Construction work in the Elbe Valley - Railway line closed for months - Elbe Valley rail line faces years of closures for major upgrades
Major modernisation work on the Elbe Valley rail line will cause repeated closures and delays for travellers. The route, linking Dresden to the Czech border, serves both tourists and cross-border commuters. Construction will disrupt services for years, with some sections already affected.
The first phase of closures begins on March 15, when the stretch between Bad Schandau and Schöna shuts completely until March 22. A second full closure follows from April 14 to 19. After that, every Monday (excluding public holidays) from March 23 until at least November 2027, the same section will close from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Several overnight trains in April have also been cancelled.
The work targets key infrastructure, including the Hirschmühlen Viaduct and new cable installations. These upgrades aim to improve reliability on one of Europe's busiest international routes. However, the project extends far beyond 2027, with the Bad Schandau–Schöna section alone requiring 18 months of work from spring 2025 to summer 2026.
Other parts of the line have already faced or will soon see closures. The Děčín–Bad Schandau section remains shut until May 2025, while repairs between Pirna and Heidenau continue through 2024 and 2025. During all disruptions, replacement buses and revised train timetables will operate.
The ongoing work will impact both tourist travel to Saxon Switzerland and cross-border services to the Czech Republic.
Travellers on the Elbe Valley line must prepare for years of altered schedules and replacement transport. The upgrades, though lengthy, are designed to secure the route's future as a vital link between Germany and the Czech Republic. Officials have yet to confirm whether further delays will extend beyond the current 2027 timeline.
