Getting ready for a major shakeup, Deutsche Bahn, Germany's railway titan, is set to revamp its long-distance timetables by the weekend. Expect a surge in connections unlike any seen in the last two decades, promising more frequent and speedier journeys between key cities. Regions like Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia will experience significant improvements. The new schedule kicks off on December 10th.
Pro Bahn, a passionate passenger advocacy group, welcomes these changes, though they hope to retain current services, acknowledging the frequent service disruptions due to staffing issues and construction delays. Markus Haubold, Deputy Chairman of Pro Bahn Mitteldeutschland, mirrors this sentiment.
Let's dive into some exciting improvements for key routes:
Berlin-Munich via Halle and Erfurt
Good news for Halle and Erfurt residents! Up to 11 extra daily trips to Berlin and Nuremberg/Munich are on the horizon. This means nearly hourly services in both directions. The Berlin-Munich journey via Halle and Erfurt will take approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Leipzig via Jena to Nuremberg and Karlsruhe
Increased Intercity trains are heading our way for the Leipzig to Nuremberg and Baden-Württemberg route, as per Deutsche Bahn. Expect the frequency to skyrocket from daily service to a whopping 5 trips each way. Journey times will significantly reduce compared to regional express trains.
Magdeburg-Hamburg, Magdeburg-Berlin, Magdeburg-Rostock
Get ready for better connectivity between Magdeburg and major northern cities! A direct connection between Magdeburg and Hamburg eliminates the need for changing trains, shaving off 30 minutes from travel time. Furthermore, the Magdeburg-Rostock route will be shortened by 90 minutes thanks to a new connection. The Magdeburg-Berlin route will also benefit from an extra Intercity train.
Night trains
Three times a week, a night train will connect Berlin to Brussels and Paris, bypassing Poland in favor of Dresden, effectively bringing about a stronger connection between Saxony's capital and the route.
In a nutshell, the revamped timetables in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia offer more long-distance connections and aim to bolster weekend and long-distance traffic in Germany.
Enrichment Insight: Deutsche Bahn's timetable overhaul in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia is a direct consequence of the rail upgrades at Berlin Hauptbahnhof. The construction period, scheduled for February to April 2025, will necessitate temporary closures and route adjustments. Passengers will be rerouted to other Berlin stations on affected weekends, ensuring uninterrupted connections. The introduction of new trains, like the ICE L with 562 seats, and battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) with 148 seats, will improve seating capacity and shorten journey times in some routes.
