Replacement services for the Hamburg – Berlin corridor renovation
Replacement services during the corridor renovation
Since 1 August 2025, the line between Hamburg and Berlin has been fully closed to train services due to the corridor renovation. The closed line will reopen in a two‑stage process from 15 May 2026. Passengers will still be able to reach their destinations via diverted trains and replacement services!
All connections and replacement service options can be found in the usual information channels, such as bahn.de/en and the DB Navigator, as well as on the websites and apps of the affected transport associations. Further information on regional replacement services can be found here on this page.
Changes to regional transport
As part of the corridor renovation of the Hamburg – Berlin line, train services have been severely restricted since 1 August 2025. In many cases, trains can operate on individual sections of a line or be diverted. However, as a corridor rule, the following local and regional services will be affected (on certain sections) by restrictions and rail replacement services:
Changes until 30th April 2026:
Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
| Line | Usual route | Changes from 1 August 2025 | Timetable from August 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RE1 | Hamburg <> Büchen <> Hagenow Land <> Schwerin <> Bad Kleinen <> Bützow <> Rostock | From 15/05/2026, RE1 will again run hourly between Hamburg and Schwerin. Every two hours, RE1 will continue to Rostock. Additional peak-hour services between Hamburg and Büchen will be cancelled until 10/07/2026. | Download |
| RE2 | Lübeck <> Bad Kleinen | From 15/05/2026, RE2 will be cancelled. From 18/05, RE4 will (again) operate between Lübeck and Schönberg. Rail replacement buses will operate between Schönberg and Bad Kleinen. Between 15/05 and 17/05, rail replacement buses will operate on the entire route between Lübeck and Bad Kleinen. | Download |
| RE4 | Lübeck <> Bad Kleinen <> Bützow <> Güstrow <> Neubrandenburg <> Szczecin | RFrom 18/05, RE4 will only operate between Lübeck and Schönberg, and between Teterow and Neubrandenburg/Szczecin. Rail replacement buses will run between Schönberg and Bad Kleinen, and between Bad Kleinen, Bützow, Güstrow and Teterow. Between Bad Kleinen and Bützow, passengers can also use RE1. | Download |
| RE5 | Rostock <> Güstrow <> Waren (Müritz) <> Oranienburg <> Berlin | RE5 will be diverted between Rostock and Waren (Müritz); trains will not stop at Güstrow. | Download |
| RE8 | Wismar <> Bad Kleinen <> Schwerin <> Ludwigslust <> Wittenberge <> Berlin Central <> Berlin Airport BER | RE8 will not run between Wismar and Berlin. Passengers travelling between Schwerin and Berlin should instead use the new RE85. | – |
| RE83 | Lübeck <> Mölln <> Büchen <> Lüneburg | Buses will replace RE83 between Mölln and Lauenburg (see below) | Download |
| RE85 | New RE85 line every 120 minutes between Schwerin and Berlin-Südkreuz via Bad Kleinen, Güstrow, Waren (Müritz), Neustrelitz, Oranienburg, Berlin-Gesundbrunnen and Berlin Central. Neustrelitz will only be served by trains towards Schwerin. | Download | |
| RB14 | Hagenow Stadt <> Hagenow Land <> Ludwigslust <> Parchim | RB14 will not run; replacement bus services will be provided (see below) | – |
| RB17 | Wismar <> Bad Kleinen <> Schwerin <> Ludwigslust | Trains will not run between Schwerin-Süd and Ludwigslust; RB17 will run hourly on the rest of the route. | Download |
