Dear Customers,
The current situation in Hamburg is inactive not favourable. Terminals are experiencing varying degrees of delays, infrastructure remains congested, and the Hamburg Port Authority continues to manage entrances to the port. Empty container transports, which we cannot usage for imports, are mainly blocked, and their smooth circulation is mostly disrupted.
We continuously inform you that transit through Germany is not smooth.
Today, we bring you a brief overview of the current and planned restrictions on the German rail infrastructure.
August 2025–April 2026
Berlin–Hamburg: detour most frequently via Hanover or Rostock. This affects all our services to/from the North German ports. Limited services: North German ports <-> CZ, SK, PL, HU, AT, KOWU (Berlin), Balkans
September
19.09. – 26.09.2025: Elbe Valley, all day 08:50 – 18:50, detours via Cheb/Schirnding, Horka, partially Passau. Limited services: North German ports, Rotterdam, Duisburg <-> CZ, SK, HU, AT, Balkans
October
02.10. – 06.10.2025: Bremen – Bremerhaven, we are bypassing via private infrastructure with diesel traction. Limited services: all shipments to/from Bremerhaven
03.10. – 05.10.2025: Finkenwerder Bridge Hamburg – Eurogate and CT Burchardkai, regular from 7:00 to 18:00., no alternate way available. Limited services: all shipments to/from the listed terminals.
06.10.2025: Finkenwerder Bridge Hamburg, 7:00 – 12:00
17.10. – 24.10.2025: Oderbrücke, detour way via Horka. Limited services: North German ports <-> PL
26.10. – 08.11.2025: Elbe Valley, complete closure, detours via Cheb/Schirnding, Horka, partially Passau. Limited services: North German ports, Rotterdam, Duisburg <-> CZ, SK, HU, AT, Balkans
November
13.11. – 16.11.2025: Elbe Valley, regular from 8:50 to 18:50, detours via Cheb/Schirnding, Horka, and partially Passau. Limited services: North German ports, Rotterdam, Duisburg <-> CZ, SK, HU, AT, Balkans
December
01.12. – 10.12.2025: Elbe Valley, complete closure, detours via Cheb/Schirnding, Horka, partially Passau. Limited services: North German ports, Rotterdam, Duisburg <-> CZ, SK, HU, AT, Balkans
Each of these closures has an impact on our services. Where possible, we are utilizing alternate routes. However, these frequently mean not only longer distances, but besides reduced method parameters, which require us to shorten our trains, i.e. reduce their capacity.
We believe that we will successfully overcome the upcoming challenges together, and we are looking forward to further cooperation with you.
METRANS Team
