Train cancellations in July: How to still get to the sea!

Train cancellations in July: How to still get to the sea!

A turbulent summer awaits travelers on the railway lines between Berlin and the Baltic Sea. In July there will be significant disruptions on several routes, impacting the popular connections between northern Germany and recreation on the Baltic Sea. The construction work, which begins on Tuesday, July 1st and will last until Thursday, July 31st, has already caused alarm. The lines RE5 (Stralsund-Berlin, Rostock-Berlin) and RE50 (Rostock-Neustrelitz) are particularly affected.

A central point of the construction work is a bridge construction site on the B192, which will lead to a complete failure of the RE5 line between Berlin Südkreuz and Löwenberg. Buses will be used as replacement transport between Neustrelitz and Waren. Travelers should be prepared for the fact that stops are not always located directly at train stations. This can be particularly challenging for cyclists and people carrying wheelchairs or strollers. Here the bus staff can decide on a case-by-case basis how to take bicycles with them.

Special regulations and nighttime restrictions

But that's not all: on the night of July 2nd to July 3rd and from July 31st to August 1st, the RE5 connection between Berlin Südkreuz and Neustrelitz will also be canceled. The RE5 and RE51 lines between Neubrandenburg and Neustrelitz will also be interrupted on the night of July 16th to July 17th from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Travelers are well advised to regularly check current timetables and, if necessary, switch to alternative means of transport such as bicycles.

In addition, further failures of the RE5 between Waren and Berlin Südkreuz are expected on July 9th and 10th and on July 23rd and 24th. The S1 will continue to run for the section between Berlin and Oranienburg, but a replacement bus service will also be set up between Oranienburg and Neustrelitz as well as Neustrelitz and Waren. A shuttle replacement service with large taxis between Neustrelitz and Kratzeburg provides a certain degree of flexibility, but will not be without challenges.

A year of change for rail transport

This situation not only reflects a local change, but is part of a much larger issue in the field of rail transport in Germany, which this year, 2025, is called the year of change. In connection with planned construction projects in North Rhine-Westphalia, hopes are being nurtured that existing deficiencies in the rail network can be remedied and capacities expanded. Travelers should stay well-informed and regularly keep up with timetable updates through timetable apps. Alternatives such as temporary home office solutions could also be considered, as nahverkehr-nrw.de recommends.

Ultimately, the responsibility to prepare for the journey to the Baltic Sea in good time lies with the travelers. Good planning and early information about existing restrictions can help avoid inconveniences and keep you looking forward to your summer vacation on the Baltic Sea. The construction work is a small price to pay in order to benefit from a lower-risk and more reliable connection in the long term. In the spirit of the saying: “Where there is a will, there is a way!”