Neubrandenburg Reconnected to Rail Network After Prolonged Delays

Neubrandenburg, the third-largest city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has regained its connection to the rail network after enduring several months of disruptions due to extensive construction work. The delays had severely tested the patience of commuters, who were left without train services since the previous summer.

As of today, train services have resumed, with the first trains rolling into the city following the completion of final testing and approval runs that took place on Monday. The construction involved significant upgrades, including the replacement of existing signal boxes with new ones in Neubrandenburg, Altentreptow, and Sternfeld, aimed at standardizing the signaling and level crossing technology.

The representative of Deutsche Bahn AG for the region, Alexander Kaczmarek, acknowledged the shortcomings in project management, admitting that the delays were a result of mismanagement. He expressed regret over the extended period that Neubrandenburg was disconnected from the railway network, marking a historic low in the city's 150-year railway history.

Commuters in the Neubrandenburg area had to rely on substitute bus services in all directions due to the disruption, leading to significant inconvenience. In early assessments, Wilfried Kramer from the regional board of the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) referred to the situation as a 'negative record' for the area, highlighting the unprecedented length of time without rail access.

Despite the resumption of services, restrictions remain in place on certain routes. In Altentreptow and Sternfeld, ongoing construction work means that trains will only stop during daylight hours until additional safety measures, such as lighting installations, are completed. Consequently, trains on the RE51 and RE5 lines will operate on a reduced schedule, stopping every two hours at Sternfeld.

The affected section of the railway, stretching approximately 125 kilometers from Neustrelitz to Stralsund, forms part of the Berlin Northern Railway, which connects the capital to the Baltic Sea.