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Berlin Hbf (Central): planned closings of tracks Feb 17 - Apr 22

Posted by (Schwerin) on

From February 17, travelers at Berlin Central Station will have to prepare for weeks of restrictions due to construction work.

As Deutsche Bahn announced on Friday, parts of the lower level of the main station will be closed for a good two months, until April 22. Instead of the eight tracks, only four tracks can be used alternately. Many regional trains will then be diverted or will not stop at the main station.

From March 21 to 24 and during the Easter holidays from April 18 to 22, a complete closure of the underground station is planned. Long-distance trains are scheduled to stop at other long-distance stations in Berlin on these weekends.

The reason for the closures is the construction of additional points and new signals in the main station. The company wants to reduce delays on the north-south connection.

During the construction work, there will also be timetable adjustments to regional services on the RE 3, RE 5, RB 14 and RB 23 lines as well as the Airport Express FEX. There will be detour with altered stops. The S-Bahn and the above-ground part of the station will not be affected.

Source: press release Deutsche Bahn in German language
https://www.deutschebahn.com/de/presse/pressestart_zentrales_uebersicht/Berliner-Hauptbahnhof-wird-leistungsfaehiger-mehr-Weichen-fuer-mehr-Verkehr-13285042

Recommendation:
Due to temporary connection detour and train cancellations during the work I recommend to re-check connections before journeys to / from Berlin via DB Navigator app and local public transport connections via BVG Fahrinfo-App.

Posted by
3634 posts

I want to add that the affected level "2. Untergeschoss"; 2UG) with tracks 1-8 is the station part of the North / South axis. Means that trains to / from Hamburg, Munich and Leipzig are affected which normally use the tracks 7 / 8 and 1 / 2. See map of Berlin Central.

One more info: Berlin has 5 main stations for long-distance connections, one is Berlin Central in the center of Berlin.

I am open for questions of travelers.

Posted by
135 posts

Thanks for this info Markk. I just purchased our train tickets yesterday for travel on April 21 from Dresden Hbf to Berlin Hbf. Do you think this will change or be canceled? This will be our first time in Germany- and I was concerned about the trains being booked up near Easter, which is why I pre booked this tx ahead.

Thanks,
Tracy

Posted by
3634 posts

Thank you for the feedback, Tracy. Good to know that it helps someone.

I do not expect that the trains to / from Dresden will be cancelled because they are handled on upper platform anyway. If problems occur you can exit train at renovated station Ostkreuz and take the powerful ring S-Bahn lines S41 / S42 or the center axis lines S3, 5, 7, or 9 (map). Linked page also contains a journey planner.

Have a good journey.

Posted by
2822 posts

This will be our first time in Germany- and I was concerned about the
trains being booked up near Easter, which is why I pre booked this tx
ahead.

Did you reserve seats? Trains do not "book up" in Germany. There are always tickets. However a ticket in itself does not guarantee you a seat, only a reservation does. Without a reservation you risk ending up having to stand, and that even if you bought your ticket well in advance.

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