Direct Paris-Berlin train suspended due to technical faults

The direct high-speed train service connecting Paris and Berlin has been suspended due to persistent technical problems, forcing passengers to endure inconvenient transfers. Deutsche Bahn, the German national railway company, announced the suspension, citing issues with the European Train Control System (ETCS) supplied by the French company Alstom.

According to a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson, the direct ICE (Intercity-Express) line between Berlin, Frankfurt, and Paris is currently unavailable. The company has demanded that Alstom "correct these errors without delay." Alstom, when contacted by AFP, had not yet responded.

These technical failures are specifically linked to the ETCS, a critical system required for the ICE trains operating on the direct Berlin-Paris route. While the direct service is halted, Deutsche Bahn clarified that travel to and from Berlin, Halle, and Erfurt remains possible, but will require passengers to change trains in Frankfurt or Mannheim.

One affected traveler, 25-year-old student Nina Cardot, who had booked a direct Paris-Berlin ticket for August 13, received notification from SNCF Voyageurs in late July that her train could no longer reach Berlin Südkreuz. She will now have to make a connection in Frankfurt. Cardot expressed frustration, noting that Deutsche Bahn trains are "often not on time," raising concerns about missing subsequent connections.

The suspension highlights ongoing challenges with cross-border rail infrastructure and the reliability of critical systems. Passengers are now facing longer travel times and the uncertainty of making connections, impacting the convenience and predictability of this popular international route.