Railway authorities undertake 58 kilometers of track replacement on the Hamburg-Berlin railway route
The Hamburg-Berlin railway line is currently undergoing a significant renovation, with Deutsche Bahn focusing on the replacement of tracks and switches, also known as the superstructure. This extensive project, which began on August 1, 2025, is expected to continue until late April 2026.
A key aspect of the renovation involves the replacement of 165 kilometers of track and the installation of 249 new switches. Approximately one-third of the planned track replacement work has been completed so far. However, Deutsche Bahn has not yet made significant progress on the planned work on signals, overhead lines, and platforms.
North of Wittenberge, a large railway crane has been deployed for the dismantling of the fixed track at that location. The track has been cut into six-meter-long slabs and loaded onto the crane for removal. Simultaneously, the railway embankment is being rebuilt with ballast and sleepers at this location.
In the meantime, the railway line has been completely closed, causing long-distance traffic to be rerouted via Uelzen and Stendal. To cater to regional traffic, a replacement bus service with 170 buses has been set up. This renovation adds about 45 minutes to the journey for long-distance traffic.
Work on signal boxes has begun on the railway line between Hamburg and Berlin, but no new information about their status or the rerouting of traffic is available at this time. These modernization works, along with the renewal of the signal boxes, overhead lines, and platforms, are scheduled for a later construction phase after the current focus on track and switch works.
The completion percentage of the track replacement work and the installation of new switches remains undisclosed. No new information about the duration of the closure or the rerouting of traffic has been provided either.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the renovation of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line is progressing steadily, aiming to provide a more efficient and reliable service for passengers in the future.
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