Major Disruptions Ahead: Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Shut Down Twice for Rail Upgrades

Berlin Hauptbahnhof undergoes major rail upgrades in early 2025, affecting train schedules. Temporary closures, route changes, and alternative connections announced.

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is undertaking significant infrastructure upgrades at Berlin Hauptbahnhof to improve train speed, flexibility, and overall efficiency. While construction is set to take place from February to April 2025, passengers should prepare for temporary platform closures, route adjustments, and two full-station shutdowns in March and April.

Deutsche #Bahn: Betrieb am #Berlin|er #Hauptbahnhof wird wochenlang eingeschränkt //t.co/W6mKFaooa1

— Oskar Ohm 📯 (@Elektronews) February 7, 2025

 

Infrastructure Overhaul to Enhance Rail Operations

Berlin Hauptbahnhof, one of Germany ’s busiest railway hubs, is set to receive new switches and signaling systems to improve train movements. These upgrades will allow trains to enter and exit platforms more efficiently, reducing congestion and delays at the station.

During the main construction phase from 17 February to 22 April 2025, only four out of eight tracks in the underground section of the station will be operational. To accommodate the work, there will be two complete closures of the Tiefbahnhof (underground station):

• 21–24 March 2025
• 18–22 April 2025 (Easter weekend)

Long-distance trains will temporarily skip Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Südkreuz during the full closures, stopping at alternative stations instead. Meanwhile, the Intercity route between Warnemünde and Dresden will operate via Berlin Ostkreuz from 18 February to 15 April 2025. Despite these disruptions, DB assures passengers that Berlin will remain well connected to long-distance rail services, with trains rerouted to other Berlin stations on affected weekends.

Why These Upgrades Matter

Since its opening in 2006, Berlin Hauptbahnhof has seen a steady increase in train traffic, with new high-speed routes such as the Berlin-Munich hourly ICE service adding pressure to the station’s infrastructure. Passengers frequently experience delays when approaching the Tiefbahnhof due to limited track capacity. To tackle these bottlenecks, DB has been investing in small and medium-sized infrastructure improvements under the Kleine und Mittlere Maßnahmen (KMM) program since 2022. These targeted projects include:

• New crossovers and track connections for greater flexibility.
• Additional signals to improve train spacing and coordination.
• Upgraded switches and platforms to enhance operational efficiency.

By reducing congestion and improving resilience, the program aims to boost punctuality for both passenger and freight services. As of December 2024, 105 KMM projects have been completed, with over 30 more planned for 2025.

Source: Deutsche Bahn Press Release