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Berlin-Hamburg railway closure: 2.2 billion euros for modernization!
General renovation of the Berlin-Hamburg railway line: period from August 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026, comprehensive measures and rail replacement services.
Berlin-Hamburg railway closure: 2.2 billion euros for modernization!
From the beginning of August 2025, the railway line between Berlin and Hamburg will be completely renovated. Work will begin on August 1st and is expected to be completed by April 30th, 2026. This extensive renovation will have a significant impact on rail traffic in the northwest Brandenburg region, as six towns and communities, including Neustadt, Bad Wilsnack and Wittenberge, will be dependent on rail traffic during this time. A major shift to bus transport is expected as rail replacement transport (SEV) will be organized across 26 bus routes covering up to 86,000 kilometers daily, reports maz online.
The demand for seats will be high during the construction period, and every passenger should be offered a seat, which means that operational capacity will have to be increased. The bus routes are operated by the Augsburg company Eco-Vista, although journey times are expected to be longer than by train. Traffic volumes in the region are expected to increase, presenting a challenge for the SEV to ensure all passengers get to their destination, according to estimates vbb.de.
Investments in infrastructure
The general renovation is part of an extensive investment program by the federal government, which provides a total of 166 billion euros in infrastructure by 2029. Of this, around 107 billion euros will flow into rail to renovate ailing railway lines and motorway bridges. These measures are not just short-term solutions, but are intended to improve long-term punctuality and reliability in rail transport tagesschau.de reported.
The renovation work includes the modernization of 180 kilometers of tracks and around 200 switches as well as the renewal of control and safety technology. In addition, intensive investments are being made in noise protection measures, with the aim of building noise barriers and renovating 28 train stations. In Falkensee train station, for example, two new toilets and new elevators are being installed in several stations, while in Brieselang weather protection is being added for the platform. The total costs of this renovation are estimated at around 2.2 billion euros.
In total, around 230 trains run on the route per day, carrying up to 30,000 passengers. The SEV is intended to compensate for the lost connections as best as possible in order not to burden travelers with long waiting times and to ensure convenient mobility.