Overhead line disruption: chaos in long-distance traffic between Hanover and Hamburg!

Overhead line disruption: chaos in long-distance traffic between Hanover and Hamburg!

On Sunday, October 12, 2025, there were significant disruptions in Deutsche Bahn's long-distance traffic between Hanover and Hamburg. The trigger was a catenary fault near Celle, which occurred without any external influence. As [mz.de reports](https://www.mz.de/panorama/erneute-storung-im-fernverkehr-nach-oberleitungs Schaden-4130097), passengers had to expect delays of around half an hour, while several trains were simply canceled. There were no stops in cities such as Lüneburg, Uelzen and Celle, which made the situation even more difficult for many travelers.

The situation became particularly critical at night when over 140 passengers had to be evacuated from a regional train near Celle. The fire brigade was on site and ensured safe lighting of around 500 meters of the route in order to safely accompany the passengers in small groups to the platform at Celle train station. Witnesses reported two bright flashes and rumbling noises that were heard on the tracks around 10:38 p.m. On-site investigations revealed that the overhead lines in the area of ​​the tracks in the direction of Uelzen were torn, although initial assessments indicated that the power cables had been affected by the pantograph of a railcar.

Background and causes of the disorder

But what exactly is a catenary fault and what are the most common causes? Deutsche Bahn's overhead lines, which supply power to over 33,000 kilometers of the rail network, are extremely sensitive. As successknocks.com explains, various factors such as bad weather, mechanical failures or even human error can cause disruptions. In this particular case, there has so far been no evidence of external influence, which means that a technical defect probably led to the malfunction.

There have been similar incidents again and again in recent years, including serious damage in September 2025, when a freight train near Uelzen damaged around 300 meters of overhead lines. Such incidents can have a huge impact on operations and bring entire routes to a standstill, which not only affects travelers but can also have a major impact on the economy.

Current developments and future outlook

On Monday morning, one track was reopened, meaning a partial return to normality for lines RE2 and RE3/RB31. S-Bahn trains also ran regularly again. Nevertheless, the nervousness among travelers remains noticeable - due to the complexity and extensiveness of the German rail network, disruptions can have fatal consequences. In order to minimize such incidents in the future, Deutsche Bahn is planning extensive investments totaling 500 billion euros by 2036 to fundamentally modernize the infrastructure.

For travelers it is worth taking a look at the DB Navigator app. Here you can not only track the current status of the trains, but also easily reschedule them without incurring additional fees. So stay flexible and pack what you need for your trips.

For everyone affected by the disruption: According to Deutsche Bahn, passengers who arrived more than 60 minutes late are entitled to compensation. Another indication that the railway management is also reacting to the inconveniences of its customers.