Postponement of the Rehabilitation Process for Hamburg and Lübeck
The expansion of an alternative railway connection between Lübeck and Schwerin is still on track for completion this year, but the renovation of the Hamburg-Lübeck railway line has been pushed back to 2028.
German Railway (Deutsche Bahn) has not officially confirmed the delay, but they have referred to a branch dialogue that started on Wednesday. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for July 9 to create a consolidated proposal for extending the timeline of the renovation project until 2035.
The original plan was to complete the renovation by 2027, but it now appears that the construction start will be in 2028. This delay is part of the larger Hamburg–Berlin corridor modernization project, which is set to begin on August 1, 2025, and continue until April 30, 2026.
During this nine-month period, Deutsche Bahn will close the route for extensive work, including renewing over 180 km of track, replacing about 200 switches, building six grade-separated junctions, and modernizing signaling and control systems. This closure affects both passenger and freight traffic, with regional rail services replaced by buses and long-distance trains rerouted.
The renovation of the line between Lübeck and Hamburg is included in this comprehensive upgrade, with the work expected to start on August 1, 2025, and end by April 30, 2026, aligning with the overall corridor modernization timeframe.
Upon completion, the high-performance alternative route from Lübeck to Schwerin, including electrification, additional overtaking tracks, and a direct connection at Bad Kleinen, will be available. However, the planned rerouting of freight traffic via Büchen has been a subject of criticism due to potential delays and logistical constraints.
For more local news from the Lübeck area, visit All Articles. Once the renovation is complete, residents and commuters can look forward to improved railway services. The proposal for the extended timeline will then be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Transport for final approval.
[1] Hamburg-Berlin Corridor Modernization Project [2] Hamburg-Lübeck Railway Line Renovation
The Hamburg-Berlin Corridor Modernization Project involves not just the renovation of the Hamburg-Lübeck railway line, but also the expansion of an alternative railway connection between Lübeck and Schwerin, with both projects expected to be completed by 2026 and 2035 respectively. The financing and transportation industries will significantly benefit from these ambitious railway projects.
