Railway construction progress on the routes between Halle, Leipzig, and Berlin – adjustments in long-distance and local travel arrangements
In a notice released by the Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft, a series of significant changes are set to take place in the rail network from October 10, 2025. The Bitterfeld junction will undergo a closure, causing extensive rerouting of long-distance trains and the suspension of stops in Bitterfeld.
The closure of the Bitterfeld junction is part of the construction work on the Anhalter Bahn Halle/Leipzig - Berlin, which will take place from September 24 to December 13, 2025. During this period, the route will be completely closed, and travelers should expect detours and increased travel times.
Long-distance trains will face delays of 45 to 60 minutes as they navigate the detours between Halle (Saale) / Leipzig and Berlin. The timetable for these altered connections can be found in the information media during the construction work. It's worth noting that there will be at least hourly service between Berlin and Munich.
However, during the closure, long-distance trains will not serve the stops at Lutherstadt Wittenberg and Berlin Südkreuz. Instead, a replacement service will be established between Wolfen/Bitterfeld and Leipzig Messe/Halle (Saale) for local traffic. Additionally, only two-hourly connections will be available between Halle (Saale) and Berlin.
For those traveling between Frankfurt and Berlin, an unrestricted offer via Kassel will be available during the construction work. Unfortunately, this means there will be no direct connections to Eisenach, Fulda, or Frankfurt am Main.
A replacement S-Bahn service will operate hourly on the line S8 between Bitterfeld and Lutherstadt Wittenberg during the construction work. On the other hand, only a two-hourly service will be available to Erfurt and Nuremberg, and onwards to Munich. The two-hour direct connections between Frankfurt and Berlin via Halle (Saale) will also be suspended during the construction work.
The railway company overseeing the construction work on the Anhalter Bahn Halle/Leipzig - Berlin in the Bitterfeld - Berlin section is the Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft, a historical entity that once oversaw major railway operations including the Berlin Anhalter Bahnhof and associated lines.
Travelers are advised to plan their journeys carefully and check the latest information from their rail provider before setting out during this construction period. The safety and convenience of passengers remains a top priority for the Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft.
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