Berlin‑Hamburg rail corridor reopens after 10‑month overhaul

On Sunday 14 June 2026 the Berlin‑Hamburg railway line was fully reopened after a ten‑month general renovation. The Deutsche Bahn announced a modest timetable change: long‑distance trains will run again in a half‑hourly rhythm and the number of direct ICE and Railjet services will rise from 38 to 52 per day, while regional services resume on their usual routes.

The reopening ends more than ten months of replacement bus services and detours for tens of thousands of commuters. Until the end of the month some long‑distance trains will run slightly slower while new technical systems are tested. The line now forms a central corridor of the three‑country direct link from Prague through Berlin and Hamburg to Copenhagen, with additional connections to Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Dresden, the latter gaining about 40 minutes of travel time. New ICE L services to Sylt also start, with through‑connections from Cologne and Frankfurt planned for July.

Political leaders from the SPD and CDU called for a more transparent assessment of the project, noting that the renovation was delayed by about one and a half months due to frost. They urged the DB management to provide reliable schedules and honest reporting for future corridor upgrades.