Rail chaos from December: Oldenburg and Norddeich in the shadow of the route changes!

Rail chaos from December: Oldenburg and Norddeich in the shadow of the route changes!

On December 14, 2025, Deutsche Bahn's annual timetable change is just around the corner, and it promises some changes for rail travelers in northern Germany. The regions of Bremen and Lower Saxony are particularly affected. The Pro Bahn passenger association has already expressed its concerns, namely that the new regulation could have a rather negative impact. “A little light and significantly more shade” is how Pro Bahn describes the planned changes, which will affect both the direct connections and the service of many smaller train stations. NWZonline reports that, for example, the direct connection between Stuttgart and Norddeich and the ICE lines from Oldenburg to Munich are no longer available. This will further deteriorate the connection to East Frisia in particular.

What happens to the connections?

The cancellation of the ICE 1014 and 1015, which is now no longer available, will be particularly painful. In addition, the IC train to Cologne is less frequented on weaker weekdays, which, according to Pro Bahn, poses a risk that this line could be lost entirely. The situation in Oldenburg is also anything but rosy. In the future, one fewer ICE will stop there, and instead the direct connection to Munich will be replaced by a connection to Frankfurt. In a nationwide comparison, Oldenburg ranks 73rd out of 82 and is anything but a top place when it comes to direct connections. NDR adds that despite the cancellations, Norddeich, Norden and Emden can still travel directly to Koblenz and Bonn two to three times a day.

New timetable brings changes for Oldenburg

Positive news for commuters in Oldenburg: The previous departure time to Berlin has been moved from 4:40 a.m. to 6:40 a.m., reducing travel time to a total of three hours and 20 minutes. Bremen, on the other hand, can look forward to new direct connections to Berlin and Karlsruhe. While the connection for Bremen is being improved, travelers from Lower Saxony and especially from Emsland and East Frisia must expect deteriorated connections daily news holds on.

Overall, the timetable change offers both light and shadow. While Deutsche Bahn promises to bring numerous improvements for passengers in the form of additional ICE Sprinter connections, it remains to be seen whether age-appropriate connections to small towns in Lower Saxony can also be guaranteed in the future. A central concern of Pro Bahn is reliable, well-scheduled long-distance transport for the entire region.

Construction work and future outlook

It could also be problematic for commuters: from May 1, 2026, IC traffic between Bremen and Hanover will be suspended until at least mid-July. The reason for this is necessary construction work between Hanover and Hamburg. While Deutsche Bahn is trying to make the route network future-proof, many travelers will find the restrictions a high hurdle. In particular, Verden, Nienburg and several cities such as Lüneburg and Uelzen have to switch to the slow metronome because there are no stops on the ICE route to Berlin, which significantly reduces comfort.

In the end, the question arises: Is the new timetable worth it or is it more of a detriment to travelers? That remains to be seen, as long-distance transport will continue to have to face considerable challenges in order to remain attractive and punctual. The railway is therefore also competing with the new ICE L, which is intended to offer a faster and more comfortable journey. The long-term punctuality targets are expected to rise to 70% by 2029, while local transport is even aiming for over 90%.