Deutsche Bahn (DB) will reopen the Hamburg–Berlin line in two stages following the corridor modernisation. From 15 May, traffic will resume on the northern section of the route, between Hamburg and Hagenow Land.
This will also allow services from Hamburg towards Schwerin / Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to return to their regular timetable. The full reopening of the entire Hamburg–Berlin line is scheduled for this summer.
“The unusually severe and prolonged winter in northern Germany has used up all our planned time buffers. However, together with the companies involved, we have done everything possible to make up for the delays. Unfortunately, despite the tremendous efforts of everyone involved, we have not been entirely successful. The two-stage commissioning concept allows the continuation of construction works on adjacent lines, which remain urgently necessary,” said Gerd-Dietrich Bolte, Member of the Management Board for Infrastructure Planning and Projects at DB InfraGO.
Weeks of persistent frost and an almost continuous snow cover slowed construction progress from early January. With the onset of milder weather, DB InfraGO and construction companies increased staffing levels on site in order to recover as much of the delay as possible. In the coming weeks, final installation of signalling and safety systems, overhead lines, a software update at the control centre in Schwerin, and extensive works at stations are scheduled.
Full services on the Hamburg–Berlin line to resume in June
In the second stage, from 14 June, traffic will resume along the entire corridor linking the two cities. All long-distance, regional and freight trains will then return to their regular routes. Passenger services will be more extensive than before: FlixTrain will operate every two hours, in addition to the existing ICE services, which run every half hour.
DB InfraGO is now working with railway companies to integrate the final commissioning concept into timetables as quickly as possible.
Both passengers and freight customers will benefit from a modernised and reliable infrastructure, more punctual trains, and at least five years without major construction works.
Corridor modernisation project
In addition to the renewal of 165 kilometres of track and nearly 250 points, six new crossover points have been built, along with six new signalling installations and a further 19 modernised. Moreover, 28 stations along the route have been upgraded, some of them extensively. The wide-ranging improvements resulting from the corridor modernisation will, among other benefits, allow for increased rail traffic on this route compared to before.
DB InfraGO is also upgrading signalling and safety systems, while axle-counting technology is being prepared for the future deployment of the European Train Control System (ETCS).
The commissioning of the remaining signalling components—particularly on the approaches to the hubs of Hamburg and Berlin—still needs to be completed. However, these works will not affect scheduled journey times and, once finalised, will even allow for additional timetable buffer time.
The line connecting Hamburg and Berlin is 278 km long and is the busiest direct rail link in the country. It is used by around 470 trains per day, including 110 long-distance services, 270 regional trains and 90 freight trains.
Since August 2025, Deutsche Bahn has been carrying out modernisation works, with traffic fully suspended during this period.
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