Berlin-Wrocław cultural train: connection ends, successor uncertain!

Berlin-Wrocław cultural train: connection ends, successor uncertain!

The cultural train between Berlin and Wrocław (Breslau) is about to end: According to announcements from the Berlin Transport Administration and the Brandenburg Ministry of Transport, the connection will be discontinued on December 28, 2025. This decision is rooted in the economic unviability of the route and in the planned savings in train connections.

Until recently, the costs for the cultural train were borne jointly by the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg. The costs were divided regardless of the actual kilometers driven. In 2022 the route changed and the train now runs via Weißwasser in Upper Lusatia. The Free State of Saxony also supported the financing via the local rail transport association ZVON.

Ridership and usage

Remarkable are the falling passenger numbers: While an average of 420 passengers per weekend used the culture train in 2019, in 2022 there were only around 330. From 2024 onwards, the occupancy rate even fell to below 50 percent, which supports the economic argument for discontinuing the connection. In addition, the timetable was based heavily on leisure traffic, with trips usually only taking place on Fridays to Sundays. During the week, trains were often used to capacity below average, which presented additional challenges for profitability.

The cultural train, which has primarily promoted cultural events since its introduction in 2016 and had a connecting effect between the two cities, was primarily used by German passengers - around 90 percent of the passengers came from Berlin and Brandenburg. Tickets for the Cultural Train were recognized as day tickets on buses and trams in Wrocław.

Future of the train connection

However, the future of the connection between Berlin and Wrocław remains uncertain. There are considerations for a follow-up project in the form of direct connections, but these have not yet been officially confirmed. Four daily direct connections between the two cities are to be introduced from December 2025.

With the end of the cultural train, an era of cultural interaction between Berlin and Wroclaw comes to an end. The train was not just a means of transport; it was also a symbol of the connection between different cultures and languages, as the artists who performed on the train came from different countries of origin and spoke different native languages. Hopes for a new, direct connection remain, but the challenges associated with the previous route remain present.

While the cultural train ends with this, the question of the attractiveness and use of train connections in the German-Polish region remains exciting, especially with regard to the intended targeted direct connections.