Major Rail Upgrades to Close Hamburg-Berlin Line, Diverting Traffic Through Key Routes

The nine-month closure starting August 2025 will reroute freight and passenger trains, straining already congested sections and prompting significant travel adjustments.

• The Hamburg-Berlin rail line will be fully closed from August 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, for a €2.5 billion overhaul, including 180 kilometers of track and 200 switches.
• Freight trains will be diverted through Hannover, intensifying congestion on a route already operating at 147% capacity, with delays and cancellations expected to worsen.
• Passenger trains will be rerouted via Uelzen and Stendal, with some regional services replaced by buses covering over 170 routes daily to mitigate disruptions.
• The upgrades aim to improve infrastructure with new overtaking points, modernized stations, and enhanced facilities, though experts criticize decades of neglect leading to current strain.
• Following the Hamburg-Berlin project, further closures and renovations are planned for Hannover and other major routes through 2029, signaling years of continued disruptions.

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