ICE route Munich-Berlin reopened after fire!

ICE route Munich-Berlin reopened after fire!

Travelers between Munich and Berlin can breathe a sigh of relief: the ICE route can be used again after being closed for almost two weeks. On Monday, July 14, 2025, Deutsche Bahn reopened the heavily used connection to traffic, which was restricted by a fire in an underpass near Hirschaid near Bamberg. This accident, which began on July 4th, caused significant damage to the infrastructure and therefore massive inconvenience for passengers.

The entire route had to be closed due to the fire, which caused wooden slats and pallets to burn. Travelers had to prepare for significant delays. The express trains between Nuremberg and Erfurt were rerouted, which extended the travel time to up to 1 hour and 40 minutes. In addition, numerous intercity trains were canceled during the closure, particularly between Nuremberg and Leipzig and between Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe and Gera. The trains also temporarily did not stop in Erlangen, Bamberg and Coburg.

Fire investigation ongoing

The Bamberg criminal police are currently investigating suspected arson. Even though there is currently no clear evidence of deliberate sabotage, the possibility of negligent arson is being examined. The damage is estimated at around 25,000 euros, which is why the load-bearing capacity of the underpass must now be examined. Fire protection and safety in the affected areas are now top priority.

For the duration of the closure, extensive replacement bus services were set up to mobilize travelers between Forchheim and Bamberg. Many S-Bahn lines from Nuremberg ended prematurely, which further complicated the situation. In order to ensure that the small train stations can still be reached, large taxis are used and are available for intermediate stops.

An outlook on future developments

The disruptions in train traffic also raise new questions. Deutsche Bahn is increasingly working on solutions to make the rail infrastructure more sustainable and safer. The current research results, such as the reports published by the German Center for Rail Transport Research, are promising. They are working on the application of innovative technologies and the integration of renewable energy into rail transport, which could help prevent similar incidents in the future and increase the resilience of the system.

The restoration of the connection between Munich and Berlin is a good sign for travelers and shows that we can react quickly in an emergency. However, for Deutsche Bahn and the responsible authorities, it remains high on the agenda to continually optimize safety standards and fire protection measures in order to make the future of rail travel safe.

For further information on current developments and research projects in the field of rail transport, we recommend taking a look at the website of the German Center for Rail Transport Research: DZSF.

The full details of the incidents and restrictions are also available here Reporting from T-Online and the Article from the Süddeutsche Zeitung.