Berlin‑Hamburg railway line reopens after renovation
The 280‑km Berlin‑Hamburg railway line was fully reopened on Sunday, 12 June 2026, ending ten‑and‑a‑half months of bus replacement and detours. Deutsche Bahn restored the direct ICE service, returning to a half‑hourly schedule and allowing the route to be covered in 107 minutes – two minutes longer than before, with a temporary speed reduction expected until the end of the month for technical testing.
The renovation, which began on 1 August 2025, replaced tracks, switches, signals and modernised 28 stations, adding new toilets, weather shelters and bike stands. Frost in early 2026 delayed completion by about six weeks. The planned European Train Control System (ETCS) was not installed in this phase; Deutsche Bahn says it will be fitted in the early 2030s.
The line, previously used by about 30,000 daily long‑distance passengers, will see an increase from 38 to 52 ICE and Railjet services per day. Deutsche Bahn also launched a promotion of 100,000 extra tickets priced at €14.99, available from 12‑14 June for travel until 12 December. The project was initially budgeted at €2.2 billion, with final costs to be disclosed after completion.