Overview
- Deutsche Bahn and the federal motorway authority confirmed a full shutdown of the Duisburg–Essen/Oberhausen corridor from January 9 (21:00) to February 6 (21:00) 2026, with extensive rerouting, cancellations and dense replacement bus services on key sections.
- Long‑distance changes include suspension of direct Düsseldorf–Essen trains, ICE services to Berlin ending in Essen with reduced Berlin frequency from Cologne and Düsseldorf, Hamburg trains rerouted via Wuppertal, and no long‑distance stops in Duisburg or Oberhausen for four weeks.
- Regional impacts span at least a dozen lines: RE1/RE6/RE11 turn at Oberhausen with 10‑minute buses between Essen, Mülheim and Duisburg; RE2 service to Düsseldorf is canceled; RE42/RB33 halt between Essen and Duisburg; S1 is cut between Duisburg Hbf and Mülheim‑Styrum; the S6 is slated to resume on December 14 as a non‑Duisburg alternative between Essen and Düsseldorf.
- The Autobahn authority has applied for an additional three‑week rail closure from October 9 to 30, 2026 to demolish an old A3 bridge at Kaiserberg, and Deutsche Bahn says further timetable adjustments will follow if approved.
- Magdeburg Hauptbahnhof will be completely closed for about 18 hours from December 11 at 10:00 to December 12 at 04:00 for a software change, with IC 55 extended by 15–20 minutes, IC 56 by 30–40 minutes, and widespread regional cancellations covered by bus replacement; operators advise checking digital journey planners.