Extensive infrastructure work between the Berlin-Hanover line. Photo: Shutterstock Starting this morning (Friday, October 2), the German railway company Deutsche Bahn will undergo significant disruption that will directly affect passengers: extensive infrastructure work is underway on the main route between Berlin and Hanover, with travel times extended by up to 80 minutes, train diversions, reduced frequencies and the cancellation of some stops.
For travelers planning to travel between Berlin, Hanover and the cities along the route, this means longer journeys, fewer options at some times, and changes that require checking schedules in advance.
As part of the work, intercity trains will be diverted via Braunschweig and Magdeburg. Some services are expected to take 60 to 80 minutes longer, while train frequency and stops will also change.
The current phase of the works is expected to last until December 12, 2026. During this period, ICE trains will run at least hourly between Hanover and Berlin, while some services will run more frequently than usual.
Passengers at intermediate stations will also feel the change. Some trains will not stop as usual in Wolfsburg and Stendal, depending on the route and the stage of the work; regional services are also expected to see cancellations and alternative transportation on some sections.
This is part of a broad infrastructure project that will continue in stages until the end of 2027. As part of the project, crews plan to upgrade and replace hundreds of kilometers of rails and electrical infrastructure, hundreds of switches, and work at stations along the route.
A key component of the project is the renewal of dozens of kilometers of high-speed rail built in the 1990s, which is now entering a comprehensive renovation after about three decades of operation.
Passengers planning to travel by train in Germany in the near future, especially between Berlin and Hanover or further west, are advised to check the updated timetable before departing, as travel times and routes may differ significantly from usual.