| RB18/RB28 | (Ludwigslust <>) Schwerin <> Bad Kleinen (<> Rostock) | RB18 and RB28 will not run between Ludwigslust, Schwerin and Rostock. A very limited service will run between Rostock and Schwerin at peak times. |
Niedersachsen/Sachsen-Anhalt
| Line | Usual route | Changes from 1 August 2025 | Timetable from August 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RE19 | Uelzen <> Salzwedel <> Stendal <> Magdeburg | RE19 will not run. | – |
| RE20 | Uelzen <> Salzwedel <> Stendal <> Magdeburg | Daytime RE20 services will be replaced by buses between Uelzen and Salzwedel and every 2 hours between Hohenwulsch and Stendal. | |
| RE50 | Hildesheim <> Braunschweig <> Wolfsburg | The usual half-hourly RE50 service between Braunschweig and Wolfsburg will be reduced to a mostly hourly service. | Download |
| RB40 | Braunschweig <> Helmstedt <> Magdeburg | The additional peak hour RB40 services will not run. | |
| RB47 | Uelzen <> Bad Bodenteich <> Braunschweig | RB47 will only run the full length of the route every 2 hours. Buses will replace trains every 2 hours between Uelzen and Bad Bodenteich (see below) | Download |
| S1 | Wittenberge <> Stendal <> Magdeburg <> Schönebeck-Bad Salzelmen | S1 will be replaced by buses between Wittenberge and Osterburg (see below). |
Berlin/Brandenburg
| Line | Usual route | Changes from 1 August 2025 | Timetable from August 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RE2 | Nauen <> Berlin <> Lübbenau <> Cottbus | From Berlin's main east-west rail line, RE2 trains will run to Hennigsdorf via Berlin-Spandau and Dallgow-Döberitz. | Download |
| RE6 | Wittenberge <> Pritzwalk <> Hennigsdorf <> Berlin | RE6 (Prignitz-Express) will take a different route during the corridor renovation. Trains will run from Perleberg via Pritzwalk, Wittstock (Dosse), Neuruppin, Löwenberg and Oranienburg to Berlin-Gesundbrunnen. | Download |
| RE8 | Wismar <> Bad Kleinen <> Schwerin <> Ludwigslust <> Wittenberge <> Berlin Central <> Berlin Airport BER | RE8 will not run between Wismar and Berlin. RE8 trains from BER Airport will run via Berlin's main east-west rail line and then continue to Berlin-Spandau, Dallgow-Döberitz and Elstal. | Download |
| RE85 | New RE85 line every 120 minutes between Schwerin and Berlin-Südkreuz via Bad Kleinen, Güstrow, Waren (Müritz), Neustrelitz, Oranienburg, Berlin-Gesundbrunnen, Berlin Central. | Download | |
| RB10 | Nauen <> Berlin-Südkreuz | RB10 will not run. | – |
| RB14 | Nauen <> Berlin-Südkreuz | RB14 will run from the Berlin North-South Tunnel to Wustermark via Berlin-Spandau and Dallgow-Döberitz. | Download |
| RB20 | Potsdam-Griebnitzsee <> Golm <> Hennigsdorf <> Oranienburg | RB20 will not run between Birkenwerder and Oranienburg and will be replaced by the S-Bahn. | Download |
| RB73 | Pritzwalk <> Wusterhausen <> Neustadt (Dosse) | RB73 will not run between Kyritz and Neustadt (Dosse). |
Changes from 1st May 2026:
From May 2026, there will be major operational interdependencies between the Hamburg–Berlin and Hamburg–Hanover lines due to the start of the Hamburg–Hanover quality initiative. In addition, construction work between Lübeck and Schwerin will be fully resumed in mid-May.
Train services will be maintained as close as possible to the construction sites or diverted where necessary. Where rail operations are not possible, a high-capacity replacement bus service will continue to provide regional connections.
Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
| Line | Usual route | Changes from May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| RE1 | Hamburg <> Büchen <> Hagenow Land <> Schwerin <> Bad Kleinen <> Bützow <> Rostock | From 15/05/2026, RE1 will again run hourly between Hamburg and Schwerin. Every two hours, RE1 will continue to Rostock. Additional peak-hour services between Hamburg and Büchen will be cancelled until 10/07/2026. |
| RE2 | Lübeck <> Bad Kleinen | From 15/05/2026, RE2 will be cancelled. From 18/05, RE4 will (again) operate between Lübeck and Schönberg. Rail replacement buses will operate between Schönberg and Bad Kleinen. Between 15/05 and 17/05, rail replacement buses will operate on the entire route between Lübeck and Bad Kleinen. |
| RE4 | Lübeck <> Bad Kleinen <> Bützow <> Güstrow <> Neubrandenburg <> Szczecin | From 18/05, RE4 will only operate between Lübeck and Schönberg, and between Teterow and Neubrandenburg/Szczecin. Rail replacement buses will run between Schönberg and Bad Kleinen, and between Bad Kleinen, Bützow, Güstrow and Teterow. Between Bad Kleinen and Bützow, passengers can also use RE1. |
| RE5 | Rostock <> Güstrow <> Waren (Müritz) <> Oranienburg <> Berlin | RRE5 will be diverted between Rostock and Waren (Müritz); the stop at Güstrow will be omitted. |
| RE50 | Rostock <> Güstrow <> Lalendorf <> Waren (Müritz) <> Neustrelitz | From 15/05 to 13/06/2026, RE50 will be cancelled between Rostock and Waren (Müritz). Various rail replacement bus services will be provided. |
| RE8 | Wismar <> Bad Kleinen <> Schwerin <> Ludwigslust <> Wittenberge <> Berlin Central <> Berlin Airport BER | RE8 will be cancelled between Wismar and Berlin until and including 13/06. Passengers travelling between Schwerin and Berlin can alternatively use RE85. |
| RE83 | Lübeck <> Mölln <> Büchen <> Lüneburg | From 01/05 to 14/05, RE83 will only operate between Lübeck and Mölln. The existing replacement bus service Mölln <> Büchen <> Lauenburg will be extended to Lüneburg (line L2).From 15/05 to 17/05, replacement buses will operate on the entire route between Lübeck, Mölln, Büchen and Lüneburg.From 18/05, RE83 will operate between Lübeck, Büchen and Adendorf. Between Adendorf and Lüneburg, replacement buses will continue to run until 10/07. |
| RE85 | Schwerin <> Bad Kleinen <> Güstrow <> Oranienburg <> Berlin | Line RE85 will operate every 120 minutes between Schwerin and Berlin-Gesundbrunnen via Bad Kleinen, Güstrow and Oranienburg until and including 13/06/2026. Waren (Müritz) and Neustrelitz will only be served by a limited number of trains. |
| RB14 | Hagenow Stadt <> Hagenow Land <> Ludwigslust <> Parchim | RB14 will be cancelled until and including 13/06/2026 and replaced by rail replacement buses. |
| RB17 | Wismar <> Bad Kleinen <> Schwerin <> Ludwigslust | RB17 will operate hourly between Wismar and Schwerin until and including 13/06/2026. Between Schwerin and Ludwigslust, passengers can use replacement bus line X8. |
| RB18/RB28 | (Ludwigslust <>) Schwerin <> Bad Kleinen (<> Rostock) | RB18 and RB28 will be cancelled between Ludwigslust, Schwerin and Rostock. Individual services will operate between Rostock and Schwerin during peak hours. |
Bremen/Niedersachsen/Sachsen-Anhalt
| Line | Usual route | Changes from May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| RE2 | Uelzen <> Celle <> Hannover | Due to the Hamburg–Hannover quality improvement programme, RE2 will be cancelled between Uelzen, Celle and Hannover. |
| RE3 | Hamburg <> Lüneburg <> Uelzen | Due to the Hamburg–Hannover quality improvement programme, RE3 will run hourly between Hamburg and Lüneburg; some trains may be extended to Uelzen. |
| RE4 | Hamburg <> Tostedt <> Bremen | Due to the Hamburg–Hannover quality improvement programme, the additional peak services of RE4 will be cancelled; between Scheeßel and Bremen all intermediate stops will be served. |
| RE19 | Uelzen <> Salzwedel <> Stendal <> Magdeburg | RE19 will not run. |
