Overview
- Deutsche Bahn disclosed Friday that it had quietly removed the through ICE between Berlin and Paris at the end of July because of faults in Alstom‑supplied ERTMS receivers that are needed for cross‑border operation.
- Passengers with existing bookings were notified by DB Navigator and email and are being routed on journeys that require a timed transfer in Frankfurt am Main or Mannheim.
- DB has removed direct Berlin–Paris services from bahn.de and the DB Navigator through the December 15 timetable change as a precaution, and the company has not given a date for resuming through trains.
- Alstom says it is working intensively to fix the ERTMS equipment and Deutsche Bahn has publicly pressed the manufacturer for an immediate repair, but neither side has provided a firm timeline.
- The outage hits a well‑booked route that averaged about 80 percent occupancy and was being considered for a second daily pair from 2028, so the suspension risks disrupting DB’s cross‑border growth plans and highlights how ERTMS faults can stop international services until hardware or software fixes are validated.