Archive
Every rail news update we have published, newest first.
Bridge works and track renewal: Days of rail service cancellations around Karlsruhe
From Saturday, 29 August, to Monday, 14 September, DB InfraGO will carry out bridge works and track renewal in the greater Karlsruhe area. Several S-Bahn, regional and Regional-Express lines are affected by partial cancellations, reduced frequencies and replacement services.
Deutsche Bahn invests 210 million euros in cleanliness and service quality by 2030
Deutsche Bahn is increasing its investments in cleanliness and safety at stations and on trains to a total of 210 million euros by 2030. The focus is on more cleaning staff, faster repairs and intensive deep cleaning of trains.
Rail closes Berlin–Hamburg line again – residual defects to be fixed by Sunday morning
Deutsche Bahn is closing the Berlin–Hamburg line from Saturday evening (9 pm) until Sunday morning (11 am). The reason is residual defects in the infrastructure following the general refurbishment. Some long-distance and freight trains will be diverted, and replacement services will operate in regional traffic.
Volmetalbahn: Around three months of buses instead of trains between Lüdenscheid and Hagen
Due to bridge works by DB InfraGO in Hagen-Dahl, the RB52 line between Hagen Hauptbahnhof and Lüdenscheid will be interrupted from the weekend for just under three months. Deutsche Bahn is investing around 4.6 million euros; express buses will not be available this time.
Bus line 756 to be diverted in Ansbach due to construction work
From 4 to 6 September 2026, line 756 in Ansbach will be diverted towards the city center. The reason is construction work at the intersection of Residenzstraße/Eyber Straße/Nürnberger Straße.
Frankfurt data analysis: Ten of Germany's most delayed long-distance trains run across the Main
An evaluation by the portal delaybahn.com shows that a large share of the most delayed ICE and TGV lines in Germany run via Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof. The frontrunner, ICE 526, is delayed in over 83 percent of cases.
Overhead line severely damaged: Singen–Konstanz line completely closed
Weather conditions have damaged the overhead line between Singen (Hohentwiel) and Konstanz so severely that the railway line had to be completely closed. The lines RE 2, RE 3 and RB 31 are affected. Deutsche Bahn has set up replacement buses and expects the closure to last until Saturday morning (29 August).
Greens criticize Deutsche Bahn: DB Navigator remains without offers from other rail operators
Emergency medical response at Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof: S-Bahn service massively restricted on all lines
An emergency medical response in the vicinity of Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof brought the entire RMV S-Bahn network to a standstill on Thursday evening. All nine lines S1 to S9 are affected, with numerous sections completely closed or only operating with restrictions.
Rail construction site in western Munich: S4, regional services and ECE 88 affected – buses replace trains
Due to track renewal and switch replacement, the line between Fürstenfeldbruck and Kaufering will only be usable to a limited extent from 26 August to 5 September. Passengers on the S4, several regional trains and the Munich–Zurich long-distance service will have to switch to buses.
Deutsche Bahn: Eight percent of long-distance trains canceled in the first half of 2026 – second-highest level since 2019
In the first half of 2026, eight percent of all Deutsche Bahn long-distance trains were canceled in full or on partial sections – the second-highest figure since 2019. At the same time, long-distance punctuality fell to 58.7 percent. The Greens in the Bundestag see the federal government as being responsible.
European Sleeper plans night train to Malmö – launch in 2028 with RDC as partner
European Sleeper is preparing, together with the German rail operator RDC, a direct night train connection from Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam to Malmö. The formal capacity registration is planned for April 2027, with operations set to start in 2028.
Travel abroad with the Deutschlandticket: These three routes are worth a short trip
The Deutschlandticket is valid not only in Germany – on certain regional routes you can also cross the border to Basel, Salzburg and Arnhem without a surcharge.
Tragic electric shock from railway overhead line: 19-year-old dies after climbing freight train in Munich-Trudering
What seemed like a harmless walk home ends in catastrophe for two friends at Munich-Trudering station. After climbing onto a parked tank car, one of them comes into contact with the 15,000-volt overhead line – with fatal consequences.
EVG threatens strike in regional rail: Law on attacks on train staff must come by year-end
The Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft (EVG) rail and transport union is stepping up pressure on the German federal government: If the announced draft law with harsher penalties for attacks on rail employees is not debated in the Bundestag by the end of 2026, works councils at DB Regio and private regional rail operators want to refuse approval of duty rosters in January.
EVG demands better protection for train conductors and threatens strike
Following the fatal attack on a train conductor, the EVG union sees the promised protective measures for rail staff being implemented only sluggishly. DB Regio works council chief Ralf Dampe demands protection "similar to that of the police and fire department" and does not rule out a strike.
Reserve ICE seats cheaper: Booking via České dráhy saves almost half
Those who reserve their ICE seat not directly with Deutsche Bahn but with the Czech provider České dráhy (ČD) pay around 3.10 euros instead of 5.50 euros (2nd class) or 6.90 euros (1st class), according to a Merkur report. The ticket itself remains a DB ticket – only the reservation runs via cd.cz.
Line closure between Offenburg and Lahr: Replacement buses on Sunday evening
Due to an emergency medical response, the railway line between Offenburg and Lahr (Schwarzw) has been closed since Sunday evening (23/08/2026). Deutsche Bahn expects disruption until at least 10 pm. Passengers should expect delays, partial cancellations and replacement buses.
Karlsruhe: VBK launches major construction sites during summer holidays – Lines 2, 4, 5 and S2 affected
From the end of July 2026, the Karlsruhe transport operator begins extensive modernization work on the rail network. Passengers must expect diversions, route changes and rail replacement services.
European Sleeper launches direct night train from Cologne and Brussels to Lake Como and Milan
From 9 September 2026, European Sleeper will connect Brussels and Cologne directly with Lake Como and Milan. Tickets in the shared Classic compartment start at 49.99 euros, in a private compartment at 179.99 euros. From 13 December 2026, Antwerp, Breda and Eindhoven will be added as further stops.
European Sleeper launches night train from Cologne and Brussels to Lake Como and Milan
From 9 September 2026, European Sleeper will connect Brussels and Cologne directly with Lake Como and Milan. From 13 December 2026, the night train will additionally stop in Antwerp, Breda and Eindhoven. Tickets in a shared Classic compartment are available from €49.99 per person and journey.
Commissioning of modernized Niedtalbahn stations postponed to August 30
The modernization of the Siersburg, Hemmersdorf (Saar) and Niedaltdorf stations along the Niedtalbahn is delayed: due to still-missing platform lighting, rail service cannot begin as planned on August 24. Rail replacement service will remain in place until at least August 30.
Cologne–Düsseldorf: Full closure from Friday evening – no trains for two weeks, S-Bahn for even three months
Deutsche Bahn is interrupting rail traffic between Köln-Mülheim and Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof from Friday, 21.08, 9 pm, until 04.09. The S-Bahn line will remain closed until 04.12. Long-distance, regional and S-Bahn trains will be diverted or replaced by buses.
Hannover S-Bahn: Buses replace trains on S1, S5, S21 and S51 until end of August
Construction work in Seelze and Stadthagen as well as a strained vehicle situation are causing significant restrictions on the Hannover S-Bahn. Several lines are cancelled all day, while replacement buses run in the evenings on other routes.