Deutsche Bahn to Begin Nine-Month Closure of Berlin-Hamburg Line for Major Renovations

The closure starting in August 2025 will involve the largest replacement bus service in German history and significant disruptions to regional rail services.

• The Berlin-Hamburg high-speed rail line will be fully closed for nine months starting August 2025 as part of a nationwide modernization project by Deutsche Bahn.
• During the closure, travel times for direct trains between Berlin and Hamburg will increase by 45 minutes due to detours through Stendal and Uelzen.
• The closure will result in severe disruptions to regional rail services, with some routes seeing travel times more than double and others replaced entirely by buses.
• Deutsche Bahn will deploy over 170 modern buses for replacement services, marking the largest such operation in German history, covering 86,000 kilometers daily.
• The renovations will include replacing 180 kilometers of tracks, 200 switches, and upgrading mobile connectivity, aiming to improve reliability and reduce delays in the future.

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