FlixTrain is preparing to launch direct services in the Netherlands, according to Flix chief executive André Schwämmlein, RailTech reports. Flixtrain is currently active in Germany.

The move marks a significant step for the German company as it seeks to compete with state operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) by offering cheaper cross-border rail connections.

The company, recognised for its bright green trains, is accelerating its European expansion after raising 2.4 billion euros from investors earlier this year. To support this growth, FlixTrain has ordered 65 new long-distance Talgo carriages and Siemens locomotives, capable of speeds up to 230 km/h. 

Schwämmlein confirmed this week that the Netherlands will be among the countries served by the new fleet, describing the development as an important milestone in FlixTrain’s European rollout.

The announcement follows several years of preparation. In January 2025, Flix introduced its first indirect cross-border services into the Netherlands via Arnhem, Venlo, and Enschede. The company is now planning full domestic operations, promising more frequent services and lower ticket prices to rival NS.

Until now, FlixTrain’s Dutch presence has been limited to cross-border routes linking border towns with German destinations through partner operators. These journeys require passengers to transfer at stations such as Duisburg or Düsseldorf to continue on FlixTrain services. 

The company’s next objective is to operate direct routes such as Oberhausen–Rotterdam, passing through Arnhem, Utrecht, and Amsterdam.

Flix had previously sought approval from the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) and ProRail to begin services in 2024, but construction works and congestion on key rail sections made the proposed route unviable. Schwämmlein said that trains would have faced frequent delays due to priority being given to NS intercity services, which would have resulted in a poor product for passengers.

The company’s expansion strategy is based on its low-cost business model. Schwämmlein noted that FlixTrain is considerably cheaper than other providers, citing routes such as Berlin–Frankfurt where the operator runs several trains daily at regular intervals. He believes the model, already proven in long-distance bus travel, could foster greater competition in Europe’s rail sector if national barriers are reduced.

He argued that European countries continue to compete with each other, when instead European companies should be the ones competing. If this approach succeeds, he said, people would be able to travel more easily throughout the heart of Europe.

FlixTrain’s plans now depend on securing infrastructure capacity and regulatory approval. With indirect routes already in operation and a new fleet under development, the company is positioning itself to offer affordable, direct train services in the Netherlands and across Europe.

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