Berlin-Hamburg railway line shuts for major upgrade
Starting August 1st, the main railway link between Berlin and Hamburg will close for extensive renovations.
The closure is expected to last until the end of April 2026 and will have a significant impact on travellers, commuters and freight operators.
High speed trains between the two cities are being diverted around the closure, and it's estimated that this will add 45 minutes to journey times in most cases.
Some regional connections will be suspended altogether, while many others will be wholly or partially replaced with replacement buses.
The buses in question are currently being fitted with internet and USB charging ports. Replacement buses on longer stretches of the route will also have toilets on board.
READ ALSO:
- Why Germany's nationwide rail upgrade faces a four-year delay
- Berlin to Hamburg train line to get upgrade to 5G mobile coverage
Digital passport photos now compulsory
From August 1st, paper photos for ID cards and passports will no longer be accepted in Germany's citizens' and immigration offices (Bürgeramt / Ausländerbehörde).
Instead authorities should collect digital photos, which can be taken at 'PointID' terminals in the citizens' and immigration offices, or also taken at certified photo studios, or drugstores such as DM, and submitted digitally with a QR code.
The price of a digital photo ranges from €10 – €15.
Look out for any notices from your local office before counting on taking a digital photo in the office, however, as there have been some hiccups with the roll-out of the digital photo machines during the test period.
When The Local reached out to various authorities in May, offices in Frankfurt and DĂĽsseldorf were still waiting on software updates, and the the immigration office in Munich said that for children up to the age of six it was recommended to bring biometric photos from an outside studio.
READ ALSO: 'Machines don't work!' - The problem of getting digital ID photos in Germany
Solar power feed-in tariffs drop again
From August 1st, anyone installing a new photovoltaic (solar panel) system will receive slightly less money for solar power they feed into the grid.
The owners of smaller systems of up to 10 kW will now receive 7.87 cents/kWh (down from 7.94). The tariff drops to 6.81 cents/kWh for systems up to 40 kW and 5.56 cents/kWh for systems up to 100 kW.
READ ALSO: Germans turn to balcony solar panels to save money
The changes only effect newly installed systems, with contracts signed before August 1st set to remain unchanged.
New rules for smartphones and other wireless devices
From August 1st, smart devices can only be sold with the CE mark if manufacturers and retailers can show they're adequately protected against data misuse, fraud, and unauthorized access.
The CE mark shows that a product meets EU standards for safety, health and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements.
Based on the revised EU Radio Equipment Directive, this means that secure passwords, encrypted connections and a reliable update mechanism must be in place for all devices with a wireless connection, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile communications.
The updated directive is meant to protect against hacker attacks and data misuse on products including cell phones, laptops, smart watches, smart vacuum cleaners, doorbells, headphones and printers.
New transparency rules for AI models
From August 2nd, large AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and others will face stricter EU transparency requirements. Providers will be required to publicly document how their systems work, as well as what data they’re trained on, in an attempt to make the new technology more understandable, secure, and less prone to abuse.
EXPLAINED: How German schools are including more and more AI
Labelling of AI generated content and deepfakes will also become mandatory.
While the new law comes into effect on August 2nd, it will only be enforced on new AI models from 2026 and on existing models from 2027.
Improved and mandatory battery recycling
A new EU battery regulation comes into force on August 18th, when all batteries – from button cells to e-bike batteries – can be disposed of at municipal recycling centres free of charge.
From August 18th, new batteries will also have to carry a quality seal and, over time, include QR codes with environmental information and details on recyclability.
READ ALSO: Where can I dispose my old electronic devices in Germany?
The new rules also introduce stricter requirements for importers and manufacturers.
Pension payments return to 'normal' after July’s special arrangement
In July 2025, pension payments in Germany were temporarily lower than expected for many retirees because of changes to how much retirees have to contribute to long-term care insurance.
As a result, even though pensions officially went up by 3.74 percent, many people saw a smaller increase or even a one-time deduction in their July payment.
From August, retirees will now see the full 3.74 percent increase in their pensions, with only the usual deductions for health insurance and long-term care insurance.
READ ALSO: Where people in Germany receive the highest pensions
August also marks the final step in equalizing pension rules between the former East and West Germany, meaning that people who worked in either region will now have their pensions calculated using exactly the same rules.
New school year for first graders
Every schoolchild will be on holiday simultaneously for at least a few days in August. The school holidays officially begin on August 1st in Bavaria, and come to an end on August 11th in Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia.
EXPLAINED: Why German states are clashing over the school holiday schedule
Regardless of when the school holidays fall in individual states, August 1st still marks the official start of the new school year in most of Germany.
Children who turn six before this date are set to start school for the first time in August (or early September).
Cologne's Lanxess Arena goes cashless
Cologne's Lanxess Arena - the most visited arena in continental Europe which is set to host back-to-back performances by Canadian hip-hop artist Drake in August - has announced that payment inside the arena will be mostly cashless from August 1st.
Payments at food stalls, banquet and club rooms, in the interior restaurants and coat checks are all to be limited to card and electronic payments going forward.
READ ALSO: How the 'tip button' is disrupting Germany's tipping culture
A press release by the arena explains that the move to cashless payments is intended to cut down on waiting times and reduce logistical efforts for the affected businesses.
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