The general renovation of the key railway route between Berlin and Hamburg will not be completed on schedule. Deutsche Bahn blames winter attacks, but authorities from five federal states have issued an ultimatum to the company, demanding a clear work schedule by March 2. The situation for passengers is further worsened by public transport strikes in Hamburg and planned track closures on the Hanover-Göttingen route at the end of February.

Ultimatum for Deutsche Bahn

Five federal states demand that Evelyn Palla present a credible plan for completing the renovation of the key mainline by March 2.

Two-Month Work Delay

The expected return of trains to the Berlin-Hamburg route has been postponed to July 2026 due to difficult winter weather conditions.

Strikes and Local Blockades

Transport paralysis in Hamburg and planned closures on the Hanover-Göttingen section from February 27 are exacerbating the transport chaos.

Controversy Over the Olympics

The Die Linke party questions the profitability of Hamburg's Olympic ambitions, while neighboring states declare full support for the project.

The situation on German tracks is becoming increasingly tense, and the flagship generalsanierung infrastructure project between Berlin and Hamburg is facing serious obstacles. According to the latest reports, modernization work may be delayed by at least two months, meaning trains will return to the route at the earliest in July 2026. Representatives of Deutsche Bahn argue that the main cause of the delay is extreme weather conditions, including frost and heavy snowfall, which prevented timely completion of earthworks and installations. The Berlin-Hamburg mainline is one of the most important railway lines in Europe, originally opened in 1846, connecting Germany's two largest cities and serving as a key element of trans-European transport networks.The lack of reliable information from the railway has provoked a firm political reaction. The prime ministers of five federal states — Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hamburg, and Schleswig-Holstein — sent a sharp letter to the head of DB InfraGo, Evelyn Palla. Local officials describe the company's actions as harmful to trust in the state's infrastructure policy. „What is happening now is an absolute nuisance for commuters, for whom travel from the region has extended to two and a half hours.” — Ralf Reinhardt March 2 — is the final deadline for presenting a new work planParallel to the crisis on long-distance routes, residents of Hamburg are grappling with a public transport paralysis. The trade union Verdi organized a 24-hour warning strike, halting all subway lines and most bus connections. In the background of these events, debate is growing around plans to host the Olympic Games in Hamburg. While the northern states support this initiative, calling it a "once-in-a-century opportunity," local opposition from the Die Linke party demands financial oversight of the project by the Rechnungshof, fearing for the city's budget stability. Hamburg has applied three times to host the Summer Olympics (1936, 2012, and 2024), but the last attempt was rejected by residents in a referendum held in 2015.Berlin-Hamburg delay (months): 2, Verbindungsbahn renovation in March (days): 31, Subway warning strike (hours): 24, Hanover-Göttingen closure (days): 4

Mentioned People

  • Evelyn Palla — Head of DB InfraGo, responsible for railway infrastructure in Germany.
  • Ralf Reinhardt — District administrator of Ostprignitz-Ruppin, criticizing railway delays.