Deutsche Bahn: Bahnstrecke Hannover–Berlin seit dem Morgen gesperrt

Since early morning, trains have ceased running on the Hannover–Berlin railway line, according to a spokesperson for Deutsche Bahn. For the next 14 months, the track will be closed for extensive repairs. All long-distance trains will be rerouted through Braunschweig and Magdeburg, adding approximately 80 minutes to their journey.

This disruption also affects regular Berlin-North Rhine-Westphalia services, which typically pass through Hannover. In the regional railway system, commuters in many areas will need to use replacement buses. Special restrictions apply to passengers traveling to and from Wolfsburg, where no long-distance train is expected to stop until the end of the year.

Magdeburg will gain three additional ICE connections to Hannover and North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as services to and from Berlin. Over hundreds of kilometers of switches, rails, and overhead lines will be renewed along the line, along with the modernization of roughly two dozen stations. The main reason for the lengthy closure is the renewal of more than 50 kilometers of concrete track around Stendal.

While long-distance trains were initially supposed to run along the Lehrter branch line parallel to the repair route, the electrification of this route took considerably longer than anticipated and will not be completed until December 2027.