U3 closure: Bridge work bring Hamburg's traffic to a standstill!

U3 closure: Bridge work bring Hamburg's traffic to a standstill!

From coming Saturday, the U3 underground line in Hamburg will face an important interruption. The route between the town hall and Berliner Tor is closed from 1 a.m. to the end of the day. The reason for this measure is necessary bridge construction work of the Deutsche Bahn, which are expected to ensure detours among passengers. The Hochbahn recommends traveling to other subway lines such as the U2 and U4 as well as the S-Bahn lines S1 and S2 that continue to run between Berlin's Tor and Central Station. The bus lines X35 and X80 are also available to maintain the connection between the Berlin Tor and Rathausmarkt. From the end of April to May there had already been a blocking of the section between Kellinghusenstrasse and Schlump, in which comprehensive track and rail work were carried out.

The U3 closure is part of a larger renovation project by Deutsche Bahn, which focuses on the strongly frequented rail connection between Hamburg and Berlin. This route, which extends over 278 kilometers, is known for its direct connections between the two large cities. From August 2025 to April 2026, Deutsche Bahn, together with the federal government, is planning a comprehensive general renovation of the route. For this purpose, extensive work on superstructure, lead and security technology as well as a total of 28 traffic stations are intended to improve accessibility.

Details on general renovation

The general renovation of the route is divided into three construction areas: Hamburg -Büchen, Büchen - derengenthin and Dergenthin - Berlin. During this period, over 180 kilometers of tracks and around 200 switches will be renewed. In addition, there are six additional transfer centers that are intended to enable increased stability and flexibility in rail traffic. The train stations are also modernized; Among other things, new toilet facilities and weather protection houses are planned, while the stations of Schwarzenbek and have to receive longer platforms to meet the new requirements.

An innovative step is the introduction of the "Future Railway Mobile Communication System" (FRMCS) based on 5G technology that improves the mobile phone reception along the route. In order to coordinate this work, Deutsche Bahn has concluded contracts with several construction companies, including Rhomberg Sersa Rail Holding GmbH and Eurovia GmbH. The start of the general renovation is already planned on August 1, 2025, whereby the work should be completed by April 30, 2026. The experiences from a previous pilot project are included in the plans, and adjustments to the European train influence system ETCs are also made.

The ongoing construction work also has an impact on driving. The journey time of the long -distance trains between Hamburg and Berlin is extended by about 45 minutes during the construction phase. In some cases, long -distance trains have to be redirected. In addition, extensive replacement traffic with over 170 buses is available during the construction work to support local transport connections and to ensure mobility.

This comprehensive project is part of a larger overall program of Deutsche Bahn (DB), which not only serves to renovate the infrastructure, but also aims to increase the profitability of the company and ensure a modern, future -oriented railway operation.