Services on trains traveling between Hamburg and Berlin are halted.
The Berlin-Hamburg railway line will be closed for train traffic for the next nine months, starting from August 2025, due to a general overhaul by DB InfraGO AG [1][2]. This extensive renovation project will affect the heavily travelled corridor, with direct ICE and IC train services on this route being suspended.
As an alternative, ICE trains will be rerouted via the Uelzen route, resulting in extended travel times of approximately 45 to 60 minutes longer than usual and a reduced frequency of service to about 50% of the normal level [2]. Passengers can expect these delays and fewer train options compared to normal operations.
The modernization project, announced by the head of DB InfraGo, Philipp Nagl, will see 28 stations along the 278-kilometer corridor being modernized. Over the next nine months, 165 kilometers of track will be renewed, with nearly 250 switches being replaced as part of the renovation. Six signal boxes are to be newly built, and a further 19 are to be renewed.
Given the full closure, travelers should anticipate these rerouting measures and possible bus substitutions or alternative rail connections where feasible. Vegetation and construction work details indicate that some vegetation clearing will begin from October 2025 onwards to secure the railway environment during renovation [1].
ICE and IC trains will be rerouted via Stendal and Uelzen, with many regional connections being completely suspended. The average travel time for ICE and IC trains will increase by about 45 minutes. The frequency of replacement buses will be less than the original train service.
Train traffic on the Berlin-Hamburg railway line has been suspended for the next nine months, with the last train (RB 14) arriving in Berlin-Spandau before the suspension. Passengers are advised to plan for slower journeys and check for specific timetable updates from Deutsche Bahn as works progress.
- Given the closure of the Berlin-Hamburg railway line, passengers may need to consider alternative modes of transportation, such as public transit or automotive options, during the next nine months starting from August 2025.
- The modernization project, underway by DB InfraGO AG, not only includes the renovation of the railway line but also the upgrading of various transportation infrastructure along the 278-kilometer corridor, including 28 stations, 165 kilometers of track, and multiple switches, signal boxes, and vegetation clearing.
- As part of the renovation, the industry of finance might be impacted due to the disruptions in transportation, particularly the automotive industry potentially experiencing increased costs for logistics and deliveries, and the effects on financial markets and investments in the region.
