GoVolta, a newly established Dutch railway company, will enter the international market in 2026 with direct routes from Amsterdam to Berlin, Hamburg, and—from December—Paris. The operator promises low prices, simple booking, and guaranteed seats for every passenger, in a model inspired by low-cost airlines.
“Many people would take the train, but end up flying or driving because it’s too expensive or too complicated,” says Maarten Bastian, co-founder of GoVolta. “We want to make things simple: affordable tickets, guaranteed seats, and ready-made city breaks.”
First routes: Berlin from March 19, Hamburg from March 20, 2026
GoVolta will start with two routes operated three times a week:
- Amsterdam–Berlin: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday;
- Amsterdam–Hamburg: Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
From the summer of 2026, both routes will become daily. The journey to Berlin will take approximately seven hours, one hour longer than Deutsche Bahn trains, as the rolling stock used travels at a maximum speed of 160 km/h.
The company recently purchased 13 wagons built in 1987 from SNCB/NMBS for around one million euros and plans to invest a further two million in modernization.
Tickets from €10 and two classes of comfort
To attract new categories of passengers, GoVolta is introducing:
- tickets from EUR 10 (the first 100 per train);
- an estimated average price of EUR 30 for Amsterdam–Berlin;
- a reserved seat for each passenger, with no standing passengers;
- two classes: Economy and Comfort (with a 2+1 layout);
- the “XL Duo Seat” option in Economy, which allows you to reserve a second seat for extra space.
Trains will have 11 wagons and approximately 820 seats, plus a lounge wagon with drinks, snacks, and light meals. Clear luggage rules will limit crowding: two small pieces of luggage included, and additional luggage only with reservation.
Paris from December 2026 – but on a different route than the traditional ones
GoVolta plans to launch a daily Amsterdam–Paris connection in December 2026, which would run via Ghent, not through Brussels or Antwerp, subject to approval by the Belgian authorities in April.
GoVolta wants to become the “low-cost airline of trains”
The company explicitly states its ambition to compete with established operators such as NS, Deutsche Bahn, and Eurostar, relying on low prices as a decisive factor.
“We need low prices to attract people to the train,” says co-founder Hessel Winkelman. “This opens up the market to passengers who currently use cars, buses, or planes, or who cannot afford a vacation.”
In addition to Hamburg, Berlin, and Paris, GoVolta has notified the Dutch authorities of its intention to expand the network with new routes: Frankfurt, Munich, Copenhagen, Bruges, and Basel, along with increased frequencies on existing connections.
Organization and operational partnerships
GoVolta is responsible for the product, timetables, and on-board staff, but Keolis Nederland will operate the trains, providing drivers, planning, and daily operations. Brouwer Technology manages the technical side and maintenance. The model is designed for rapid expansion in Europe.
Tickets and city break packages (train + hotel) can already be booked on govolta.nl.