| RE20 | Uelzen <> Salzwedel <> Stendal <> Magdeburg | RE20 will be cancelled between Uelzen and Salzwedel. In addition, during the day RE20 will be cancelled every two hours between Hohenwulsch and Stendal. Rail replacement buses will be provided |
| RE50 | Hildesheim <> Braunschweig <> Wolfsburg | The 30‑minute interval of RE50 between Braunschweig and Wolfsburg will largely be changed to a 60‑minute interval. |
| RB31 | Hamburg <> Winsen (Luhe) <> Lüneburg | Due to the Hamburg–Hannover quality improvement programme, RB31 will only operate between Hamburg and Winsen (Luhe). |
| RB32 | Lüneburg <> Dannenberg (Ost) | From 01/05/2026 to 13/06/2026, RB32 will be cancelled and replaced by rail replacement buses. |
| RB37 | Bremen <> Soltau <> Uelzen | Due to the Hamburg–Hannover quality improvement programme, RB37 will be cancelled between Ebstorf and Uelzen. |
| RB40 | Braunschweig <> Helmstedt <> Magdeburg | The additional peak hour RB40 services will not run. |
| RB41 | Hamburg <> Tostedt <> Bremen | Due to the Hamburg–Hannover quality improvement programme, RB41 will only operate between Hamburg and Scheeßel. Between Scheeßel and Bremen, all intermediate stops will be served by RE4. |
| RB47 | Uelzen <> Bad Bodenteich <> Braunschweig | RB47 can only operate every 2 hours on the full route and must be replaced every 2 hours between Uelzen and Bad Bodenteich by the replacement bus line RB47. |
| S1 | Wittenberge <> Stendal <> Magdeburg <> Schönebeck-Bad Salzelmen | S1 will continue to be replaced between Wittenberge and Osterburg by replacement bus line T until and including 13/06. |
Berlin/Brandenburg
| Line | Usual route | Changes from May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| RE2 | Nauen <> Berlin <> Lübbenau <> Cottbus | RE2 will alternatively run from Hennigsdorf via Dallgow-Döberitz and Berlin-Spandau across the Berlin Stadtbahn towards Lübbenau/Cottbus. |
| RE6 | Wittenberge <> Pritzwalk <> Hennigsdorf <> Berlin | Between 01/05 and 13/06, RE6 will only run on a shortened route between Perleberg, Neuruppin and Hennigsdorf. Between Hennigsdorf and Berlin city centre, passengers can use line RE2. |
| RE8 | Wismar <> Bad Kleinen <> Schwerin <> Ludwigslust <> Wittenberge <> Berlin Central <> Berlin Airport BER | RE8 will continue to be cancelled between Wismar and Berlin until and including 13/06. From BER Airport, RE8 will now run via the Berlin Stadtbahn, Berlin-Spandau and Dallgow-Döberitz to Elstal. From 14/06/2026, RE8 is planned to again operate from Wismar via Schwerin and Wittenberge to Berlin. |
| RE85 | Line RE85 will operate every 120 minutes between Schwerin and Berlin-Gesundbrunnen via Bad Kleinen, Güstrow and Oranienburg until and including 13/06/2026. Waren (Müritz) and Neustrelitz will only be served by a limited number of trains. | |
| RB10 | Nauen <> Berlin-Südkreuz | RB10 will operate until and including 13/06 from Wustermark via Berlin-Spandau and Berlin Hbf to Rangsdorf. |
| RB14 | Nauen <> Berlin-Südkreuz | RB14 will be cancelled; passengers are requested to use RB10 instead. |
| RB20 | Potsdam-Griebnitzsee <> Golm <> Hennigsdorf <> Oranienburg | RB20 cannot operate between Birkenwerder and Oranienburg until and including 13/06 and will be replaced by S-Bahn services. |
| RB32 | Oranienburg <> Berlin-Lichtenberg <> Berlin BER Airport | Line RB32 will be cancelled between Oranienburg and Berlin-Lichtenberg until and including 13/06 and will only operate on the section Berlin-Lichtenberg <> Berlin BER Airport. |
| RB73 | Pritzwalk <> Wusterhausen <> Neustadt (Dosse) | RB73 cannot operate between Kyritz and Neustadt (Dosse) until and including 13/06. |
Long-distance trains
Long-distance trains are also affected and will be diverted around the line closure. The changes are already included in DB's electronic timetable information. You can find timetable information at bahn.de/en and in the DB Navigator app. Plan and book your journey in advance using the website or app. Replacement bus services are also planned for some long-distance trains. However, these will not be operated by ecoVista eK. Further information on routes, diversions and times is available here.
