GoVolta train from Amsterdam to Berlin launches today, Hamburg connection tomorrow

From today, the new Dutch train company GoVolta is operating between Amsterdam and Berlin. The GoVolta train between Amsterdam and Hamburg launches on Friday. From the end of this month, the international train will run three times a week between Amsterdam and the two German cities.

The Dutch rail company NS lost its exclusive rights for international destinations in 2023. Since then, other companies have been allowed to operate international trains on routes also served by NS. GoVolta is the first train company to compete with NS and the Deutsche Bahn during the day.

The Amsterdam to Berlin train will also stop in Amersfoort, Deventer, Hengelo, Bad Bentheim, Osnabrück, and Hanover. The train runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

The Amsterdam to Hamburg grain will stop in Amersfoort, Deventer, Hengelo, Bad Bentheim, and Bremen, and operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The average GoVolta train ticket between Amsterdam and Berlin will cost around 30 euros, Maarten Bastian, co-founder of the company, previously said. The company is also selling the first 100 tickets per departure for €10 each, making the GoVolta substantially cheaper than Deutsche Bahn or NS. The national rail companies’ fares rarely fall below 30 euros.

GoVolta also plans to launch a daily train between Amsterdam and Paris at the end of this year.

Rail operator ProRail said it welcomes the new transporter on its tracks, calling GoVolta’s arrival an important step toward making international train traffic more attractive. “The more trains travel internationally, the greater the supply for travelers. This means that traveling by train becomes more attractive,” Jeroen Wesdorp of ProRail said. “The more attractive connections there are, the easier the switch from car and plane to train becomes - essential for the climate as well as the accessibility of Europe.”