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General renovation of Berlin-Hamburg: Massive construction work from August 2025!
The general renovation of the Berlin-Hamburg railway line will start on August 1, 2025. Reconstruction by April 2026, replacement service planned.
General renovation of Berlin-Hamburg: Massive construction work from August 2025!
Preparations for the comprehensive general renovation of the railway line between Berlin and Hamburg are underway. From August 1, 2025, the approximately 280 kilometer long route, which runs through five federal states, will be completely closed for a total of nine months. The focus is on the renewal of stations, tracks, switches, overhead lines as well as control and safety technology. The South Germans reports that this measure is seen as an important test for Deutsche Bahn.
Project manager Julian Fassing emphasizes that it is not just the technical complexity of this renovation that is challenging, but above all the amount of work involved. The first excavators will arrive within the first seven days of construction in order to move the track work forward quickly. These should be completed by the end of the year, followed by the modernization of the control and safety technology.
Replacement transport for commuters
Full rail replacement service will be available from the start of construction to make travel easier for commuters. The VBB has already developed the replacement transport concept. The aim is to offer every passenger a seat, although it will not always be possible to provide enough seats in the Falkensee area near Berlin. Due to the increasing demand, many buses have to be used to transport the additional passengers.
However, commuters have to expect longer journey times, with travel times for the Wittenberge to Berlin connection, for example, increasing from 1.5 hours to a whopping 3.5 hours. The Perleberg to Berlin connection also has to be expected to double the travel time from just under 2 hours to up to 3 hours. This represents a significant change for many travelers.
The general renovation of the route between Berlin and Hamburg is just the beginning. The desire for a comprehensive improvement of the German rail infrastructure was also expressed by DB Engineering which emphasizes the need to renovate the rail network by 2030. 40 additional sections of the route are to be renovated in the coming years in order to increase the performance, punctuality and capacity of the entire rail network.
With these measures, Deutsche Bahn not only wants to resolve the renovation backlog, but also make a contribution to sustainable infrastructure improvements. This makes rail more attractive for travelers and freight transport companies alike. The road to get there is rocky, but the prospect of a better rail connection is optimistic.