Hamburg-Berlin railway reopens after costly delays and frozen setbacks

The Hamburg-Berlin railway line has reopened after a lengthy and costly upgrade. The project took ten and a half months to complete, far longer than expected, and cost €2.7 billion. Commuters faced major disruptions throughout the closure. Work on the line began with plans to finish by early May. However, prolonged frost in January and February froze the ground, stopping construction for weeks. This pushed the reopening to mid-June, six weeks behind schedule.

The budget also spiralled, rising by €500 million from the original estimate. A contingency fund of about €300 million was used up entirely to cover the extra costs. Despite the delays, the line forms part of a wider plan to modernise dozens of routes across the country by the mid-2030s.

During the closure, long-distance trains were diverted via Stendal and Uelzen, adding significant travel time. Regional passengers had to use replacement buses for months. Even after reopening, problems persisted, with elevators breaking down and trains failing to run on time.

One major setback was the failure to install the new European train control system (ETCS). This means another lengthy closure will be needed within five to ten years to complete the upgrade. The line is now back in service, but the delays and cost overruns highlight the challenges of large-scale rail projects. Passengers will face further disruptions in the future when the ETCS system is finally fitted. The overall modernisation programme remains on track for completion by the mid-2030s.