Frecciarossa Trains Could Link Italy and Munich in 2027
Trenitalia has begun testing Frecciarossa trains in Germany and Austria ahead of planned direct services linking Munich with Milan and Rome. The first passenger trains are targeted for summer 2027, but the launch still depends on successful international approval of the new trains. If cleared, the project will create direct Italy–Germany services running through Austria, without requiring passengers to change trains along the way.
What Is Planned for the New Frecciarossa Links
- Routes: Milan–Munich and Rome–Munich.
- Operator: Trenitalia, part of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) Group, working with Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB.
- Launch: Summer 2027, subject to successful approval.
- Initial offer: Four connections across the two routes.
- Milan journey: Around 6 hours 30 minutes via Brescia, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano and Innsbruck.
- Rome journey: Around 8 hours 30 minutes via Florence, Bologna, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano and Innsbruck.
- Timetable: Exact departure times and operating days have not yet been announced.
The FS Group has not yet announced when tickets will go on sale, how much they will cost or the exact departure times. The useful part for now is the launch window: summer 2027, subject to final approval. Travellers considering Italy–Germany trips for that period can keep the new routes in mind, but should wait for the confirmed timetable before booking tight connections or non-refundable onward travel.
The strongest advantage will be avoiding a change of train on longer cross-border journeys. A single service could make it easier to combine Munich with northern Italy, the Austrian Alps or a longer trip ending in Rome. It also gives rail travellers another alternative to flying on routes where airport transfers, security and baggage rules can eat into the time saved by a shorter flight.
The 2027 launch would arrive before the Brenner Base Tunnel opens, with FS saying the tunnel will eventually shorten these journeys by around an hour. The tunnel is currently expected to enter service in 2032. Separately, from December 2028 FS plans ten Italy–Germany connections, including Milan–Berlin, Naples–Munich and Naples–Berlin alongside the initial routes.