Meet GoVolta: The “EasyJet of Railways” Arrives

Tell us if you rezognize this scene: you’re staring at a flight that’s cheaper than a tank of gas, while the train ticket for that same trip costs a small fortune. It’s a frustrating spot to be in when you actually want to be the eco-friendly traveler, but your bank account is telling you otherwise. Making the sustainable choice shouldn’t feel like a luxury tax.

Fortunately, international rail travel from the Netherlands is about to become much more realistic for the rest of us. A new Dutch startup called GoVolta is stepping up, pitching itself as the “easyJet of the railways.” Starting in March 2026, they’re aiming to make a trip to Berlin or Paris as easy on your wallet as it is on the planet.

How €10 Tickets Work

GoVolta’s plan is built on aggressive pricing. When they launch their first route from Amsterdam to Hamburg via Berlin, they’re offering the first 100 tickets on every train for just €10. Even if you aren’t fast enough to snag one of those, the average fare is expected to hover around €30.

If you look at the current alternatives, the difference is clear. A standard Deutsche Bahn (DB) ticket for that same route usually costs between €34 and €59, and it often involves at least one transfer. Plus, the big operators typically tack on a €5.70 fee just to guarantee you actually have a seat.

GoVolta is keeping it simple with three main promises:

• Actual affordability
• A guaranteed seat
• Direct connections

Where the Routes Are Heading

The first trains will start in March 2026 on the Amsterdam-Berlin-Hamburg line. By December 2026, they plan to add a direct route to Paris.

They aren’t trying to outrun high-speed giants like Eurostar or the ICE. Instead, they’re joining a growing wave of budget-friendly operators like European Sleeper and France’s Ouigo.

The Trade-off: Time vs. Money

There is, of course, a catch: speed. GoVolta trains max out at 160 km/h, while the high-speed Eurostar and ICE trains can hit 300 km/h.

What does that look like in real life?

• Amsterdam to Berlin: You’ll be on the train for about an hour longer than the fastest ICE.
• Amsterdam to Paris: This journey could take nearly twice as long as the Eurostar.

For a business traveler on a tight deadline, that might be a dealbreaker. But for a weekend city break, is an extra hour or two really worth paying triple the price? For most of us, that’s just extra time to catch up on a podcast, dive into a book, or actually relax and look out the window after a long week.

What It’s Like Onboard

“Budget” doesn’t mean you’re roughing it. GoVolta is using trains with 11 carriages and roughly 820 seats. They know people get hungry on longer trips, so there’s a lounge car serving drinks, snacks, and light meals.

You’ll have two ways to travel:

• Economy Class: Your standard seat, but with a clever perk—you can pay a small fee to reserve the seat next to you if you want some extra personal space.
• Comfort Class: This is the move if you want more legroom and a quieter atmosphere to get some work done or take a nap.

They’re also much more relaxed about luggage than the airlines. Your ticket includes two pieces of hand luggage, and you can book larger bags separately without the stress.

Shifting the Strategy

Co-founder Hessel Winkelman pointed out something we all know: international rail has been a mess of high prices and “will I even get a seat?” uncertainty for way too long. GoVolta’s goal is to make cross-border trains as straightforward as booking a flight. They’re even planning to offer “city-break” bundles that include your hotel, making the planning process much easier.

If you have a corporate credit card and need to be in Paris in three hours, the Eurostar is still your best bet. But if you’re looking to travel sustainably without the “green tax,” these €10 tickets are already available for 2026. Your future self—and your wallet—will likely be glad you grabbed one.

Featured Image: GoVolta