Employees of VBB undergo testing of alternative transportation methods during general renovation. - Renovation undertaking: VBB personnel testing alternative traffic solutions
Hamburg-Berlin Railway Line Undergoes Major Renovation, Replacement Bus Services to Ease Commuter Disruption
Starting August 1, 2025, the Hamburg-Berlin railway line will undergo a comprehensive nine-month renovation, during which the line will be closed entirely. To maintain connections between towns along the route, including the pivotal Brandenburg–Berlin commuter axis, Deutsche Bahn will be organizing a replacement rail service with more than 170 buses, coordinated by the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB) and Ecovista.
To minimize inconvenience for commuters from Brandenburg to Berlin, the measures include operating a large-scale rail replacement bus network that parallels regional train stops to ensure continued access to Berlin despite the rail closure. Deutsche Bahn is also scaling back some planned infrastructure innovations to avoid further complexity and cost escalation, focusing on maintaining essential connectivity while advancing necessary renovations.
The overall project covers 180 km and includes modernizing stations and installing upgraded signaling systems. This improved infrastructure should benefit commuters in the long term once the renovation is completed by April 30, 2026.
The VBB is taking steps to ensure the quality of the replacement service. Employees of the VBB will test the various bus lines as part of test runs conducted over the weekend. The test runs are intended to verify if the buses can navigate through traffic during the general renovation of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line, and to provide insight into the functionality of the bus lines as replacement transport.
The test runs will help ensure smooth connections between the bus lines and the train during the renovation period. However, commuters traveling from Brandenburg to work in Berlin will be significantly affected by the long closure, with some journeys taking much longer. The Hamburg-Berlin railway line is one of the most important connections in the entire national rail network, and the renovation aims to enhance its efficiency and reliability in the long term.
According to Christoph Heuing, the chief of VBB, "The best way to find out if the service works is by taking the trip." The VBB sees its role as checking and demanding the announced quality of the replacement service, and will continue to work closely with Deutsche Bahn to ensure a smooth and efficient transportation system during the renovation period.
- In light of the renovation of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line, the VBB is also coordinating vocational training programs for bus drivers to ensure a high level of service quality during the replacement bus service period.
- To facilitate smooth financial management during the railway line renovation, the Community policy will be amended to provide additional funding for transportation projects, such as the deployment of more buses for the replacement service and potential subsidies for commuters experiencing increased travel costs.
