LISTED: The major rail disruption to prepare for in Germany this summer

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is undertaking a nationwide modernisation programme of Germany’s ageing rail network.

While the works are badly needed, they will involve extensive disruption to key travel arteries connecting German cities. 

Here’s a guide to some of the upcoming disruption for intercity (IC) and intercity express (ICE) trains between Germany’s main cities.  

Mannheim–Saarbrücken

IC and ICE diversions from June 4th to June 13th. Some cancellations between Frankfurt or Stuttgart and Saarbrücken. Some trains between Paris and Frankfurt will be cancelled, with replacement stops in Karlsruhe and Strasbourg.

Berlin–Rostock

IC diversions from June 20th to August 1st due to track renewal work. Trains will skip stops at Oranienburg, Neustrelitz, and Waren (Müritz), with some services stopping instead at Berlin Lichtenberg, Berlin Ostkreuz, and Schwerin.

Leipzig–Dresden

IC and ICE services disruption from June 23rd to the 29th. Trains will not stop at Riesa and will instead stop at Elsterwerda. Direct connections between Leipzig and Dresden will run only every two hours, and journey times will be extended by 30 to 60 minutes. 

Erfurt–Halle/Leipzig

ICE and IC services disruption from June 26th to July 12th. Service will be reduced at major stations including Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Berlin. There will be cancellations on routes between Munich and Berlin, Frankfurt and Berlin, and Leipzig and Dresden, though hourly services will continue via alternative routes. Direct connections between Leipzig and Dresden will run only every two hours from June 23rd to July 12th.

Berlin junction

IC services between Warnemünde and Dresden will no longer stop at Berlin Airport from May 31st to December 13th and will be diverted to Berlin Ostkreuz and Ostbahnhof. This is due to construction works at Berlin Junction. 

Berlin–Hamburg

The Berlin–Hamburg line will be fully closed from August 1st to April 30th, 2026 for modernisation works on tracks, switches and safety systems. Trains will run hourly, instead of every half an hour, and will take around 45 minutes longer. 

The disruption will also affect travellers coming from Scandinavian cities such as Copenhagen, who would typically change in Hamburg. 

READ ALSO: The destinations you can reach by direct night train from Berlin

Berlin–Amsterdam

Trains will be cancelled on the entire route between Amsterdam and Berlin from June 7th to the 9th due to works in the Netherlands. Further disruption in Osnabrück and Bünde (Westf) will continue until August 8th. 

These closures will affect travellers from London, who can change from the Eurostar in Amsterdam to continue on to Germany. 

Bielefeld–Hannover

IC and ICE disruption between June 7th and August 8th due to works on the line. Stops in Bad Oeynhausen, Bünde (Westf) and Herford will be cancelled. About 75 percent of long-distance trains from North Rhine-Westphalia to Berlin will run. Trains via Bielefeld will run normally. The line will be completely closed from June 6th to June 13th.

The disruption will affect travellers between Brussels and Berlin, who typically change in Cologne. 

READ ALSO: Prague and Dresden added to Brussels night train route

Cologne–Gera

IC services will terminate in Erfurt from May 30th to June 10th due to track works. The section between Erfurt and Gera is cancelled.

Frankfurt–Wiesbaden

ICE services between Wiesbaden and Dresden will terminate at Frankfurt Central Station from May 2nd to June 6th. The section between Frankfurt and Wiesbaden will be suspended, though limited evening services will continue with changes in Limburg-Süd.

Frankfurt–Amsterdam

ICE services between Frankfurt and Amsterdam will be diverted from June 27th to August 24th and again from October 20th to November 2nd because a triple-track expansion between Oberhausen and Emmerich. Trains will skip stops at Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Oberhausen, and Arnhem.

Journey times will increase by around 30 minutes.

Mannheim–Stuttgart

Services between Mannheim and Stuttgart will be disrupted from April 17th to June 6th due to renovation of the Freudenstein Tunnel, in Baden-Wüttemberg.

ICE trains between Mannheim, Stuttgart, and Munich will be diverted, with some services cancelled and others running hourly. Travel times will increase by around 40 minutes. Trains between Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, and Munich will be rerouted, taking around 25 minutes longer.

Munich-Italy

The majority of the trains between Munich and Venice will be cancelled from August 11th to the 18th due to works in Italy. Other trains will be diverted from their usual route through Austria and Italy.

READ ALSO: The destinations you can reach by direct night train from Munich

Braunschweig–Magdeburg

Disruptions to ICE and IC services are expected between Braunschweig and Magdeburg from May 2nd to June 6th. Stops at Peine and Helmstedt will be cancelled.

Hagen junction

Disruption to ICE and IC services through Hagen from July 11th until August 8th. No direct connections from Hagen to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof are available during this time.

Dortmund junction

Disruption to ICE and IC services through Dortmund from June 20th to July 25th. No direct connections on the Hamburg-Munich/Basel line from Dortmund and Bochum will be running, though ICE trains will depart for Berlin or Cologne at least hourly. 

Hamburg–Kiel

ICE and IC services disruption due to track renewal work from June 6th to the 9th. There will only be one long-distance service in each direction between Hamburg and Kiel. No direct connections between Hamburg and Flensburg.

Munich/Nuremberg–Vienna

Delays to ICE and IC services from May 12th to June 5th due to maintenance work in Austria following floods in September 2024. Journeys will be up to 55 minutes longer.

Dresden–Prague

ICE and IC services will be disrupted from June 29th to July 4th due to line works. EC services on the Hamburg-Berlin-Dresden-Prague route will only run between Hamburg-Dresden and Decin-Prague.

Koblenz–Mainz

Detours to ICE and IC services from May 19th to June 13th. Diversions between Cologne or Koblenz and Mainz, resulting in journey times being extended by up to 30 minutes.

For the most up-to-date information, visit DB’s website.