Construction projects are causing delays in the new train schedule

The new Deutsche Bahn schedule brings changes—primarily due to construction projects—for travelers in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. In some cases, travel times will be longer and stops will be eliminated, but in other cases, travelers will temporarily benefit from additional direct connections, according to Deutsche Bahn.

Tickets for trips after the schedule change on December 13 can be booked starting Wednesday. Long-distance fares will remain stable.

Longer travel times from Erfurt, Leipzig, and Dresden to Frankfurt

Construction will take place between Erfurt and Frankfurt from February 6 through May 14, as well as starting August 14, 2027. As a result, ICE trains will take about 45 minutes longer to travel between the two cities—and consequently also to and from Leipzig and Dresden. Deutsche Bahn stated that the changes have already been factored into the schedule information for these construction sites, which are the largest in the country and have already been fully planned.

The construction work will also affect Riesa in Saxony: ICE trains will once again stop there every two hours during the day. Outside of the construction periods, this will continue to be possible only sporadically during off-peak hours. The reason for this is that the turnaround time for trains in Dresden is not sufficient to ensure that service runs as punctually as possible. 

No ICE Stops in Stendal

According to Deutsche Bahn, no ICE trains will stop in Stendal throughout the entire coming year due to the renovation of the Berlin-Wolfsburg high-speed line. However, the city in the Altmark region will remain connected to the long-distance rail network via IC connections.

Directly to Switzerland from Halle and Erfurt

Because the Berlin–Switzerland ICE line cannot run via Wolfsburg due to construction-related track closures, trains will be rerouted via Halle and Erfurt. For travelers, this means that throughout 2027, there will be direct service every two hours from both cities to Swiss cities such as Zurich, Chur, or Interlaken. Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden, and Freiberg can also be reached without changing trains.

Direct service to Vienna resumes

Since February 7, the two daily connections from Leipzig and Erfurt to Vienna had been suspended due to renovation work on the Nuremberg–Regensburg–Passau line. The construction work is now complete—direct service to the Austrian capital will resume starting December 19, the railway announced.

Family ticket becomes permanent—monthly passes will be cheaper

Last summer, the railway tested a family ticket: Two adults and up to three children could book a round-trip for 99 euros, including seat reservations. The ticket is now being introduced permanently. It will be available for booking starting October 26, with the first travel date being November 1.

Long-distance commuters will see lower fares in the future: According to Deutsche Bahn, monthly passes and student monthly passes will be 25 percent cheaper starting October 21.