Commuters between Hamburg and Berlin: rail route closed for 9 months!

Commuters between Hamburg and Berlin: rail route closed for 9 months!

From August 1, 2025, the railway line between Hamburg and Berlin will be completely renovated for a good nine months. This extensive renovation also affects commuters from Schwerin, who have to prepare for a difficult journey. Rosemarie Mauer from Schwerin is one of many who are worried about the longer travel times and the changes. Daily traffic on this busy route, which is 278 kilometers long, will be significantly affected. Around 30,000 passengers are affected every day by the construction work, which extends over a distance that is completely familiar to most of us. Deutsche Bahn and the bus company Ecovista have decided to set up an information stand in front of the main train station to inform travelers about the inevitable changes. reports the Nordkurier.

The construction project, which will cost an estimated 2.2 billion euros, includes the renewal of around 200 kilometers of tracks, switches and overhead lines. In addition, 28 stations along the route will be modernized and some will even be expanded into future stations, as stated in the plans. According to the DB A comprehensive transport concept ensures that travelers and goods reach their destination reliably despite the construction work. It is particularly important to create additional transfer points, which will increase flexibility during operations.

Large replacement rail service in sight

To compensate for the diversions and cancellations, there will be the largest rail replacement service in the history of this route. Over 170 buses are said to be in daily use on 27 routes, which together cover around 86,000 kilometers. These buses will run every two hours for commuters from Schwerin and will stop at the Steinfurther Allee subway station, not at the main train station. The travel time between Schwerin and Hamburg is expected to increase by half an hour. The Northern Courier also points out that bicycles are not permitted on the replacement buses, which poses an additional problem for many commuters.

The exact details of the measures will also be conveyed in further events. An information tour will take place in the cities of Hagenow and Boizenburg to provide affected travelers with comprehensive information. Mayor Rico Badenschier emphasized how important this infrastructure work is for the future, even if commuters have to suffer in the meantime. The DB plans to provide information about all new developments and processes before construction work begins in order to make the changes easier for travelers.

A comprehensive infrastructure program

The general renovation of the Hamburg-Berlin line is part of a larger, nationwide infrastructure program launched by Deutsche Bahn and the federal government. This program has been described as the largest of its kind since the railway reform in 1994 and aims to improve punctuality and increase capacity in passenger and freight transport. The DB has prioritized the renovation of heavily used routes in order to resolve bottlenecks and make the rail network future-proof.

The coming general renovation is not only a necessary step to improve travel quality, but also a contribution to the general upgrading of rail transport in Germany. Experts see this as a valuable investment in the future of rail transport that will pay off in the long term.