Italian State Railway to Challenge Deutsche Bahn's Long-Distance Market Monopoly in Germany

November 1, 2025 9:59am

Italy's Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane plans to launch long-distance rail services in Germany, challenging Deutsche Bahn’s 95% market dominance.

Key details

• Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane plans to enter German long-distance rail market with about 50 trains.
• Deutsche Bahn currently controls around 95% of the long-distance rail sector in Germany.
• FS is already active in German regional rail through its subsidiary Netinera.
• Flix is another competitor focusing on major routes like Berlin-Hamburg and Berlin-North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS), Italy's state railway, is planning to enter the German long-distance rail market, potentially ending Deutsche Bahn's (DB) near-monopoly in the sector. Currently, DB holds approximately 95% of the market share in German long-distance rail, but FS aims to field around 50 trains for this profitable segment. FS has already established a presence in German regional rail through its subsidiary Netinera, which operates companies such as the Ostdeutsche Eisenbahngesellschaft (Odeg) and Metronom. The entry of FS would introduce significant competition to DB's dominance, alongside existing operators like Flix, which focuses on high-demand routes including Berlin to Hamburg and Berlin to North Rhine-Westphalia. The move reflects broader shifts in Germany's rail transport industry as the market opens to new providers.

This article was translated and synthesized from German sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.