Construction work: S8 and S9 closed between Kelsterbach and Wiesbaden!

Construction work: S8 and S9 closed between Kelsterbach and Wiesbaden!

Railway fans in the region around Mainz and Wiesbaden have to prepare for some changes. From January 17, 2026, the closure of the S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 between Wiesbaden and Kelsterbach will be extended all day. This affects the time from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., a measure that has already been in effect at night since January 13th, as fr.de reported.

This closure is part of larger renovation and modernization work that Deutsche Bahn (DB) is carrying out at the important railway junction in Mainz. The aim is to renew switches and switch to modern digital technology, which should increase the reliability of the rail network in the long term. During this work, passengers will have to switch to a rail replacement service (SEV). The necessary bus lines are available and offer good connections.

Replacement trains and bus routes

There are three rail replacement bus lines available for travelers:

• Bus S9X: fährt viertelstündlich von Kelsterbach über Rüsselsheim (Bahnhof und Opelwerk) nach Wiesbaden-Hauptbahnhof und zurück; die Abfahrt erfolgt am Rathaus am Marktplatz in Kelsterbach.
• Bus S8X: startet am Gateway Gardens sowie am Flughafen Frankfurt (Fernbahnhof) und fährt über Rüsselsheim nach Mainz-Hauptbahnhof und zurück.
• Bus S8E: bedient die Strecke vom Kelsterbacher Rathaus über Raunheim nach Mainz-Hauptbahnhof und hält an mehreren Stationen in Rüsselsheim und Mainz.

In addition, the bridge on Bonner Straße in Rüsselsheim will be replaced from January 17th to 30th, 2026, which will further increase the closure of the S8 and S9 between Wiesbaden and Kelsterbach. Rail replacement services will also apply during the day.

Further construction activities and infrastructure modernization

The extensive construction work is part of a larger initiative to modernize the railway infrastructure around Mainz, which the DB is planning to invest several hundred million euros. In this context, tracks, switches, overhead lines and signal box technology will also be renewed. German railway emphasizes that no work will take place on Christmas Day and that regular operations will continue.

There are various restrictions on train traffic during the construction work, including many long-distance trains being rerouted. Travelers should expect travel options to improve to ensure proper connectivity. Further work is planned from February 2024 that could further impact operations.

For travelers it means: keep your eyes open when buying tickets and always keep an eye on the latest information in order to get to your destination smoothly. We wish everyone a good and safe journey!