Poland And Germany Strengthen Ties With Launch Of Fast Direct EuroCity Service Between Leipzig, Wrocław And Kraków Driving Regional Growth

Published on December 15, 2025

Long-distance rail transport between Germany and Poland is set for significant growth with the introduction of the 2026 timetable, which will see a 50% increase in EuroCity connections between the two nations. Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Polish operator PKP Intercity (PKP IC) are launching a new direct rail line between Leipzig, Wrocław, and Kraków, featuring four daily trains, two of which will continue on to Przemyśl, located near the Polish-Ukrainian border.

This new service marks the first time Leipzig and southern Poland will be directly connected by EuroCity trains without requiring any transfers, enhancing accessibility and convenience for travelers. The new line will operate two trains per day in each direction, with one of them extending to Przemyśl, which provides important links to Ukraine, including the capital, Kiev.

Journey times are expected to be competitive, with trains reaching Wrocław in approximately three and a half hours and Kraków in around seven hours. This makes the new route a sustainable and appealing alternative to road and air transport, especially for those seeking eco-friendly travel options. The expansion will bring the total number of daily EuroCity trains between Germany and Poland to 34, representing a notable growth in cross-border rail connectivity.

Intermediate cities along the route also stand to benefit from the new service. In addition to Leipzig, the new line will serve several towns including Riesa, Hoyerswerda, Elsterwerda, and Ruhland. These stops offer direct connections to the broader regional transportation network, which will also benefit cities like Chemnitz, Dresden, Görlitz, Cottbus, and Berlin, including the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The synchronized connections will provide better accessibility and more seamless travel options for passengers in these areas.

From an economic, political, and strategic perspective, the new rail connections are highly significant. They respond to the growing demand for international travel between Germany and Poland, which has been steadily increasing in recent years. The expansion offers direct access to strong economic regions in southern Poland, including Wrocław and Kraków, as well as to the strategically important Ukrainian border. The new connections are expected to contribute positively to both tourism and business exchanges, and further strengthen political and economic ties between the neighboring countries.

Officials have underscored the broader importance of the new service. According to a DB Management Board member, the demand for cross-border train travel is on the rise, and the expansion is designed to meet this demand while improving access to major Polish cities. PKP Intercity’s CEO also pointed out that the growing number of passengers traveling from Poland to Germany has prompted the expansion, which includes not only more frequent trains to Berlin but also new routes to other German cities like Leipzig.

The growth of rail travel between the two countries has been made possible by significant investments in infrastructure. The German government has committed over 1.1 billion EUR in cross-border railway infrastructure, underscoring the importance of these investments in fostering strong bilateral ties and creating sustainable transportation options. The improved rail connectivity also has a strategic role to play, especially in light of the current security situation in Europe, adding a layer of importance to the cross-border rail network beyond its cultural and economic contributions.

The trains on the new route will be operated using modernized EuroCity carriages from PKP Intercity, offering more than 300 seats per train. Passengers can choose from multiple daily departures, with the first train leaving Leipzig Hauptbahnhof at 10:55 AM and the second at 2:55 PM. Trains will arrive in Kraków or Przemyśl at 1:04 PM and 5:04 PM, respectively.

For passengers traveling between Germany and Poland, tickets will be available up to six months in advance, with prices starting at 18.99 EUR under the Super Sparpreis Europa offer. A seat reservation, which is mandatory on the international segment of the journey, is included free of charge with the ticket purchase.

This new rail connection will also benefit travelers from cities such as Munich, Nuremberg, Erfurt, and Frankfurt, as the optimized connections in Leipzig will reduce travel times to Wrocław by approximately two hours. These improvements in travel efficiency, combined with the environmentally friendly nature of rail transport, make the expanded EuroCity network between Germany and Poland an attractive and forward-looking option for cross-border travelers.