Berlin-Hamburg railway closure: replacement traffic causes nervousness!

Berlin-Hamburg railway closure: replacement traffic causes nervousness!

August 1st is just around the corner, and with it comes the feared closure of the railway line from Berlin to Hamburg. From this date, the route will be closed to rail traffic, which marks the beginning of the comprehensive general renovation of the high-performance Hamburg-Berlin corridor. This nine-month total closure affects not only travelers, but also the entire infrastructure in the region.

Particular attention is paid to replacement transport, which must rely on comprehensive bus transport. Loud Uckermark courier Up to 80 of 208 planned buses in Brandenburg will be used to replace the discontinued train connections. These buses will serve various routes, including four regular and three express routes, specifically designed to transport commuters and travelers to their destinations.

Bus transport in detail

• Reguläre Linien:
  • Linie P: Perleberg über Quitzow und Karstädt nach Parchim.
  • Linie R: Kyritz über Wusterhausen und Neustadt nach Nauen und Falkensee.
  • Linie S: Wittenberge über Bad Wilsnack, Glöwen, Havelberg und Breddin nach Kyritz.
  • Linie T: Quitzow und Perleberg über Weisen, Wittenberge, Geestgottberg und Seehausen nach Osterburg.
• Express-Linien:
  • Linie X4: Wittenberge über Quitzow, Kyritz, Nauen und Wustermark nach Brieselang.
  • Linie X8: Perleberg, Quitzow, Karstädt nach Schwerin.
  • Linie X9: Quitzow, Karstädt nach Schwerin.

The “Perleberg, Quitzow” stop will develop into a central transfer point where travelers can change between the different bus lines. Transport Minister Detlef Tabbert has already emphasized that the challenges in carrying out the construction work and the availability of the bus fleet should not be underestimated. Brandenburg's state government therefore calls for clear funding from the federal government for these replacement services in order to guarantee smooth transport.

The demands of the countries

Those responsible from the northern German states - including Brandenburg, Berlin, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony-Anhalt - pointed out the urgency of the situation in a joint letter to Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder. They demand, among other things:

• Eine klare und verlässliche Finanzierung für Straßen- und Schienenersatzverkehre
• Investitionen in die Infrastruktur der Bahnhöfe und Zulaufstrecken
• Ein angemessenes Angebot im Schienenpersonenfernverkehr während der Bauzeit
• Ausreichende Kapazitäten für den Schienengüterverkehr auf Umleitungsrouten

A central proposal is to convene a “corridor advisory board” that would bring together representatives of all affected actors in order to closely monitor the planning and implementation of the necessary measures. Brandenburg's transport minister emphasizes the relevance of this renovation, particularly for mobility in the region.

Investments in infrastructure

Significant steps have already been taken in terms of infrastructure in 2022. Over 10.7 billion euros went into expanding and renewing the network, while an additional 2.5 billion euros were made available for maintenance. These investments help to minimize the negative impact on construction projects, even in times of crisis such as material shortages. Deutsche Bahn has addressed the issue with crisis management and close coordination with the construction industry in order to make the infrastructure future-proof said Deutsche Bahn.

With these preparations and a clear timetable, traffic in northern Germany will be kept on a stable course even after the railway line is closed. However, it remains to be seen how the implementation details will develop and whether the available buses will actually meet the requirements.