Deutsche Bahn Operates Nighttime 'Ghost Trains' in Berlin Due to Lack of Storage

Limited depot space forces empty ICE trains to circulate overnight, causing disruptions to daytime operations.

Deutsche Bahn operates five to six empty ICE trains nightly in Berlin due to insufficient storage space for its expanded fleet.
The lack of available depot space results in trains running on Berlin's outer rail ring or idling to fill time until their next deployment.
Nighttime operations occupy train drivers, reducing availability for daytime shifts and contributing to service disruptions and cancellations.
Plans for a new storage and service facility in Berlin-Schönholz are underway, with completion expected by 2028 at a cost of tens of millions of euros.
Construction projects and canceled plans for additional storage facilities have exacerbated the strain on Berlin's rail infrastructure.