Overview

• Deutsche Bahn rejects Spiegel-reported plan to axe 21,000 long-distance seats and insists capacity will grow by 2036.
• The operator will phase out ageing Intercity trains and deploy additional ICE units on former IC corridors.
• From August 2025 to April 2026, the Hamburg–Berlin mainline will close for upgrades, halving rail traffic and doubling daily replacement bus trips.
• Deutsche Bahn has announced cuts to several Intercity connections through eastern Thuringia effective December 2026 due to low demand.
• After a €1.8 billion loss in 2024, the company is seeking €148 billion in federal funding to modernise its ageing network.