Berlin-Brandenburg Rail Network Overhauled with Dresden Railway Opening
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Major changes to S-Bahn, regional, and long-distance lines take effect this Sunday, promising improved connectivity despite ongoing infrastructure challenges.
Passengers in Berlin and Brandenburg are preparing for a significant overhaul of the rail network with the implementation of a new timetable this Sunday. The opening of the Dresden Railway is central to these changes, impacting numerous S-Bahn and regional train routes. Despite acknowledging existing infrastructure limitations and financial pressures, the Head of the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB), Christoph Heuing, views the “extensive reorganization” positively, stating that “the bottom line is that there is a noticeable improvement in supply.”
However, Heuing also cautioned that the region is “struggling with poor infrastructure” and facing capacity constraints, noting that “the routes are full.” Rising costs coupled with insufficient revenue from tickets and regionalization funds present ongoing financial hurdles. Despite these challenges, officials have successfully avoided any reduction in service and have even managed to increase the total number of train kilometers traveled.
S-Bahn Adjustments
One of the most notable changes involves the S45 line, which will be discontinued. Service along this route, currently running between BER Airport and Südkreuz, will be replaced by increased frequency on the S46, S47, and S85 lines. Travelers heading to the airport from Südkreuz will now utilize the airport express FEX via the Dresdner Bahn, potentially saving time for those coming from Tempelhof or Neukölln, though requiring a transfer.
The S46 line will see a significant boost in frequency, running every 5-15 minutes during weekday daytime hours between Hermannstrasse and Grünau, effectively replacing both the S45 and S85 in that section. The S85 line is also undergoing a route change, shifting its destination from Grünau to BER Airport with the new timetable. During weekdays, the line will operate between Frohnau and BER Airport, transitioning to Waidmannslust in the evenings after 8 p.m. On weekends and after 9:30 p.m. daily, the line will terminate in Pankow. Passengers will benefit from extended operating hours, with service now running until midnight every day.
Further enhancements are planned for the S47 line, which will be extended beyond Hermannstrasse to Südkreuz. The S-Bahn will now operate along the entire length of the line, between Südkreuz and Spindlersfeld, until midnight.
Regional Train Improvements & Airport Connectivity
The introduction of a new route for the Airport Express is a key component of the changes. The express will now run from the main station via Potsdamer Platz and Südkreuz to BER Airport, reducing travel time from approximately 40 minutes to just 23 minutes. Service will operate every 15 minutes, doubling the previous frequency. Berlin’s Transport Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) stated that the new Dresden train line will “finally” provide a well-connected airport.
The RE20 line is also being introduced to improve airport access, running hourly from the central station to Lübbenau, with stops at Potsdamer Platz, Südkreuz, BER Airport, Königs Wusterhausen, and Lübben.
Changes are also coming to the RE8 line. The northern section, previously divided, will be consolidated into a single route, eliminating the direct regional connection to the airport for passengers traveling from Spandau, the zoo, and Alexanderplatz. Once the renovation of the Hamburg Railway is complete, the RE8 will operate from Wismar and Wittenberge via Spandau, the main station, and Südkreuz to Wünsdorf-Waldstadt, Baruth, and Elsterwerda. The RB14 line, currently running from Nauen to Südkreuz, will be rerouted to operate on the light rail as a replacement.
Baltic Sea Connections & Long-Distance Travel
Passengers traveling to the Baltic Sea will benefit from the addition of the RE30 line, supplementing the existing RE3 service between Angermünde and Stralsund. This will result in hourly service between Berlin and Stralsund, with alternating routes requiring and not requiring a transfer. Brandenburg’s Transport Minister Detlef Tabbert (BSW) expressed confidence that the new line will accommodate passenger demand and prevent overcrowding.
Long-distance travelers will also see improvements. Deutsche Bahn has announced hourly ICE train service between Berlin and Munich, with a journey time of under four hours – three more “Sprinter” connections than previously available. A new “Sprinter” service will also connect Berlin and Stuttgart, stopping only in Nuremberg, reducing travel time to approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes. Internationally, a new daily direct connection between Berlin and Warsaw has been added. Following the completion of the Hamburg Railway renovation in May 2026, twice-daily train service between Berlin and Copenhagen is planned, with a travel time of around seven hours.
BVG Enhancements
The Berlin public transport company (BVG) is focusing on “stability before growth,” with changes centered around increasing capacity on existing routes. The bus route 147 (Ostbahnhof to Hauptbahnhof) will utilize 18-meter articulated buses on weekdays, increasing capacity by 56%. The U3 subway line will transition to eight-car trains, adding 140 seats per train. Similarly, the M5 tram line (Zingster Straße to Hauptbahnhof) will employ ten-meter longer trains, increasing space by approximately one-third.
These comprehensive changes represent a significant investment in the Berlin-Brandenburg rail network, aiming to provide a more efficient and convenient travel experience for passengers despite ongoing infrastructural and financial challenges.
