Munich-Rosenheim railway avoids total shutdown with phased renovations by 2031

Deutsche Bahn has dropped its controversial proposal for a six-month full closure of the Munich-Rosenheim railway line. Instead, the route will undergo renovations in two separate phases—2028 and 2031—to reduce the impact on passengers and freight services. The decision follows criticism from transport groups and industry representatives. The first phase of construction will take place from mid-February to mid-April 2028. During this period, long-distance tracks will close for eight weeks, forcing trains to take alternative routes. Regional services will be replaced by buses, while the S-Bahn line will face partial closures as early as autumn 2027.

The second phase is planned for the first half of 2031. This stage will focus on modernising tracks, switches, overhead lines, bridges, and stations. The route will also receive the European Train Control System (ETCS), a key upgrade for future operations.

Despite the revised plan, the Freight Rail Association remains critical. Managing director Peter Westenberger argued that the new schedule still includes multi-week shutdowns, disrupting both passenger and freight traffic. He called for single-track construction sites and prior improvements to alternative routes to ease congestion.

The Munich-Rosenheim line is one of Bavaria’s busiest railway connections. It serves daily long-distance, regional, and S-Bahn services, as well as heavy freight traffic. The two-phase approach aims to balance necessary upgrades with minimising travel disruptions. However, businesses and commuters will still face weeks of altered services in 2028 and 2031. Deutsche Bahn has yet to announce detailed contingency plans for affected passengers and freight operators.