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What if you could join Amsterdam by direct train from Paris for less than 25 € ? It's now a reality: the Dutch company GoVolta is launching its low-cost Paris-Amsterdam route, with the first train departing on December 14, 2026 (tickets have been on sale since late May). After Amsterdam—Berlin With its first line, set to launch in March 2026, the operator is pursuing its goal of making international rail travel more accessible with low-cost tickets. Schedules, stops, comfort, prices, dining cars… Here’s everything you need to know about these new GoVolta trains !
Updated November 4, 2026. A major setback for GoVolta: since October 29, no trains have been running between Amsterdam and Berlin. A train was damaged about an hour from Berlin (smoke was seen after sudden braking). Passengers were able to continue their journey on a regional train, at the company’s expense. The problem: with only seven of its thirteen cars in service, GoVolta does not have enough to replace the stranded train, and service on the line has been suspended until further notice. This illustrates the challenges facing a young company starting out with a small fleet.
If you had a ticket, you can change your train or get a refund through your “Mijn Boeking” account on govolta.nl. GoVolta also notes that you can book an equivalent trip with another provider (such as FlixTrain or FlixBus) and get a refund for that ticket.
As for the Paris-Amsterdam route, the launch is still scheduled for December 14 as of this writing. We’re keeping a close eye on the situation and will update this article as soon as we know more!
GoVolta is a new Dutch open-access rail company that aims to revolutionize rail travel in Europe. Its goal: to offer international trips at very low prices, using a business model inspired by low-cost airlines. In practice, this means low-cost tickets, direct routes, and a simplified booking process.
Launched by Maarten Bastian and Hessel Winkelman, two entrepreneurs already active in rail tourism, the startup has a clear goal: to make train travel more accessible and compete with air travel on European routes. Note: The founders also launched GreenCityTrip (which has since been sold to European Sleeper) and are still affiliated with the travel agency Flywise, which now offers train-and-hotel packages at attractive prices!
© GoVolta
The big news about GoVolta trains is their promise to slash prices for international rail travel, which is often considered too expensive. And the launch looks promising: for its first trip, a train was fully booked with more than 600 passengers on board, after more than 40,000 tickets were sold in advance.
As co-founder Maarten Bastian puts it: “We are convinced that international rail travel should be affordable, comfortable, and accessible to everyone. Today, we are proving that it is possible.”
This launch is part of a broader trend: the growth of low-cost rail travel in Europe. In France with OUIGO, in Spain with Avlo, and in Germany with FlixTrain, several operators have already tried to drive down prices. But GoVolta is taking it a step further by directly targeting international rail travel, which is still largely inaccessible at low cost today.
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GoVolta has adopted a deliberately low-cost model:
An approach that is already well known in the airline industry, but even rarer in international rail travel.
To offer these prices, GoVolta has made several choices: using older but refurbished vehicles, operating at lower speeds, and adopting a pay-as-you-go model.
The Interior of the GoVolta
© GoVolta - Map published at launch: the Amsterdam-Hamburg route has since been discontinued.
The first trains will begin running in March 2026:
At launch, service remains limited to a few round trips per week (three weekly round trips on each route). The stated goal at the time was to have daily service on the Amsterdam–Berlin route starting in July 2026. Today, the route operates six times a week (see update below).
Due to insufficient demand for Hamburg, the route was discontinued. Instead, it was rerouted six times a week to the Amsterdam-Berlin route, for which the airline has seen strong demand from the start.
Regarding the line Paris–Amsterdam, GoVolta plans to:
The trip will take a little over 7 hours round trip.
Updated May 28, 2026. This time, it's more than just a project: GoVolta has officially begun sales of its Direct flight from Paris to Amsterdam. The first trains will begin running on December 14, 2026, with one round trip per day.
“Our international trains are available to everyone at affordable prices. “You can travel between capital cities or explore smaller towns, and people in regional areas finally have access to a direct international flight, starting at 19 euros,” explains Hessel Winkelman, co-founder of GoVolta.
