Thunderstorm chaos: rail traffic between Hamburg and Hanover paralyzed!

Thunderstorm chaos: rail traffic between Hamburg and Hanover paralyzed!

on Tuesday evening, July 15, 2025, there were considerable restrictions on the highly frequented railway line between Hamburg and Hanover after a thunderstorm caused unforeseen problems. Numerous trains recorded delays and there were failures, which put travelers on a test of patience. A full closure between Klein Süstedt and Uelzen was active in both directions for several hours. Many passengers waited in vain for their connections and had to prepare for long waiting times.

good news for all travelers: the closure on a section between Uelzen and Suderburg has now been lifted. Traffic chaos or not, the train traffic is now rolling on a track again. Nevertheless, the rail operator Metronom warns for caution, because delays and partial failures are still to be expected. Travelers should prepare to take train traffic and possible delays into account until night. The complete release of the route is expected to be possible only in the early morning hours of the next day, July 16, like the Hannoversche General

trains and diversions

The problems affect not only the metronome routes Re3/RB31 and RE2, but also long-distance transport. IC and ICE trains are badly affected, many hold, including Lüneburg, Uelzen and Celle. When planning their journey, travelers should take into account that delays of at least 30 minutes can be expected. Long -distance traffic is diverted via alternative routes, which brings with other inconvenience. Some trains such as ICE 4, ICE 11, ICE 12 and others are late for about 20 minutes, such as the NDR-Nachrichten report.

For passengers who are dependent on the metronome routes, a bus lack has been set up. This is to ensure that the travelers can achieve their goal despite the inconvenience. Alternative connections via Bremen are also a possible solution to get to Hanover. The Deutsche Bahn has announced that it would fix the problems as soon as possible and to keep passengers up to date with all changes.

risks and stress for travelers

The weather situation has once again shown how sensitive rail traffic can react. Travelers are well advised to find out about the status of their trains in advance and, if necessary, switch to alternative transport options. The current events underline the importance of a flexible travel plan, especially in unpredictable weather events.

The travelers are asked to follow the situation carefully and bring patience to with a grip on the train. Have a good hand when planning the travel cannot hurt here!