ADVERTISEMENTGermany’s rail carrier Deutsche Ban is undertaking a country-wide effort to improve the railway system with the busy Frankfurt to Mannheim route closed for repairs until December.
Deutsche Bahn says that the focus will be on heavily used routes.
The route between Hamburg and Berlin, the two largest cities in the country, will be closed next year due to repairs.
However, some are still enjoying the freedom and accessibility that trains can bring.
Frank Cordes says he and his wife, Karin, who uses a wheelchair, prefer train travel over other modes of transport, though it still poses some difficulties for them.
"We don't use certain routes anymore because the trains no longer operate on them," said Cordes. "Many of the night trains between northern and southern Germany, which we regularly used when traveling to Munich, for example, are no longer available. Finding alternatives has become a significant challenge for us."
Deutsche Bahn is known for its notorious reputation for late arrivals, which drew international criticism during Euro 2024.
Punctuality has worsened this year compared to last, continuing a trend that began in 2021. The railway carrier is hoping that much-needed repairs to outdated tracks will reverse this trend.
Railway officials say the closures will be difficult for passengers but are necessary.
“Past governments have neglected the railway and not just for a few years but for decades so what we have now are problems you can’t solve within two or three months," said Sabrina Wendling, a spokesperson, for Pro-Rail Alliance / Allianz Pro Schiene.
"We have to get through this and cope with this difficult time.”
The construction work will also include renovations of stations across Germany which Deutsche Bahn says will offer passengers more comfort.
For now, passengers are being offered replacement buses for the closed routes, but this may not ease the situation for everyone.
"I don't know how far you can go, a lot of things are already being rerouted and there are buses that run, but it's difficult for us to take them," said Frank Cordes.