The railway between Nuremberg and Regensburg is being prepared for the future!

The railway between Nuremberg and Regensburg is being prepared for the future!

The general renovation of the Nuremberg–Regensburg railway line officially began in February 2026. The extensive measure is being carried out in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn AG and the Laaber administrative community and aims to improve the rail infrastructure and strengthen the quality of rail transport in the long term. This initiative is part of a larger plan to modernize the German rail network and meet the growing demands on public transport.

The most important goal of this general renovation is to increase the reliability of the rail connection. The renewal of tracks, switches and overhead lines is intended to sustainably reduce disruptions. In addition, train stations and other facilities are being modernized to improve quality for passengers. The measure also aims to strengthen the performance of rail transport and make the infrastructure future-proof.

Scope and schedule of construction work

Construction began on February 6, 2026 and will be accompanied by a five-month full closure until July 10, 2026. The route, which is 88 kilometers long and is used by over 350 trains every day, is an essential part of the European Rhine-Danube transport axis. The renewal measures include, among other things:

• 96 Kilometer Gleise (Erneuerung oder Instandhaltung)
• 74 Weichen (Erneuerung)
• 81 Kilometer Oberleitung (inklusive Fahrdraht und Maste)
• Modernisierung von 20 Bahnhöfen nach festgelegten Qualitätsstandards

In addition, technical improvements will be implemented, including two new switch connections that will ensure better disruption management, as well as the renovation of railway embankments in Deining and Pölling. Bridge renovations are also planned, as well as the modernization of the control and safety technology with ETCS preparation in eight signal boxes. An important aspect of this renovation is the barrier-free expansion of all train stations.

Replacement traffic during the closure

In order to minimize the inconvenience of the full closure, a comprehensive traffic concept was developed by DB InfraGO, the Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) and the transport companies involved. During the lockdown, over 90 buses will be deployed on eight routes, covering 45,000 kilometers daily. Booster buses are available during peak hours, and all buses offer Wi-Fi and real-time information for passengers. Long-distance traffic will be ensured by rerouted ICE trains via Ingolstadt and the Donautalbahn, although this will result in an extension of travel time of around one hour until June 13th. The S-Bahn line S2 between Altdorf and Nuremberg, however, runs according to the regular timetable, apart from the nightly trips on weekends.

The general renovation of the Nuremberg-Regensburg line will ultimately help to create a more robust and stable infrastructure that reduces disruptions and delays and thus increases punctual train traffic and the attractiveness of the stations.