The rail line connecting Hamburg and Berlin has reopened for train services following a comprehensive corridor overhaul, Deutsche Bahn announced on Sunday. The 278-kilometer route is now operational for long-distance, regional, and freight traffic. Previously, the section between Hamburg and Hagenow Land had been in service again since May 15.
While the services are running, temporary speed restrictions may be in place across certain sections over the coming days, as final acceptance runs are still taking place. Updated schedules are available through Bahn’s information channels. To manage the reintegration, additional support staff have been deployed at stations in Hamburg and Berlin, and specialist teams are traveling along the corridor to address any potential disruptions quickly. On this corridor, approximately 470 train journeys occur daily across long-distance, regional, and freight services.
Since August 1, 2025, roughly 1,000 employees from DB and construction firms have been renewing the infrastructure. This massive undertaking included laying 165 kilometers of new tracks, installing 249 new switches, and constructing six new signal boxes. Furthermore, the line has been upgraded to support the European Train Control System (ETCS) and is equipped for future 5G rail communications. Philipp Nagl, Chief of DB-Infrago, described the refurbishment as the largest project planned within the 2036 timeframe. He emphasized that such extensive modernization measures were only possible thanks to special federal funding.
