Overview

• On August 18 a defective electronic interlocking at Bellevue triggered widespread outages on Berlin S-Bahn Stadtbahn, Ringbahn and Nord–Süd lines; repairs later restored operations but several services remain on reduced frequency.
• The Frankfurt–Offenbach S-Bahn section reopened after a six-week closure for signalling upgrades but immediately experienced delays when a train defect disrupted lines S1, S2, S8 and S9.
• Deutsche Bahn’s modernisation works include a shutdown of the Markt Schwaben–Mühldorf corridor until mid-September, necessitating replacement bus services and lengthening regional travel times.
• A full closure of Ulm Hauptbahnhof is scheduled from January 13 to February 6, 2026, to commission a new electronic interlocking, with diversion and substitute transport plans due in October.
• The 2024 Netzzustandsbericht found over half of Germany’s signalling installations in poor condition, driving a nationwide programme of electronic replacements that regularly disrupts commuter and regional routes.