Sections of the Berlin-Hamburg Railway to Close Until December

Immediate repairs are needed on the rail route between Germany’s two largest cities. Here is how commuters and travelers will be affected.

Construction Timeline and Impact

Starting from Friday, August 16th, until December 14th, significant construction will take place on the rail connection between Berlin and Hamburg, one of Germany’s busiest routes. This essential work will involve the renovation of over 74 kilometers of tracks and 100 points, particularly between Wittenberge and Ludwigslust, as well as between Hamburg and Büchen and around Hagenow Land. These repairs are necessary due to the outdated infrastructure that requires urgent attention.

Travel Disruptions

During the four months of construction, long-distance (ICE) and regional (RE) traffic between Hamburg and Berlin will face several restrictions. Long-distance trains will be rerouted west via Stendal, Salzwedel, Uelzen, and Lüneburg, adding approximately 45 minutes to travel times. As the detour is passable only on a single track in some places, the frequency of long-distance trains between Hamburg and Berlin will be reduced to one per hour, down from the usual two.

For regional travelers, a replacement bus service will be available, connecting Hamburg and Wittenberge, with additional routes through Ludwigslust. Passengers can already see these changes reflected in the online timetables, accessible on the Deutsche Bahn (DB) website and app.

Additional Construction Between Hamburg and Schwerin

Further construction is planned between Hamburg and Schwerin from Friday until September 29th, affecting all long-distance ICE trains. During this period, replacement buses will connect the cities, including a once-daily intercity bus via Lübeck.

Ongoing National Rail Renovations

This construction is part of a broader effort to renovate Germany’s national railways, which are in dire need of large-scale repairs. The current work comes ahead of a general renovation project scheduled for August 2025 to April 2026 on the same Berlin-Hamburg route. This nine-month project will see virtually all working parts renewed, from tracks and switches to overhead lines and safety technology, ensuring the line remains construction-free for years.

However, Deutsche Bahn emphasizes that some immediate repairs in 2024 are crucial to maintaining full-speed operations with fewer disruptions. DB’s recent performance has been hampered by aging infrastructure, with nearly one in three long-distance trains running late in the first half of 2024.

Future Improvements

The German federal government has committed billions of euros to improve the national rail network, with renovations planned section by section in the coming years. While this promises a better future for rail travel in Germany, passengers must endure additional burdens due to the ongoing construction-related closures.

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