Chaos in rail replacement transport: Too few buses for commuters in Teltow-Fläming!

Chaos in rail replacement transport: Too few buses for commuters in Teltow-Fläming!

In the Teltow-Fläming region, the current rail replacement services (SEV) for the RE3 and RE4 regional trains always cause a lot of excitement. Today, October 27, 2025, it becomes apparent that misunderstandings about the SEV prevail in many places. Deutsche Bahn makes it clear: The rail replacement service is not an equivalent replacement for the canceled trains, but rather a limited offer, which leads to dissatisfaction among commuters. The focus is particularly on complaints about too few and overcrowded buses as well as the lack of local knowledge of many bus drivers. Jüterbog's CDU state parliament member Danny Eichelbaum commented on these problems, which are increasingly frustrating passengers, in an incendiary letter. Compared to the SEV in Teltow-Fläming with only 35 buses per day, a much larger fleet of 170 buses runs daily on the closed Hamburg-Berlin route.

The RE3X express bus, which runs between Wittenberg and Teltow, is a frequent target of complaints. Many passengers report overcrowded buses, while Deutsche Bahn points to “capacity problems” as only coaches with no standing room are available for 176 daily trips. In order to eliminate the bottleneck, the railway responded and provided an additional articulated bus with 130 seats and standing room. If necessary, two additional reserve buses can be used in Ludwigsfelde and Teltow. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense, especially in Thyrow and Trebbin, where students are often left behind in the morning. Commuters from Luckenwalde also report difficulties finding parking spaces on the S-Bahn in Teltow because these are occupied by residents.

Long-term planning and improvements

The problems in the SEV are not just an acute issue. Deutsche Bahn has already announced long-term measures. Comprehensive rail replacement services are planned on various routes for 2026 and 2027. These replacement services, which cover a total of almost 60 million bus kilometers, are awarded to several medium-sized bus companies and consortia. Future routes include the Hagen–Wuppertal–Cologne and Nuremberg–Regensburg routes. The quality of the vehicles should be improved through simple standards: new, barrier-free accessible vehicles, sufficient storage space for luggage as well as WiFi and, in some cases, toilets on board are planned.

However, it is currently apparent that many commuters who rely on the SEV are facing numerous challenges. City councilor Marleen Herzlieb from Trebbin also draws a mixed conclusion about the situation in the SEV: “It has become somewhat normalized, as many commuters are switching to cars,” she states, while at the same time pointing out the ongoing difficulties. It remains to be hoped that both the short-term adjustments and the long-term planning of Deutsche Bahn will lead to a significant improvement in the situation in Teltow-Fläming.