FlixTrain: ‘We can attract millions of new riders’

FlixTrain: ‘We can attract millions of new riders’ Open access inter-city operator FlixTrain is reviving its prospect of expanding outside Germany in its quest to attract ‘millions of new passengers to rail’, as André Schwämmlein, CEO of parent company Flix Group, explains to Benjámin Zelki. Two years have passed since Railway Gazette International interviewed FlixTrain ahead of the previous InnoTrans. How could you summarise the past two years for FlixTrain, open-access operators and for European rail in general? We have significantly increased our offer in the past two years and will continue to do so in 2026 and 2027. Our biggest milestone was the purchase of 65 Talgo 230 push-pull trainsets and the lease of 65 Siemens Vectron locomotives in May 2025. This was the biggest investment in our company’s history. We will showcase the first car from our new fleet at this year’s InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin in September. What is the five year development strategy for the FlixTrain business? The incoming trains mean that we will double the size of our fleet in the next two years with more modern vehicles that will complement our existing offer. The goal is to increase frequency on our core routes significantly, and then, from 2028, we will start deploying the Talgo trains to new destinations. By that point, we will be able to offer FlixTrain services to people from München, our home city. The condition of the German network is a much-discussed topic. What can you tell us about the scale of this issue for FlixTrain, how does it affect daily operations, and is there anything FlixTrain can offer in this regard that distinguishes it from Deutsche Bahn? A lot of money is being invested in infrastructure in Germany right now, and I am very confident that the issues all operators are facing now will be much less present in the coming years. The application of digitalisation and available technology for the infrastructure should also be a priority, to enable a more efficient usage of the existing capacity. What can you tell about the company’s growth plan? Which are the key markets you are looking at? Can you reveal any more new destinations arising from the arrival of the new fleet? Our focus is on Germany now, but we have always seen FlixTrain as an international product as the market potential for rail in Europe is even bigger than for long-distance buses. Just like with FlixBus, we will establish a strong foundation for our business in our home market and approach international expansion from there. What is FlixTrain’s view of Italo’s planned market entry? Do you expect any changes to FlixTrain ridership? How do you think it will shape the market, assuming the Italian operator launches successfully in Germany? More competition will not change our ambitious plans. Italo’s product is very similar to Deutsche Bahn’s ICE services, while our approach is to distinguish ourselves from the competition with an innovative product and features like guaranteed seats free of charge and a more affordable pricing model. We want to bring millions of new passengers into the market that have never used trains before. The goal must be to increase the market itself, and for this you need different products with different unique selling points. Does the company have plans to bid for public service obligation contracts, driven by the implementation of the EU’s Fourth Railway Package? Our core strengths are in the field of open access services, where we win with an innovative product. We are convinced that fixing market conditions to attract more long-distance open access services is a successful model that member states should pursue first prior to tendering PSOs. Currently FlixTrain sees no need to bid in PSO tenders. What is your outlook for the German and European rail markets for the next five years? Do you expect the landscape of open access operators to grow further? Do you expect administrative burdens and track access charges to ease? The market potential for European rail is immense, and we will leverage that with FlixTrain. Particularly, I see a lot of potential in the EU Rail Capacity regulation that aims to ease, harmonise and digitalise track access processes by 2031. How can you compare coach and rail operations? What are the challenges and benefits of each? Long-distance buses and trains are both essential for the future of mobility, as they are sustainable public modes of transport. Buses are particularly appealing for people in rural areas and for trips ranging from 200 to 300 km, while trains provide a sustainable and fast way to connect conurbations over longer distances. This article first appeared in the September 2026 issue of Railway Gazette International See also Italo orders Velaro high speed trains for German open access operations Interview: FlixTrain eyes ‘enormous potential’ in Europe’s rail market Subscribe to gain access to all news Already have a subscription? Log in. Choose your subscription Considering a corporate subscription? Contact us to find out more.