The Dutch open-access rail operator GoVolta will launch a daily direct service between Amsterdam and Paris starting December 14, 2026, with tickets available from 19 euros. Ticket sales began on May 28, 2026, for travel through December 2027.
The new route will connect Amsterdam Centraal to Paris-Gare du Nord, with a travel time of just over 7 hours. The service will operate one round trip per day, year-round, with some exceptions.
The train will depart from Amsterdam shortly before 8:00 a.m. and arrive in Paris before 3:00 p.m. In the opposite direction, departure from Paris is scheduled before 4:00 p.m., with arrival in Amsterdam around 11:30 p.m.
Stops in The Hague, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Ghent
GoVolta will serve several intermediate stations: Haarlem, Den Haag HS, Rotterdam Centraal, Lage Zwaluwe, Roosendaal, Antwerpen-Centraal, Gent-Sint-Pieters, Arras, and Longueau, near Amiens. According to the operator, tickets between the Netherlands and France will be available starting at 19 euros, and connections to Belgium, from the Netherlands or France, starting at 10 euros.
The company says it deliberately chose the route via Ghent instead of Brussels, as Belgium’s capital is already well-connected to Amsterdam and Paris via existing services. Ghent, a city with approximately 260,000 residents, previously had no direct international connection to the Netherlands or Paris.
The route also marks the return of a direct international connection for Den Haag HS to Antwerp and Paris. The Hague gradually lost this connection after Thalys, now Eurostar, dropped stops in the city in favor of Rotterdam.
Trains with up to 840 passengers
GoVolta trains will consist of 11 cars: 9 Economy cars, one Comfort car, and one dining car, with a capacity of up to 840 passengers. The operator uses refurbished i10 cars, similar to those used on the Amsterdam–Berlin route.
GoVolta also announces the development of a GoVolta Lounge area, where passengers will be able to order breakfast, lunch, or dinner on board.
“Our international trains are accessible to everyone and offer affordable prices. Travelers can travel between capital cities or discover smaller towns, and people in smaller towns and rural areas finally gain access to a direct and sustainable international connection, starting at 19 euros,” said Hessel Winkelman, co-founder and commercial director of GoVolta.
Three infrastructure managers involved
Developing the schedule for the Amsterdam–Paris service required collaboration with three infrastructure managers: ProRail in the Netherlands, Infrabel in Belgium, and SNCF Réseau in France. GoVolta submitted its route applications in April 2026, and for this first schedule, the process was able to begin one year prior to launch.
For 2028, the company has already submitted its capacity requirements two years in advance. GoVolta hopes to achieve better travel times, an additional stop in the Lille region, and two round-trip services per day, thereby strengthening the connection between the three countries.
“We are pleased to be able to offer solid schedules on the Amsterdam–Berlin and Amsterdam–Paris routes, developed in close collaboration with ProRail, Infrabel, and SNCF Réseau, as well as with DB InfraGO for the German route,” said Maarten Bastian, co-founder and COO of GoVolta.
Crowdfunding for GoVolta’s expansion
In parallel with the launch of the route to Paris, GoVolta has launched a crowdfunding round by issuing bonds worth up to 1.5 million euros. The bonds carry an annual interest rate of 10%, and the principal is to be repaid over a period of 30 months.
The company states that the funds will be used to double the fleet from 11 to 22 cars, finance the launch of the service to Paris, and expand the management team from 3 to 8 people.
GoVolta notes that, since the launch of its services to Germany in March 2026, over 90,000 passengers have already traveled on its trains. The company, founded in 2025 and headquartered in Breda, says its goal for 2028 is to double its routes, with two trains operating on each line.
Changes on the Amsterdam–Berlin route as well
GoVolta is also announcing changes to the Amsterdam–Berlin route. Starting July 1, 2026, the frequency will increase to six trips per week, every day except Tuesday. Starting December 13, 2026, the service is expected to reach seven trips per week.
During the 14-month closure of the Lehrte–Berlin Spandau section, GoVolta trains will run via Braunschweig and Magdeburg, stopping in these cities and at two additional stations in the Netherlands, at Hilversum and Apeldoorn. The operator estimates a travel time of under 8 hours between Amsterdam and Berlin.
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