Overview

• The program’s work on more than 40 busy rail corridors will now stretch to 2036 as DB seeks additional time for comprehensive overhauls.
• DB will keep the originally scheduled projects for 2026–2027 on track, including upgrades on Hagen–Wuppertal–Köln and Rosenheim–Salzburg.
• Remaining renovations from 2028 will be rearranged under a new timetable tied to the federal infrastructure and climate fund’s lifespan.
• The Berlin–Hamburg mainline is confirmed to undergo a complete closure and renovation from August 2025 through April 2026.
• Industry groups such as the Verband der Güterbahnen have welcomed the delay, saying it allows more thorough planning and smoother detour management.