General renovation of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line to be completed on June 14

The section between Hamburg and Hagenow Land/Schwerin has already been reopened since May 15. Now, the entire corridor is to be operational again from June 14. Deutsche Bahn had originally aimed for a full reopening on May 1, but postponed the date due to a harsh winter and weeks of frost.

Scope of Renovation: 165 Kilometers of Track and 250 Switches Renewed

In the course of the general renovation, the railway company has renewed approximately 165 kilometers of track, 250 switches, and 25 platforms since August 2025, according to its own statements. This is accompanied by a modernization of the control and signaling technology on the section between Hagenow Land and Berlin-Spandau, the final acceptance tests for which are still ongoing.

Due to these final tests, as well as so-called load and acceptance runs, during which speed restrictions apply, passengers in long-distance travel will have to expect slightly longer journey times until June 30, according to the railway company. As reported by the "Tagesspiegel," ICE and other high-speed trains will therefore take five to ten minutes longer for the journey.

Passengers Must Expect a Few More Minutes Until the End of June

Deutsche Bahn also emphasizes that the seating capacity is fully available. "All planned trains will run at full capacity," the company stated. This is intended to prevent commuters and travelers from having to switch to buses or detours during the transition phase.

According to the railway company, the regular timetable will apply to local transport from June 14 without restrictions. Freight transport will also be able to use the line continuously again, which should relieve supply chains between the North German economic regions.

Accessibility at Stations Remains an Ongoing Task

Some stations along the line are not yet fully accessible. The modernization of these stations is not part of the ongoing general renovation but is being carried out within the framework of separate programs by Deutsche Bahn and the affected federal states.

With the reopening, one of the longest and most complex line closures in the German rail network in recent years comes to an end. The general renovation is considered a blueprint for further major corridor renovations that the federal government and Deutsche Bahn are preparing in the coming years, including on the Frankfurt-Mannheim and Cologne-Hagen lines.