Train chaos on Rügen: Holidaymakers have to change until December!

Train chaos on Rügen: Holidaymakers have to change until December!

On September 2, 2025, rail travelers in northern Germany will have to prepare for some changes and challenges. The construction work on the heavily used route between Hamburg and Berlin makes it necessary for the ICE from Binz to Munich to be canceled until December 13th. If you want to use the connection, you have to change in Berlin. It is currently unclear whether the direct train connection will be resumed afterwards Baltic Sea newspaper reported.

The construction work on the Berlin – Hamburg route not only affects long-distance traffic, but also influences local traffic in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. At the recently held “Timetable Conference 2026” in Rostock, experts from Deutsche Bahn and associations such as PRO BAHN and the Verkehrsclub Deutschland discussed the need for such measures to improve the quality of the rail network. The changes to the 2026 roadmap will be the most extensive since 2016. Travelers can prepare for new travel times, which will be officially presented in the fall Ruegen-und-Mee-HR.

Traffic situation and renovations

The daily traffic reports for September 1, 2025 already announce long-term construction sites for various regions:

• Auf der Strecke Berlin – Hamburg kam es zu Umleitungen und verlängerten Fahrzeiten aufgrund von Bauarbeiten.
• Ähnliche Probleme berichten auch Reisende zwischen Hamburg und Schwerin.
• Hierbei handelt es sich um eine Reihe von Maßnahmen, die bis zum 30. April 2026 andauern sollen, um die Infrastruktur zu modernisieren, wie Bahndampf.de vermerkt.

It is important for passengers to be aware of passenger rights and possible compensation during this time. For example, if there are delays of more than 60 minutes, there is an option to claim 25 to 50 percent of the ticket price back, while if the delay is 120 minutes or more, the entire ticket price can be refunded.

A variety of events on Rügen

In addition to the challenges in rail transport, there are also local issues of importance. A court case recently began against a 26-year-old tractor driver for negligent homicide and endangering road traffic after the tragic accident of a 14-year-old rider who was run over by a cultivator. This raises questions about road safety and concerns not only the courts, but also the public.

The concert by the band “Weimar” in Rügen must also be taken into account. Despite distancing themselves from right-wing sentiments, the band attracts fans from the neo-Nazi scene, which leads to discussions about the cultural influence of such events.

Positive news comes from Ribnitz, where 24-year-old Olga Linina opened her cosmetic studio “Dauerschön”. After training as a dental assistant, she specialized in permanent make-up and is bringing a breath of fresh air to the industry. Her performance at the World Permanent Makeup Championships competition, where she took first place in the Powder Brows Junior category, speaks for her skills.

In summary, the current day in Northern Germany shows not only the challenges of transport connections and infrastructure, but also the diverse cultural and social issues that are important for the region. The coming months could be exciting, both in terms of timetable design and social developments.