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Rail chaos in Bavaria: Pegnitz Bridge closure extended until 2026!
The railway line between Hersbruck and Pegnitz will remain closed until mid-2026. Find out more about the background and alternative transport.
Rail chaos in Bavaria: Pegnitz Bridge closure extended until 2026!
The current construction sites and closures in the German rail network affect many travelers and commuters. The complete closure of the railway line between Hersbruck and Pegnitz, which has been in place since mid-September 2025, will now be extended until at least mid-2026. Loud Mercury This step and the long duration of the closure are due to significant damage to several Pegnitz bridges that were discovered during a technical inspection. The repair work is proving to be more complicated than originally expected, as a total of 18 bridges have similar construction problems.
Deutsche Bahn InfraGo had initially promised that the route would be released in February 2026, but now a longer waiting time must be expected. Currently, rail traffic between Hersbruck and Pegnitz is maintained by a bus service using over 60 buses. Hourly bus connections between Pegnitz and Hersbruck as well as direct bus routes to Nuremberg ensure that travelers can still reach their destinations.
Further construction work on the rail network
But trains are not only affected in Bavaria. Large construction sites are also leading to restrictions and timetable changes in other parts of Germany. Loud ADAC Deutsche Bahn is working on the comprehensive modernization of the rail network, which is scheduled to last until 2036. More than 40 key routes will be closed for several months. For example, the commuter route between Hamburg and Berlin will be completely closed until April 30, 2026, which will mean that many travelers will have to extend travel times.
Measures are currently also planned for Cologne and the surrounding area. In November 2025, Cologne Central Station will cease operations from November 14th to 24th, while switch work will be carried out between Aachen and Cologne from December 8th to 13th, which will also result in delays of around 60 minutes.
Long-term perspectives
Overall, these planned works show that the railway wants to implement not only short-term, but also long-term solutions. The challenge is to reconcile the necessary repair work with ongoing rail operations and at the same time provide passengers with the best possible information. These large-scale projects could bring significant benefits for travelers in the future, even if many changes are currently required.
The next few years will be crucial in sustainably improving the condition of the infrastructure. Travelers are requested to always keep themselves informed about current developments and diversions and, if necessary, to consider alternative transport options.
In summary, despite the unpleasant construction work and the associated restrictions, both Deutsche Bahn and the affected cities and municipalities are doing their best to make the rail infrastructure future-proof.