Rail chaos between Cottbus and Lübbenau: trains canceled for three weeks!

Rail chaos between Cottbus and Lübbenau: trains canceled for three weeks!

Travelers between Cottbus and Berlin will have to prepare for changes in train traffic in the coming weeks. How LR Online reported, the RE2 trains between Cottbus and Lübbenau will be canceled during the day from August 22nd to September 12th, 2025. Passengers have to prepare for replacement buses as construction work in Lübbenau for new rail and road overpasses is in full swing.

The affected train services will be unavailable between 7am and 9pm daily during construction, creating practical challenges for commuters and travelers. During downtime, the journey time from Cottbus to Berlin increases to around two hours, making commuting more difficult, but not impossible.

Details about the diversions

The diversions and replacement journeys are well planned, once again showing that the rail system is dependent on the expansion of new infrastructure. In addition to the RE2 trains, some RE7 trains are also affected, which are rerouted via Calau during the night. In these diversions there are no scheduled stops, so passengers have to reorganize themselves accordingly. Alternative routes are offered, such as the regional express lines RE10 and RB43, which run via Calau, or the RE1, which runs through Frankfurt (Oder). RBB24 adds that these restructurings will be necessary at times in order to progress construction work efficiently.

Interestingly, the construction work is not just intended for a short period of time, but is of greater importance as it is intended to replace four level crossings in Lübbenau with bridges in the long term. Construction is expected to last until the end of 2027, which will mean a big change for commuters. From the end of 2026, there will be a total closure of the railway line between Lübbenau and Cottbus, which will cause further restrictions.

Alternative transport providers and information

Commuters who rely on their car can drive from Cottbus to Lübbenau in about 30 minutes and then continue by train to Berlin. Excellent parking facilities on Güterbahnhofstrasse in Lübbenau, open around the clock, offer a useful alternative. Travelers can easily access information about the changed travel times via the “DB Navigator” app or on bahn.de as well as in the VBB “Bus&Bahn” app, which is recommended. Railway steam also helps you keep an eye on the latest traffic reports to avoid unpleasant surprises.

These changes come at an inopportune time for many. Be it for personal or business reasons, extra travel time can be frustrating. Travelers should definitely prepare for the changes and possibly book their tickets early to avoid unpleasant waiting times. However, if you inform yourself in good time, you can plan well despite the construction work and even commuting can sometimes become child's play with the right information.