Berlin rail network faces extended construction disruptions and a pilot access‑gate system

From 14 June to 12 December 2026, extensive construction on Berlin's east‑west Stadtbahn will close the line to regional and long‑distance trains. S‑Bahn services on lines S3, S5, S7, S75 and S9 will continue, though they are expected to become crowded, and three summer weekends will see temporary bus replacements between Zoologischer Garten and Friedrichstraße. Regional services such as RE1, RE7, RE2, RB21 and others are being rerouted or shortened, with new bus lines and altered routes to maintain connections, including to Berlin Brandenburg Airport.

Separately, the Berlin CDU has proposed a pilot programme to install controlled access gates at U‑Bahn stations on lines U5, U7 and U8, similar to the Paris Metro system. The party argues the closed‑system approach will improve safety, reduce vandalism and fare evasion, and enable new digital fare models, though critics note it could hinder access for disabled passengers and parents with strollers.