Hamburg-Berlin railway reopens after costly delays and unresolved flaws

The Hamburg-Berlin railway line has reopened after a lengthy closure. The upgrade took longer than planned and cost far more than expected. Passengers faced months of disruptions during the work. The line shut in early August 2022 for a full renovation. Long-distance trains were diverted through Stendal and Uelzen, while regional passengers used replacement buses. The project was meant to finish by early May 2023, but severe frost caused major setbacks.

The final bill reached €2.7 billion, €500 million over budget. A €300 million contingency fund ran out completely. Even after reopening in mid-June, six weeks late, problems persisted. Elevators failed and trains did not run on time.

The upgrade also missed a key goal. The new European train control system (ETCS) was not installed. This means another long closure will be needed within five to ten years. The approach of large-scale renovations has drawn criticism for long disruptions and rising costs.

This project is part of a wider plan to modernise dozens of routes across Germany by the mid-2030s. The line is now back in service, but issues remain unresolved. Future closures will be required to complete missing upgrades. Costs and delays have raised doubts about the current renovation strategy.