Deutsche Bahn (DB) and SNCF have decided to extend their successful cooperation in international high speed rail traffic until 2020. To this end, an agreement in principle was signed on 23 September in Berlin during Innotrans – the world’s largest railway trade fair – by DB President Dr Rüdiger Grube and SNCF President Guillaume Pepy. The signing also took place in the presence of the transport ministers from both countries: Alexander Dobrindt for Germany and Alain Vidalies for France.

On behalf of DB, Dr Rüdiger Grube stated that: “High speed rail traffic between France and Germany – and thereby Alleo our joint subsidiary – constitute a remarkable success story. With over 10 million international passengers since the launch in June 2007, the ICE and TGV have become the backbone of international traffic by rail between the two countries.” The ICE and TGV have covered an impressive distance between France and Germany since June 2007. As a comparison, they have travelled 80 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon…

Guillaume Pepy, President of SNCF, highlighted the achievement: “This partnership, led by Franco-German train operating teams, is the driving force behind the sharp increase in the number of passengers, with an annual growth rate of 7%. By extending from 20 to 24 the number of ICE and TGV services on our jointly-operated high speed lines, we will be able to further increase the flow of rail traffic between France and Germany in the interest of passengers and the environment.”

(Source: Joint Press Release, Deutsche Bahn, SNCF)