase competition on its rail network in line with EU open‑access rules.
Timeline
- — Berlino apre ai treni Italo: dal 2028 sui binari tedeschi (la Repubblica — Economia)
- — Primo sì della Germania all’ingresso di Italo sul mercato tedesco (Il Sole 24 Ore — Economia)
- — Deutsche Bahn muss Italo, Flixtrain und Co. im Fernverkehr mehr Platz schaffen (Der Spiegel — Wirtschaft)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Italo plans to begin trial runs on the Munich‑Berlin route in March 2028, using Siemens‑built ETR 610 trainsets.
- Siemens will deliver the first four trainsets to Italo by December 2027 for certification.
- The German Federal Network Agency will review the cap on Deutsche Bahn’s long‑distance services by September 2026, potentially adjusting the quota.
- MSC intends to allocate an additional €200 million to Italo’s international expansion fund by mid‑2027.
Sectors affected
- long‑distance passenger rail
- rail rolling‑stock manufacturing (Siemens)
- rail infrastructure management (Deutsche Bahn network)
Regulatory implications
- German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) to enforce a maximum number of Deutsche Bahn long‑distance paths, increasing open‑access slots for competitors
- EU Regulation 2016/2320 on rail market access may be invoked to ensure non‑discriminatory timetable allocation
- Potential state‑aid review by the European Commission if MSC’s financial backing is deemed to confer an unfair advantage
Historical parallels
- 2008 EU Fourth Railway Package liberalization that opened German long‑distance tracks to new entrants
- 2015 launch of Trenitalia’s Thello service between Paris and Venice, marking the first major Italian operator in France
- 2020 inception of Italo’s Zurich‑Milan service, its first cross‑border route
Key entities
Sources
- Berlino apre ai treni Italo: dal 2028 sui binari tedeschi — la Repubblica — Economia
- Primo sì della Germania all’ingresso di Italo sul mercato tedesco — Il Sole 24 Ore — Economia
- Deutsche Bahn muss Italo, Flixtrain und Co. im Fernverkehr mehr Platz schaffen — Der Spiegel — Wirtschaft