New international routes for Ukrainians: new trains will run between Germany and Poland

From December 2025, cross-border connections between Germany and Poland will increase by 54% – instead of 11 direct trains, there will be 17. Find out more about the planned changes to rail connections between the two countries and how Ukrainians will benefit from them

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German carrier Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Polish operator PKP Intercity (PKP IC) have announced that the number of direct trains between Poland and Germany will increase from 11 to 17. This will mean a 54% increase in long-distance cross-border connections and significant time savings for travellers. For detailed information on the changes, please see the article.

What direct trains currently run between Germany and Poland?

Currently, there are 11 direct trains between Germany and Poland, the most popular of which is the Chopin, which runs between Munich and Warsaw. Over the past year, carriers have faced growing demand and numerous requests for routes to southern Poland. Therefore, in order to improve service, Deutsche Bahn (DB) and PKP Intercity (PKP IC) have decided to launch additional trains from 14 December 2025 (before the Christmas holidays, the need for high-quality connections increases significantly). The most famous Chopin will also receive additional carriages at that time.

For information on how to return a train ticket online and at the ticket office, visit the Visit Ukraine portal.

What changes are expected in rail transport between Germany and Poland?

1. From December 2025, direct trains will run twice a day on the Leipzig – Wrocław – Kraków – Przemyśl route.

2. Also, at the end of 2025, two night trains will start operating on the following routes:

– Berlin – Wrocław – Kraków – Przemyśl (Eurucity);

– Berlin – Łódź – Warsaw – Chełm

How to get from Warsaw to Kyiv by train, we discussed in our previous article.

3. For the first time, a connection between Leipzig and southern Poland will be organised.

4. Travellers from Munich, Nuremberg and Frankfurt am Main will save about two hours thanks to synchronised connections in Leipzig, and tourists from Chemnitz and Dresden will save time thanks to intermediate stops in northern Saxony.

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What advantages will the new rail connection have for Ukrainians?

The new trains running from Germany to Poland will have destinations in Chełm and Przemyśl, which are as close as possible to the Ukrainian border. According to the Centre for Economic Strategy, there are more than 5 million Ukrainians abroad, who usually consider Christmas the ideal time to visit their homeland. At the same time, many tourists want to spend the New Year holidays in Paris, Prague, Vienna and other European cities, which have become much easier to travel to.

Don't forget about tourist interest. Convenient transfers are a big advantage for travellers who want to visit Ukraine or travel to European countries.

Remember that you need to buy tickets for your trip in advance — tourists are already starting to book routes for New Year's trips.

Reminder! To make your trip as comfortable as possible, take care of travel insurance. A policy is not a formal requirement, but a guarantee that you will receive qualified medical care and save your own money.

Photo: Freepik

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