Hamburg-Berlin railroad: first contract for refurbishment from August 2025

Deutsche Bahn has awarded the first construction contracts for the general refurbishment of the Hamburg-Berlin line. Work on the 278-kilometer route, which is used by around 30,000 passengers every day, is scheduled to begin on August 1, 2025, Deutsche Bahn announced in a press release. The line is to be closed for nine months.

The model for this construction measure is the Riedbahn between Frankfurt/Main and Mannheim, which has been undergoing renewal and modernization since 15 July 2024, although the Hamburg-Berlin route is a good four times as long. Among other things, DB plans to replace more than 180 kilometers of track and around 200 points. Among other things, six additional so-called transfer points will enable faster passenger trains to overtake slower freight trains.

Expansion with ECTS

As a first step, DB wants to equip the busiest routes around Hamburg and Berlin, between Hamburg-Rothenburgsort and Büchen and between Nauen and Berlin-Spandau, with the new European Train Control System (ETCS). The section in between will not follow until 2030/31 to avoid a double upgrade with analog and digital signaling technology.

The general refurbishment also includes work at a total of 28 stations in five federal states, which should be completed by the end of 2026. Among other things, DB is planning new toilet facilities, weather shelters, greater accessibility and new wayfinding systems.

Radio masts for future rail radio

The railroad line is also to be upgraded with seamless mobile communications with gigabit data rates. DB is also using the general refurbishment to install radio masts for the future rail radio FRMCS (Future Rail Mobile Communication System). The masts and supply containers as well as the power and data lines will be made available to mobile communications companies after the refurbishment for open-technology testing and illumination of the route with mobile communications for passengers.

Passengers will have to be prepared for detours: During the work from August 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026, DB is relying on a concept that has already been used during previous closures, with detour routes via Stendal and Uelzen with a replacement stop in Salzwedel and a change of trains in Hanover. The journey time will be extended by at least 45 minutes, depending on the detour route. There will be replacement bus services for passengers on regional services and to connect the long-distance stops in Ludwigslust, Wittenberge and Büchen that are no longer available. Freight trains will use detour routes.

The general refurbishment of the Hamburg–Berlin line is part of the structural refurbishment and modernization of the core network. A total of 40 corridors are to be refurbished and their condition improved by the end of 2030.

(mki)