{"id":416106,"date":"2026-04-28T16:14:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T06:14:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=70828"},"modified":"2026-04-28T16:14:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T06:14:22","slug":"double-trouble-german-rail-freight-faces-simultaneous-closures-on-two-key-corridors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=416106","title":{"rendered":"Double trouble: German rail freight faces simultaneous closures on two key corridors"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is the largest rail shutdown ever in Germany: the nine-month closure of the Hamburg-Berlin railway. That shutdown is about to get even bigger, with its main detour route closing as well on 1 May. Needless to say, rail freight operations are set to become even more costly and complicated in northern Germany.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The route that is closing down is the Hamburg-Hannover railway. It is a key freight corridor, in particular for shipment to Italy and (south)eastern Europe from the Port of Hamburg. The planned construction works have been watered down from Germany\u2019s original plans \u2014 66 kilometres of track, 36 switch, six switch heaters and two kilometres of overhead lines will be renovated.<\/p>\n

The limited scope of the project should help reduce some of its negative impacts, since the works will run in parallel to the Hamburg-Berlin<\/a> closure. German infrastructure manager DB InfraGO has dubbed the works a \u201cquality initiative\u201d, rather than a \u201ccorridor renovation\u201d, to reflect the extent of the job.<\/p>\n

Die G\u00fcterbahnen, the German private rail freight association, remains skeptical about DB InfraGO\u2019 framing. \u201cThe planned measures effectively amount to a corridor renovation\u201d, the association says. \u201cWe suspect that the term \u2018corridor renovation\u2019 is avoided primarily to avoid being held to any standards typically applied to these projects (e.g., keeping the routes free of construction for several years afterward).\u201d<\/p>\n

\"In
In red, the Hamburg-Berlin railway under renovation. In black, the diversion routes. In purple, the section of the diversion routes that will also have construction works. Now, Hamburg-Hannover can be added to that list. Image: \u00a9 DB Watch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Additional costs per kilometre<\/h2>\n

The Hamburg-Hannover railway is clearly of great interest to the rail freight industry, explains Die G\u00fcterbahnen, which sees that more of its member companies are interested in this route than in the \u201cequally significant\u201d Hamburg-Berlin railway.<\/p>\n

Fortunately for the rail freight companies, they will only need to pay track access charges reflecting the cost of the original route (and not the longer, more expensive, detour). Less fortunately, the price of increased energy usage, staff costs and vehicle deployments are all for the companies to bear \u2014 save some minor discounts for short-term ad-hoc services. Die G\u00fcterbahnen has calculated that the additional costs amount to \u20ac16.08 euros per kilometre.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince detours often cover several hundred kilometers, these costs quickly add up to substantial amounts \u2014 especially given that two central routes, Hamburg\u2013Hanover and Hamburg\u2013Berlin, are affected simultaneously\u201d, the association explains.<\/p>\n

Companies are cancelling trains<\/h2>\n

The big picture reveals organisational challenges at the German infrastructure manager. The rail freight industry continues to report communication issues, says Die G\u00fcterbahnen: \u201cinformation about construction sites often arrives late, and a reliable overall overview of parallel measures is frequently lacking.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the same time, the various regional divisions of DB InfraGO often plan their maintenance works simultaneously, leading to additional congestion. Unexpected disruptions can then lead to significant restrictions and delays. \u201cMany companies therefore have the impression that the cross-regional coordination of closures and detours is not functioning adequately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Die G\u00fcterbahnen highlights the real practical consequences of DB InfraGO\u2019s approach. For example, Hamburg-based feed manufacturer Habema has already had to cancel trains and is \u201cfacing uncertainties regarding rail deliveries\u201d.<\/p>\n