Italy’s state-owned passenger rail operator Trenitalia is preparing to enter the German market with its own high-speed trains, aiming to compete directly with Deutsche Bahn. According to The Pioneer, Trenitalia’s German subsidiary Netinera plans to purchase up to 14 long-distance high-speed trains, with the first units expected to be delivered no later than December 11, 2027.

For decades, Germany’s rail network has been dominated by Deutsche Bahn, whose ICE trains currently control around 95% of the market. The only notable competitor so far, FlixTrain, operates a limited number of routes, such as Berlin–Hamburg. Trenitalia’s entry could shift the balance of power in a sector long considered closed to meaningful competition.

“We are exploring opportunities to expand our business in Germany, including entering the profitable high-speed train sector,” said Stefano Donnarumma, CEO of the Italian rail holding Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS), which owns Trenitalia. The group already has a foothold in the German market through the East German Railway Company (ODEG), part of the FS network.

Experts warn of infrastructure limits

While the arrival of a new player could boost competition and service quality, experts caution against expecting quick results. Germany’s rail infrastructure is already under heavy strain, with frequent delays and cancellations across the network.

“Germany’s most profitable routes are already heavily congested,” explained Christian Böttger, a rail expert and professor at the Berlin School of Economics and Technology, in an interview with Handelsblatt. He believes that only a significant expansion of the national rail network can truly improve the situation for passengers and operators alike.

If Trenitalia succeeds in entering the market, it would mark a major milestone for European rail liberalization—introducing Italy’s renowned Frecciarossa high-speed trains to one of the continent’s most competitive transportation markets.