Hamburg-Hanover railway line to be gradually closed from 1 May - Hamburg–Hannover rail route faces weeks of closures for upgrades
Major disruptions are coming to the Hamburg–Hannover rail route this spring. Deutsche Bahn has announced a series of closures as part of a modernisation project. The work will begin on May 1, but delays on another line have forced changes to the original plan.
The upgrade was set to start as planned, but winter-related setbacks on the Hamburg–Berlin line have pushed its closure by six weeks. This knock-on effect means the Hannover–Celle section will now shut on May 1, with other parts of the route closing in stages throughout May and June. By June 14, the entire Hamburg–Hannover line will be fully closed.
Freight services will keep running on some sections until mid-May or early June, depending on the segment. Parts of the Hamburg–Hannover route will also stay open temporarily to act as a detour while the Hamburg–Berlin line remains out of service. Deutsche Bahn is working with construction firms to assess how these changes will affect the project in Lower Saxony. The shutdown is still expected to last ten weeks, with completion targeted for July 10. Any remaining work not finished by then will be postponed to the next major renovation phase in 2029.
Passengers face weeks of travel delays as the modernisation work progresses. The phased closures aim to minimise long-term disruption, but the extended timeline means alternative routes will be essential. Deutsche Bahn has advised travellers to check for updates before planning journeys.
