About us
The Culture Train Berlin – Wrocław connects regions, generations and cultures across national borders every weekend. With its multilingual, diverse cultural program on board, the Culture Train is a unique project in Europe, financed by the states of Berlin and Brandenburg. Since 2022, the state-owned Kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH has been responsible for the cultural program on board the Culture Train together with the long-standing curatorial team.
Since the start of the Culture Train on the occasion of Wrocław being the European Capital of Culture in 2016, there is a new program each weekend. The Culture Train makes a significant contribution to the intercultural exchange of the German-Polish border region and provides important impetus for cultural cooperations between Berlin and Wrocław.
On 19 April 2024, the Culture Train started its 9th season with the motto “Geschichte/n im Gepäck – Czas podróży, czas historii”. The previous 8th season took place from 6 June 2023 to 1 January 2024 with the motto “What connects us – To, co nas łączy”. On 112 trips and with 65 program guests, the magical 10,000 passenger mark was almost broken.
This train is not just a train that travels from A to B, but one that connects people, cities and regions.
April 2016
On April 30, the Culture Train travels to the European Capital of Culture Wrocław for the first time. After just a few weeks, the Culture Train is already running at full capacity. The vehicle used is a class 628 diesel railcar, with a journey time of 4.5 hours. The German-Polish Society Berlin e.V. takes over the sponsorship of the program.
November 2017
The Culture Train is awarded the “Kulturmarkenaward” as a European trend brand.
August 2018
The German Rail Customer Association awards the Culture Train the German Rail Transport Prize.
December 2019
The Culture Train gets accessible railcars of the 642 series.
January 2020
Over 70,000 passengers have already traveled with the Culture Train.
March 2020
Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the border closure between Germany and Poland, the Culture Train is only able to operate virtually via livestream. During the subsequent lockdowns, the “KulturStreifZüge” videos to Wrocław, Poznan, Szczecin, Swinoujscie and Zbaszyn are created.
May 2021
The Culture Train is back in regular service.
December 2021
The Berlin state government includes the Culture Train in its coalition agreement.
March 2022
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Culture Train operates as a “Humanitarian Train” and transports refugees and relief supplies on daily journeys.
June 2022
The Polish Tourist Board awards the Culture Train with the FilmPolska Award.
October 2022
The Culture Train becomes a project of Kulturprojekte Berlin.
May 2023
The Culture Train team is awarded the European Certificate of the State of Brandenburg for the “Humanitarian Train”.
June 2023
The 8th season of the Culture Train starts on 16 June 2023 with the motto: “What connects us” with new stops in Weißwasser/O.L., Węgliniec (Kohlfurt) and in the ceramics town of Bolesławiec (Bunzlau).