Starting April 17th, the daily rail connection between Munich and the Romagna Riviera will feature two key innovations aimed at strengthening sustainable ties between Germany and Romagna.
The first is the route extension in 2025 to include stops in Riccione and Cattolica, in addition to Bologna, Cesena, and Rimini. This will allow German visitors to reach the Romagna Coast while avoiding highway traffic. The service will run until October 6, accommodating Bavarian autumn holidays. Passengers will travel on next-generation RailJet trains, manufactured by Siemens, offering Wi-Fi connectivity, 532 seats, and a top speed of 230 km/h. Each train includes** 430 economy-class seats, 86 first-class seats, and 16 business-class seats**. The multifunctional carriage provides space for three wheelchairs with low-floor access, six bike racks, and storage for skis and snowboards. Onboard amenities include a restaurant and three snack zones with vending machines.
Regarding the schedule, the RJ 83 train departs Munich at 9:34 a.m., arriving in Cesena at 5:02 p.m., Rimini at 5:30 p.m., Riccione, and finally Cattolica at 6:16 p.m. Return journeys from Romagna on RJ 82 (operational from April 18) start at 12:16 p.m. from Cattolica.
“The 2025 season of the Munich-Rimini connection brings significant service improvements,” highlighted Andrea Corsini, Tourism Councillor of Emilia-Romagna. “We hope these changes will attract even more passengers from Germany to Romagna. Many tourists today prefer the slow travel option of trains for their vacations. Data from the first eight months of 2024 show a 9.5% increase in German arrivals and a 10.4% increase in overnight stays compared to the previous year.”
From Germany, Marco Kampp, Director of International Long-Distance Passenger Transport and CEO of Deutsche Bahn Italia Srl, also commented on the updates: “It’s a pleasure and a new challenge to extend the Brenner railway line in 2025. From one round-trip train only on weekends, to daily service for three summer months, and now nearly six months of connections from Germany and Austria to the Adriatic coast. This shows that Italy and the coast remain popular and appreciated destinations beyond the Brenner Pass.”
Emanuele Burioni, Director of APT Servizi Emilia-Romagna, expressed his satisfaction: “We’ve been collaborating with German railways since 2016, and this partnership is strengthening year after year. It allows us to significantly increase the flow of visitors from Austrian and German markets.”
Rimini’s mayor and president of Visit Romagna, Jamil Sadegholvaad, concluded: “It’s clear that Romagna, with its coastline and inland attractions, is increasingly focusing on international tourism markets, particularly Germany and Austria. The history and numbers behind this partnership substantiate the evolution and extension of a now-strategic service in 2025. This service makes it convenient and comfortable for our many visitors—first and foremost, our friends—to experience our renowned hospitality.”
Tickets will soon be available on www.megliointreno.it and www.bahn.de.
Photo from: bahn.de