Frankfurt rail shutdown begins April 4 for major bridge upgrades

A major rail line in southern Frankfurt will shut down for six weeks starting April 4, 2023. The closure between Forsthaus and Südbahnhof stations will allow crews to build two temporary bridges over Mörfelder Landstraße while upgrading nearby infrastructure. The work begins with the removal of parts of the bahndamm, followed by drilling piles and installing cranes. Two temporary bridges will replace the existing railway bridge over Mörfelder Landstraße, carrying trains until the end of 2027. Alongside this, a grade-separation structure near Forsthaus will also be renovated.

Train services will face disruptions during the closure. The RE59 line will cancel all trips between Frankfurt-Ost and Frankfurt Airport long-distance station. The RB58 line will reroute daytime trains via Frankfurt-Louisa and suspend night services between Hanau Hauptbahnhof and Rüsselsheim Opelwerk. Some early-morning and late-night long-distance trains will either be cancelled or skip stops. Construction will continue even after the initial six-week shutdown, with work expected to last until 2027. Sanitation improvements at Forsthaus will run in parallel with the bridge project.

The temporary bridges will remain in use until late 2027, ensuring trains can operate while permanent upgrades are completed. Passengers on affected routes should check schedules, as cancellations and rerouting will impact travel during off-peak hours.