The train will run directly from Paris to Amsterdam via:
This represents a real change for certain cities that currently have little or no direct international train service. GoVolta notes, in particular, that it chose Ghent over Brussels, which is already very well connected to Paris via the Eurostar.
In the longer term, the operator plans to expand its network to:
with the goal of building a truly affordable European rail network.
© GoVolta
Tickets are advertised starting at €10, but in practice, on the Paris-Amsterdam route, the starting price displayed by GoVolta rose to €24.99 in late October 2026, with an average of around €30. In reality, most trips are expected to cost between €20 and €40.
As with air travel, prices vary significantly depending on demand, the date of booking, and the train’s occupancy rate. As is often the case with affordable fares, it’s best to book early to get the best prices.
Want to travel by train for less? The HOURRAIL! Club gives you access to exclusive discounts from our partners (Eurostar, European Sleeper, Caledonian Sleeper, and more). It’s this way !
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Most tickets are expected to cost between €20 and €40, with optional extras that could drive up the price. One thing to keep in mind, however: at this stage, the model is still in its launch phase, and its success will depend largely on its ability to deliver on its promises regarding price and reliability.
The basic ticket includes:
A real plus, especially compared to some train services that don't require reservations.
©GoVolta
As with air travel, there are several options available:
These services are offered at an additional cost, generally starting at about 15 euros, depending on the options.
Tickets are available online through the official website of GoVolta. A tip: As always, be sure to book as early as possible to get the best rates.
Good to know: GoVolta also offers packages combining train travel and lodging, in line with its positioning as a provider of package tours.
In line with their positioning, GoVolta also offers packages combining train travel and a 2-night stay at a 3-star hotel starting at €199, through their partnership with the Flywise travel agency. This is a direct result of their past experience in organized rail travel.
© Benjamin Martinie
The trains consist of refurbished cars from the 1980s, with a top speed of about 160 km/h. Each train will be able to accommodate up to 840 passengers and will consist of 11 cars: 9 Economy cars, 1 Comfort car, and 1 dining car called the “GoVolta Lounge.” So, no luxury here, but decent comfort—the main goal being to offer low prices!
Tolt on board the first GoVolta trip
Benjamin—aka Tolt—is back, and he tested it out for you: "On board, you'll find Economy Class and Comfort Class. The seats are actually quite comfortable, but be aware that there are only two power outlets at each end of every car, so you'll need to plan accordingly!"
However, GoVolta now reports the presence of a dining car named “GoVolta Lounge,” offering breakfast, lunch, or dinner depending on the trip schedule.
According to the company, this offer, along with its comfortable Corail-style seats, “clearly sets GoVolta apart from low-cost carriers”.
GoVolta trains are slower than high-speed trains like the Eurostar or ICE, but they offer much cheaper tickets.
Here are the estimated travel times:
This means slightly longer travel times than on express trains (about an hour longer).
As for the new Paris-Amsterdam route, trains will run once daily in both directions starting December 14, 2026. GoVolta is focusing more on affordable prices and direct connections than on high speed. The trip will therefore take longer than on the Eurostar, but tickets will be affordable.
Along with the launch of the Paris-Amsterdam route, GoVolta announced that it would open a a participatory loan of 1.5 million euros intended to finance its growth, the doubling of its fleet, and the development of new international routes.
The company says it has already carried more than 90,000 passengers since March 2026 on its routes to Berlin and Hamburg.
“Those who invest today are directly funding the next phase: better schedules, more lines, and a stronger GoVolta.”, says Maarten Bastian, co-founder of GoVolta.
On paper, GoVolta checks all the boxes: attractive prices, international routes, an alternative to flying… And above all, as a ProRail official points out: "The more affordable and appealing the connections are, the easier it becomes to switch from cars and planes to trains."
In reality, some compromises will have to be made: slower trains, simpler amenities, and a model that’s still in its early stages. But if the promise is kept, GoVolta could very well make train travel accessible to everyone in Europe like never before.
To be continued, then...
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
