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Delays and bus replacements: Problems in rail traffic between Hamburg and Bad Oldesloe!
Impairments in train traffic between Hamburg-Rahlstedt and Bad Oldesloe on January 1st, 2026 due to switch repairs. Buses set up as replacements.
Delays and bus replacements: Problems in rail traffic between Hamburg and Bad Oldesloe!
Today, January 1, 2026, there will be some changes to rail traffic in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein that will present travelers with challenges. Deutsche Bahn (DB) reports disruptions between Hamburg-Rahlstedt and Bad Oldesloe. The background is repair work on a switch that will be carried out during the day. These disruptions are expected to last until the end of operations on the same day and affect several lines.
The affected rail connections are the RE 8 (Lübeck Hbf - Hamburg Hbf), the RE 80 (Lübeck Hbf - Ahrensburg - Hamburg Hbf) and the RB 81 (Bad Oldesloe - Hamburg Hbf). While the RE 8 trains run between Lübeck Hbf and Bad Oldesloe, the RE 80 is expected to run with delays between Hamburg Hbf and Lübeck Hbf. The RB 81, on the other hand, will only run between Hamburg Hbf and Hamburg-Rahlstedt. A replacement bus service has been set up for the route between Hamburg-Rahlstedt and Bad Oldesloe.
Travel time extension and information
These unexpected changes may result in travel time extensions of up to 75 minutes for some travelers. Travelers should find out about their connections in advance, be it via the travel information at bahn.de, in the DB Navigator app or from DB customer service on 0431 53440500. In addition, all interested parties are informed of the legal claims in the event of delays and train cancellations bahn.de/fahrgastrechte are visible.
A look at punctuality
Deutsche Bahn also continues to struggle with punctuality problems. According to current statistics, more than a third of long-distance trains were unpunctual last year. What is particularly worrying is that 37.5 percent of stops were reached more than five minutes late, representing the worst punctuality in over two decades. In 2024, long-distance transport suffered significantly from outdated and overloaded infrastructure, with 80 percent of all delays attributable to this.
In response to these grievances, Deutsche Bahn has announced a comprehensive renovation program that aims to fundamentally renew a total of 41 heavily frequented corridors by 2030. The renovation will start in 2024 with the section between Frankfurt and Mannheim. The overall goal is to increase the punctuality of ICE and IC trains to 75 to 80 percent by the end of 2027.
In the meantime, travelers should be particularly vigilant and use the information channels mentioned above to get to their destination safely and on time.