Prepare for Rail Disruptions on the Rhine Valley Line This Easter
Continued Closures on Rhine Valley Railway from Easter Period - Railway service discontinuations along Rhine Valley starting Easter season
Easter vacation is right around the corner, and travelers planning a journey along the Rhine Valley Line should take note — Deutsche Bahn has announced several sections of this bustling railway between Karlsruhe and Basel will undergo renovations beginning Good Friday (18 April).
The renovation work means cancellations, altered schedules, detours by bus, delayed travel times, and inconvenience for tens of thousands of travelers daily, according to Deutsche Bahn representatives.
What trains will be affected?
Passengers taking long-distance trains from the north must disembark at Baden-Baden or in rare cases, Karlsruhe. Those aiming to reach Freiburg or Switzerland will need to transfer to the buses provided by the railway company. Service resumes from Freiburg towards Switzerland. ICE trains with connections such as Hamburg-Dortmund-Cologne-Karlsruhe-Basel will only operate to or from Karlsruhe.
What about local commuters and bus services?
The overhaul doesn't spare local traffic either. For instance, between Karlsruhe, Rastatt, and Baden-Baden, only one track will be open at times. From 22.00 on 22 April to 22.00 on 23 April, the section between Rastatt and Baden-Baden will be completely closed. The Ettlingen route will be inaccessible for the entire renovation period. Between Müllheim and Basel, only one track will be accessible — there will be adjustments to the schedule.
Nightly restrictions between 21.00 and 04.00 are also in place, and passengers will encounter limitations. Bicycles cannot be taken on the replacement buses. Approximately 100 to 130 buses will be deployed daily on the affected routes to shuttle passengers despite construction sites and closures.
So, what's being done?
Railway infrastructure such as tracks, switches, and even the substructure for the tracks will be replaced on the route between Karlsruhe and Rastatt, in Rastatt station, and between Denzlingen and Freiburg. Additional switches are planned at the railway junction in Offenburg.
From 28 March onwards, no long-distance trains will stop in Offenburg — passengers will need to rely on local transport and switch to buses.
This overhaul is part of the billion-euro expansion of the Rhine Valley Line, which aims to extend the route from two to four tracks. This will allow ICE trains to significantly improve travel speeds. The approximately 200-kilometer-long line is one of the most significant north-south connections in Europe.
As ever, Google or other travel platforms might offer general insights into potential disruptions, but contacting the railway company directly or checking their official announcements would be the most reliable source for up-to-date information on any changes to your travel plans. Happy Easter travels!
- Easter
- Train Traffic
- Karlsruhe
- Deutsche Bahn
- Closure
- Rastatt
- Baden-Baden
- Freiburg
- Basel
- Good Friday
- Switzerland
- Despite the upcoming Easter vacation, travelers should be aware of the closure on Deutsche Bahn's Rhine Valley Line between Karlsruhe and Basel, as various sections will be under renovation from Good Friday.
- Passengers planning a journey to Freiburg or Switzerland, especially those using long-distance trains from the north, may face disrupted schedules, detours by bus, or cancellations due to the closure around Easter in the Karlsruhe region.
- During the Easter holiday, there will be significant train traffic disruptions in the routes between Karlsruhe, Rastatt, Baden-Baden, and Freiburg, with machines repairing tracks, switches, and even the substructure for the tracks in these areas. Passengers are encouraged to obtain updated information directly from Deutsche Bahn or check official announcements on potential changes to their travel plans.
