Overview

• Flix plans to order up to 65 new high-speed trains for about €2.4 billion, a move it says would create Europe’s largest private fleet.
• The company aims to raise frequencies and add German cities despite widespread construction and congestion, noting DB runs roughly 400 long-distance trains.
• Deutsche Bahn holds about 95 percent of Germany’s long-distance rail market, which experts say makes entry difficult for challengers.
• CEO André Schwämmlein alleges DB gains slightly shorter scheduled times on some routes and notes slots are allocated by DB InfraGo, while DB says it welcomes competition.
• Flix pledges prices consistently below DB’s and has introduced fees for additional luggage, as the parent company reported a roughly €66 million loss in 2023.