As of 2024, DB Fernverkehr operates approximately 800 domestic and 250 international train services per day, utilizing 500 trainsets.

[1] The company emerged as DB Reise & Touristik AG on 1 January 1999 in the context of the second stage of the railway reform from the division of long-distance transport of Deutsche Bahn.

In mid-January 2001, the company announced plans to create a standard of comfort and quality at the ICE level with investments amounting to DM 2 billion.

Also in 2001, it was decided to externally adapt all long-distance passenger coaches to the color scheme of the ICE trains (light gray with red stripes).

As of 2023, the average occupancy rate of DB Fernverkehr's trains rose to 49.1 percent after a steep drop during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[4] During the first half of 2024, punctuality decreased even further down to 62.7 percent with DB stating widespread strike action, extensive construction works and extreme weather conditions as reasons.

[5] DB Fernverkehr provides domestic semi-fast and high-speed long distance trains throughout Germany as well as cross-border long-distance transport services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland with further services to Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic jointly operated with their respective national railway companies.

The company had been responsible for the marketing of the international ICE and TGV trains, which operate on the routes between Frankfurt, Paris and Marseille.

[6] In 1999, the subsidiary DB AutoZug GmbH, based in Dortmund, was founded for the operation of car and night trains.

According to ex-CEO Ulrich Homburg, the IC bus offer was not primarily about price competition with other competitors, such as FlixBus, but a supplement to the railway's existing intercity network.