Months-long closures on Berlin Stadtbahn

No trains will run between Berlin-Charlottenburg and Ostbahnhof during construction work on the Berlin Stadtbahn line from June 14 to December 12. (File photo)

Starting Sunday, construction will begin on Berlin’s Stadtbahn - the east-west line running through the capital - and will continue for six months, with major consequences for rail traffic.

Regional and long-distance trains will not be able to operate on this route during that time. According to the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association, S-Bahn service will not be affected, except for three weekends in the summer and a few evenings; S-Bahn trains will run as usual, but they are likely to be significantly more crowded.

S-Bahn service suspended for three weekends

S-Bahn service on the Stadtbahn will be suspended on the following dates: June 26-29, July 24-27, and July 31-August 3. The suspensions will be in effect from 10 p.m. on Friday evening until late Sunday night. The section between Zoologischer Garten and Friedrichstraße will be affected. A replacement service with two bus lines will be provided.

Impact on regional transportation

The construction work will have a significant impact on regional rail service. As a general rule, no regional trains will run between Berlin-Charlottenburg and Ostbahnhof during the construction period from June 14 to December 12, 2026. The RE1 and RE7 lines will therefore begin and end at Charlottenburg and Ostbahnhof stations. The RE2 between Hennigsdorf and Cottbus will be rerouted from Spandau via Gesundbrunnen and Ostkreuz. The RB21 will run from Potsdam via Spandau to Charlottenburg and will no longer go to Gesundbrunnen. The RB10 will be completely suspended until October 1, with the exception of a few nighttime trips.

Connection to BER Airport secured

Deutsche Bahn emphasized that service to BER Airport will be maintained throughout the construction work. The FEX airport express train typically departs from a platform in the basement of the main station and travels via Südkreuz to BER.