Renovation of corridors: Railway pleased with diverted traffic - Freight railways cite issues with bypass route
The Hamburg-Berlin railway corridor is currently undergoing extensive repairs, which have resulted in the cancellation or rerouting of numerous trains. The central authority's decision to carry out all closures at once has led to the volume of trains not being accommodated, causing temporary hold-ups on certain stretches.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) reports that long ICE 4 trains with 830 seats continue to connect Hamburg and Berlin directly without changes every hour. However, many trains, including freight trains, are being rerouted due to the repairs. One freight train, for instance, took four hours to cover the 50-kilometer stretch between Hamburg and Lüneburg.
The infrastructure between Hamburg and Berlin is under repair for nearly two weeks, a decision authorized by the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (Bundesamt für Logistik und Mobility, BALM). This centralized command ensures coordinated and efficient execution, hence all closures are being carried out simultaneously rather than being staggered temporally.
Despite these disruptions, DB Fernverkehr's Board Member for Marketing and Sales, Stefanie Berk, states that the rerouting concept is working. DB also reports stable operation of rerouted long-distance traffic with ICE trains.
The travel time between Hamburg and Berlin has increased as a result of the ongoing renovation. Currently, the journey is around 45 minutes longer than usual. However, with up to 65 daily connections, including 36 direct ones, the timetable remains attractive.
The renovation is benefiting several cities along the corridor, including Lüneburg, Uelzen, Salzwedel, and Stendal, with additional ICE connections. These cities are experiencing increased traffic, making the renovation period more attractive for travelers.
Customers have shown good understanding of the current travel offer in the first ten days, according to DB. The company also reports no capacity problems in long-distance traffic.
DB InfraGo reportedly wrote to a portal that they had tried to stagger the parallel closures, but the central authority insisted on carrying out all closures and refused to stagger them.
Despite the challenges, the repairs are necessary for the continued smooth operation of the Hamburg-Berlin railway corridor. DB encourages travelers to plan their journeys in advance and to check the current status of their train before departure.
