New Direct Train Service Links Amsterdam, Bremen, and Hamburg
A new direct high-speed train service will link Amsterdam with Bremen and Hamburg – although there is one major catch.
New Amsterdam–Hamburg train service
Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway company, will launch a new direct train service between Amsterdam and Hamburg on October 2.
Initially, from October 2 until December 12, the train will only serve Hamburg-Harburg and Hamburg-Bergedorf in the northern German city.
However, starting December 13, the service will use Hamburg Hbf, the city’s main railway station.
The new train service will also call at Bremen Hbf from December 13 onward, giving Bremen a direct rail connection with the Dutch capital as well.
Deutsche Bahn’s ICE 3 neo trains will operate the new connection between Amsterdam and Hamburg.
ICE high-speed train at Amsterdam Central Station. ©AndyBTravels
About the new train connection
There is one major catch when it comes to the new Amsterdam–Bremen–Hamburg train service: it is only temporary.
This new service is actually the Amsterdam–Berlin high-speed train being rerouted via Hamburg.
Deutsche Bahn is forced to divert the service through Hamburg because it could not find any available train paths on its original route between Hannover and Berlin due to major trackwork taking place along this section of the line.
Instead of the usual frequency of one train every two hours between Amsterdam and Berlin, half of the trains will now take the roundabout route via Hamburg, while the other half will follow the normal route but terminate in Hannover.
For travelers between Amsterdam and Berlin, this temporary new route is a drawback, as the journey via Hamburg will take at least one hour longer.
Alternatively, travelers can take the Amsterdam–Hannover ICE and make a connection there onto a train to Berlin.
This means that, for at least 14 months, the frequency of direct Amsterdam–Berlin trains will be halved.
Departure board showing the 10:00 train from Amsterdam to Berlin. ©AndyBTravels
Connections in Hamburg
Although travelers between the Netherlands and Berlin will be out of luck, the new train connection to Hamburg is good news for those traveling there or onward to Scandinavia.
Hamburg is an ideal connection point for onward travel to Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, for example by taking the EuroCity train to Copenhagen.
For British travelers, this also opens up some great new travel options to Scandinavia, albeit temporarily.
Simply take the Eurostar train to Amsterdam – or one of the ferries between the UK and the Netherlands – continue on to Hamburg, and catch an onward train to Denmark there.
Interestingly, open-access operator GoVolta operated direct Amsterdam–Hamburg trains for two months, but eventually axed the service after deciding to go all-in on its route connecting the Dutch capital with Berlin.
The demand for a train connection between the Netherlands and Hamburg is clearly there – if only an operator would reliably run a reliable, daily connection year-round!
A train is set to depart from Hamburg Hbf to Copenhagen. ©AndyBTravels
Book Amsterdam–Hamburg tickets online
Search for the best international train connection and book your tickets to Hamburg or any other destination in Germany with NS International, the international rail arm of NS (Dutch Railways).
Conclusion
Starting in October, a new direct train service will connect Amsterdam with Hamburg.
Unfortunately, this is only a temporary service, as the train is actually the Amsterdam–Berlin ICE high-speed service being rerouted via Hamburg for 14 months until December 2027 due to trackwork on its original route via Hannover.
Let’s hope this temporary service shows Deutsche Bahn that there is demand for a proper Amsterdam–Hamburg connection!
