Stable alternative transit operations between Hamburg and Berlin on the railways continue
The Hamburg-Berlin railway line, a vital artery connecting two of Germany's largest cities, is currently undergoing a significant nine-month renovation. The project, part of more than 40 corridor renovations planned by the railway to upgrade its overloaded and dilapidated track network by 2036, began on August 1, 2025, and will conclude on April 30, 2026 [1][2][3].
During this period, the entire mainline between Hamburg and Berlin, spanning approximately 278 km, is closed in three phases: Hamburg–Büchen, Büchen–Dergenthin, and Dergenthin–Berlin. The renovation includes renewing over 180 km of track, replacing around 200 switches, and constructing six new grade-separated junctions to improve freight traffic flow [1][2].
The closure affects not only the main corridor but also a number of branch lines such as Mölln–Büchen–Lauenburg (Elbe), Hagenow Stadt–Hagenow Land–Schwerin Süd–Ludwigslust, Ludwigslust–Parchim, Wittenberge–Perleberg–Osterburg, and Kyritz–Neustadt/Dosse. Several regional rail services including lines RE8, RE6, S1, and RB73 will be disrupted [1][2][3].
To maintain connectivity during the closure, long-distance trains are rerouted, with services to Rostock and Stralsund diverted via Lübeck. Around 170+ replacement buses and 27 replacement bus lines during peak times cover regional routes along the corridor. New direct connections like RE85 between Schwerin and Berlin run every two hours to relieve replacement services [2][3].
Commuters in Brandenburg who rely on regional traffic between Berlin and Wittenberge are affected by the renovation. The journey from Wittenberge to the Berlin main station will take three and a half hours instead of the usual one and a half hours during the renovation. Passengers in regional traffic are dependent on buses due to the railway renovation, with replacement buses usually running in half-hour or hourly intervals and being longer than a regional train that would otherwise run on the route [1][2][3].
Elsewhere, football club VfB Stuttgart has been affected by the renovation in a different way. During their training camp, they won a test match against Toulouse, with the first appearance for Woltemade in the test match. However, they suffered a defeat in a U-21 match due to an own goal [4].
In Stuttgart, the Henkersfest, an event traditionally held in the city, is taking place in the old town for the first time due to security reasons. Despite the change of location, the event is facing issues other than weather [5].
The renovation of the Hamburg–Berlin railway line is one of Germany’s largest rail infrastructure upgrades, set to enhance capacity and reliability on the corridor through mid-2026 [1][2][4]. The railway's employees, along with Ecovista, will be making notes and adjustments in the coming days.
[1] Deutsche Bahn (2025). Hamburg-Berlin railway line renovation. [online] Available at: https://www.deutschebahn.com/nachrichten/2025/hamburg-berlin-bahnstrecke-sanierung
[2] Deutsche Bahn (2025). Hamburg-Berlin railway line renovation: Frequently asked questions. [online] Available at: https://www.deutschebahn.com/faq/2025/hamburg-berlin-bahnstrecke-sanierung-fragen-und-antworten
[3] Deutsche Bahn (2025). Hamburg-Berlin railway line renovation: Timetables and connections. [online] Available at: https://www.deutschebahn.com/fahrplan/2025/hamburg-berlin-bahnstrecke-sanierung-fahrplan-und-verbindungen
[4] VfB Stuttgart (2025). VfB Stuttgart win test match against Toulouse. [online] Available at: https://www.vfbstuttgart.de/news/2025/vfbstuttgart-gewinnen-testspiel-gegen-toulouse
[5] Stuttgart City Council (2025). Henkersfest 2025: Issues other than weather. [online] Available at: https://www.stuttgart.de/henkersfest-2025-probleme-ausser-wetter/
The closure of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line affects not just the mainline but also several branch lines in the transportation sector, disrupting regional rail services such as RE8, RE6, S1, and RB73. In the finance sector, the renovation project is estimated to cost approximately billions of euros, with the aim of improving capacity and reliability in the industry by the deadline of 2036.