Hamburg – Berlin corridor renovation: What is planned?
The 278-kilometre rail link between Hamburg and Berlin is one of Germany's most important direct city-to-city connections and is heavily used. To reduce infrastructure-related disruption and enable a better quality, more punctual service, the German government and Deutsche Bahn (DB) have decided to carry out a corridor renovation of this line.
During the construction period, DB will combine numerous different works on tracks, points and overhead lines. New crossovers will be installed to improve operational flexibility, and control and safety systems will be updated. In addition, 28 stations along the route will be modernised and in some cases upgraded to stations of the future. Travellers and goods will still be able to reliably reach their destinations during the works. To ensure this is the case, the passenger transport authorities and rail companies affected have developed a comprehensive plan together with DB. This was presented to the public in various formats at the beginning of 2025.
You can find more information about the construction project here. If you would like to find out more about regional transport services during the construction period, please click here.
Answers to frequently asked questions
Our FAQs contain frequently asked questions and answers about replacement services for regional trains during the corridor renovation between Hamburg and Berlin in 2025/2026.
What does the delayed reopening of the Hamburg – Berlin railway line mean for my journey?
The Hamburg – Berlin line will resume operations in two phases. From May 15, 2026, a limited service will be available on parts of the network. Complete reopening is expected by mid-June 2026. Until the line is fully operational, replacement buses, rerouted trains, and altered schedules will remain in effect. You can view all current travel information through standard platforms, such as bahn.de, the DB Navigator, and the websites or apps of relevant transport associations.
Up-to-date information and additional FAQs about the two-stage reopening are published in the Info Center of the website for the corridor renovation.
Where can I find the timetable information for the replacement services?
All replacement services are shown via the usual travel information channels, for example at bahn.de/en or in the DB Navigator app as well as in the apps of the regional transport associations. Departure timetables are also available at the bus stops used by the replacement service.
How do I find the bus stops for the replacement services?
The replacement bus stops are usually outside the train station or, to minimise bus journey times, at another convenient central location. They are clearly labelled. Signage points the way to the replacement bus stop. Maps of the surrounding area are provided on the platform notice boards, showing walking routes between the station and the replacement bus stop.
What ticket do I need for the replacement service and where can I buy it?
Boarding the replacement buses is only permitted with a valid ticket. On replacement buses for regional transport, valid local transport tickets are accepted, including the Deutschlandticket. The replacement bus service provided by DB Fernverkehr (on the Hamburg–Ludwigslust/Wittenberge route) can only be used with a valid long-distance ticket.
You can obtain tickets from the apps, websites, ticket offices and ticket machines of the regional transport associations and participating rail companies (e.g. DB Navigator or bahn.de/en). This ticket is then valid for the replacement bus instead of the train. It is not possible to buy tickets on the bus.
How will I recognise the buses for the regional replacement services?
All the buses are completely purple and have "Ersatzverkehr Replacement Service" written on the side. The symbol for the replacement bus service is also easy to recognise. Digital displays on the side and front of the bus show the bus route number and destination.
I have restricted mobility and need assistance. Who can I contact?
Please contact Deutsche Bahn’s Mobility Service. The Mobility Service Center will organize everything necessary if you need assistance with boarding, changing trains, or alighting—for example, a platform lift for a wheelchair. The center also answers questions about suitable trains, station accessibility, and minimum transfer times. You can find information at bahn.de/en/booking-information/accessible-travel. You can also request assistance online at msz.bahnhof.de.
Who can I contact if I have questions about the replacement services?
Please contact the responsible transport company if you have questions about the replacement services:
ODEG: Lines A, F, J, P, R, S, X4, X8, X9erixx Holstein: Lines L, Merixx: Line RB47DB Regio: Lines B/B2/B3/B4, C/C2, D/D2, G, H, K, T, X1, RE20A/B/X
Go