Schwerin is falling by the wayside: long-distance transport will be left behind by 2026!

Schwerin is falling by the wayside: long-distance transport will be left behind by 2026!

From August 1, 2023, things will get serious for commuters from Schwerin: the city will be dependent on fast rail traffic for the next nine months. This means longer travel times and changes throughout regional transport. Deutsche Bahn cited the track construction work being carried out on the busy route between Hamburg and Berlin as the reason. Daniel Peters, the CDU state leader, expressed concern about the lack of political resistance to this development and described Schwerin's demotion as “completely unacceptable”. Nordkurier reports.

The impact on regional connections is significant. Commuters have to expect a journey time of over two hours to Hamburg, as the previous fast connections are being replaced by regional trains and buses with numerous stops. There is also a risk that the previous two early trains will no longer be available, which represents a major challenge for many. A medium-term concept envisages that an ICE train could run from Schwerin to Hamburg every two hours, but concrete timetables will not be published until autumn of this year. The new departure times could be as early as 5:56 a.m. or 7:56 a.m., which further complicates the situation. NDR reports.

The construction site between Hamburg and Berlin

Commuters will face extensive changes in the following. The entire railway line between Hamburg and Berlin, an important lifeline for the region, will be completely renovated from August 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026. This involves replacing 180 kilometers of tracks and 200 switches in order to make the infrastructure fit for the future. Long-distance transport will be completely canceled during the period mentioned, which means that travelers will be dependent on local transport and replacement buses. Deutsche Bahn promises to maintain the direct connection between Schwerin and Berlin, but this will only be possible with restrictions. Nordkurier reports.

For those who regularly commute between Schwerin and other cities, this construction site will result in considerable additional time. For example, the connection from Rostock to Hamburg will in future run via Lübeck, which means an hour longer travel time. The EC connection from Hamburg to Prague will also end in Berlin during the construction period. NDR added.

Public transport in the firing line

Local public transport (ÖPNV) is facing challenges in Germany. In 2023, usage figures are still below 2019 levels, while traffic growth is stagnating. Given the increasingly crowded streets, public transport plays a crucial role in environmental and noise protection. The Deutschlandticket, which has been available since May 2023, offers a cheap flat rate for local transport and could help encourage citizens to change. Statista informed.

The challenges that the renovations and conversions bring with them should not be underestimated. Not only travel, but also the future of public transport hangs by a thread. Although the federal government has increased funding for local rail passenger transport, many transport companies continue to rely on support to finance and maintain services. The demand for reliable, fast and environmentally friendly transport options is increasing and it remains to be seen how the relevant authorities will respond.