DB closes Nuremberg-Ingolstadt train line for six weeks

The train route connecting Nuremberg and Ingolstadt is now closed for track renovations. Here’s what passengers need to know about replacement services and when the line will reopen.

DB replacing track between Nuremberg and Ingolstadt

Deutsche Bahn is currently carrying out a years-long, widespread renovation project on track networks across Germany. Next up for renovation is the 78-kilometre track connecting Nuremberg and Ingolstadt.

As a result, the high-speed line between Nuremberg and Ingolstadt will be completely closed from October 30 to midnight on December 12. In the meantime, passengers should expect RE1 services connecting Munich, Nuremberg and Ingolstadt to be diverted via Treuchtlingen. 

Deutsche Bahn will also run replacement buses between Nuremberg and Ingolstadt for passengers travelling to Allersberg, Allersberg (Rothsee), Johannisbrücke, Kinding, Kinding Marktplatz and Ingolstadt Nord.

The line connecting the Bavarian cities is currently used by around 170 trains per day but has not been renovated in over 20 years, according to a Deutsche Bahn press release. Before mid-December, construction workers will lay new tracks and cables, install more switches, and inspect tunnels along the line.

Long-distance trains will also be diverted

Passengers travelling between Nuremberg and Berlin will be glad to hear that ICE 18 services connecting the two cities via Augsburg will run as normal during the track renovations.

However, ICE passengers travelling between Munich and Berlin should expect their journey to be around 45 minutes longer than normal, as trains are diverted via Augsburg and Donauwörth. But the Munich-Berlin ICE connection will continue to run hourly.

ICE trains connecting Munich and Hamburg via Kassel, however, will run every two hours, rather than hourly. Services connecting Nuremberg and Hamburg via Kassel will run on the intervening hour.

Things are a little more complicated for passengers travelling between Munich and Frankfurt. Direct trains connecting these cities are not running during the renovation period, and Deutsche Bahn recommends that passengers take an alternative route via Stuttgart.

Deutsche Bahn recommends that diverted passengers check the DB Navigator app, bahn.de or DB’s Bavaria traffic information for up-to-date information.