‘Rail freight transit through Germany remains challenging’
Author: Dennis van der Laan
22.08.2025 | Crossing Germany remains a challenge for freight trains. Operator METRANS points to problems in the Port of Hamburg, but also to a long list of upcoming infrastructure restrictions.
“The current situation in Hamburg is still not favourable”, METRANS writes. “Terminals are experiencing varying degrees of delays, infrastructure remains congested, and the Hamburg Port Authority continues to manage entrances to the port. Empty container transports, which we cannot use for imports, are mainly blocked, and their smooth circulation is generally disrupted.”
Most notably, the railway between Hamburg and Berlin will remain inaccessible until April 2026. There are currently modernisation works ongoing, forcing trains to take detours through Hannover and Rostock.
The following restrictions are planned for the upcoming months, also reported by METRANS:
- 19–26 September 2025: Elbe Valley daytime closures. Detours via Cheb/Schirnding, Horka, and partly Passau.
- 2–6 October 2025: Bremen–Bremerhaven works, diesel locomotive detours. Reduced Bremerhaven services.
- 3–5 October 2025: Hamburg Finkenwerder Bridge closures. Impact on Eurogate and Burchardkai terminals.
- 17–24 October 2025: Oderbrücke diversions via Horka. This affect Poland connections.
- 26 Oct – 8 November 2025: Elbe Valley full closure. Same detours as in September.
- 13–16 November 2025: Elbe Valley daytime works. Diversions via Cheb/Schirnding, Horka, partly Passau.
- 1–10 December 2025: Elbe Valley full closure. Same detour routes as above.
Many of these restrictions impact traffic to North German ports, Rotterdam and Duisburg.