Despite nearly eleven-months of extensive renovations, punctuality on the busy Hamburg–Berlin rail line has plummeted massively, according to a media report. From mid-June to mid-July 2026, only 25.8 percent of all long-distance trains arrived at their destination on time, "Bild" reported. Before the renovation began, the figure stood at 49.6 percent. The reason for the collapse in punctuality is said to be ongoing follow-up work that repeatedly slowed trains during their journey.
The key rail line went back into operation in mid-June, marking the end of one of Deutsche Bahn's largest renovation projects in recent years. Over a stretch of 278 kilometers, tracks, switches, overhead lines, signal boxes, and signaling technology were comprehensively renewed, and numerous train stations were modernized. The costs total around 2.7 billion euros.
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