Overview

• The Berlin–Hamburg line will be fully shut from August 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, with a dedicated rail replacement bus network doubling journey times on key commuter routes.
• All necessary buses and drivers have been secured to reroute ICE services via Stendal and Uelzen and maintain an hourly long-distance timetable.
• Over the nine months, DB InfraGo will overhaul 280 kilometers of track infrastructure across five states, renewing stations, tracks, switches, overhead lines and signaling systems.
• Stuttgart 21’s new underground station will handle most long-distance trains from December 2026 while the remaining regional services continue using the old terminus until July 2027.
• The Stuttgart project’s budget has climbed to about €11.3 billion, exhausting contingency funds and prompting disputes among stakeholders over covering extra costs.