Drastic timetable changes: train reductions in southern Brandenburg!

Drastic timetable changes: train reductions in southern Brandenburg!

Regional transport in southern Brandenburg is facing a major upheaval: there will be comprehensive changes to the timetable on December 14, 2025. These adjustments are related to the more tense financial situation in the state of Brandenburg, which means that some connections and travel times have to be reduced or even canceled completely. Niederlausitz Aktuell reports that the rail connections to Elsterwerda, Cottbus, Falkenberg and Senftenberg will be particularly affected.

The planned changes aim to strengthen the main lines while discontinuing less used peripheral connections. The regional train line RB62 will be completely discontinued, and there will also be massive restrictions on the RB27 (Basdorf–Wensickendorf) and the RB36 (Beeskow–Frankfurt (Oder)). The RB27 will only run in the morning and evening hours on weekdays, while the RB36 will only run every two hours after 8 p.m. The connection to Stettin (RB66) will also be reduced, which could significantly affect mobility in the region. [RBB24].

Extensive timetable changes

The detailed changes to the timetable are diverse and primarily affect daily commuters. For example, the early connection of the RB43 to Cottbus at 3:46 a.m. will be canceled from Monday to Friday, and on weekends the connection at 4:47 a.m. will be canceled. In addition, the return journey from Cottbus at 11:03 p.m. will be canceled, while the RB49 connection between Falkenberg and Senftenberg will also be discontinued in the evening hours, which has a significant impact on the last journeys of the day. However, selective improvements will be introduced during peak traffic times, including an additional hourly service on the RB 20 between Cottbus and Berlin, which also offers a connection to the airport.

From December onwards, the regional express line RE8 will run every hour during the week between Berlin and Elsterwerda, whereas direct connections from Finsterwalde to Berlin will no longer be available. VBB states that a new Dresden train will reduce travel time to Berlin Hbf to around 1.5 hours, which could be an improvement for many commuters. In Cottbus, a new RE20 route name is being introduced for additional trains between Berlin and Lübbenau, which will increase train service to almost every 30 minutes, which is a positive signal for commuters.

Significant impact for commuters

The new regulations also have an impact on the use of VBB tickets. From December 14, 2025, these will no longer be valid on Deutsche Bahn long-distance trains, for example on the Berlin-Elsterwerda and Berlin-Potsdam-Cottbus routes. This could come as an unpleasant surprise for many travelers, especially those who rely on the flexibility of public transport.

It is clear that Brandenburg's transport planning faces major challenges. Transport Minister Detlef Tabbert emphasizes the need for more targeted financing to maintain mobility in the region. Ultimately, the measures could help to reduce the few peripheral services used, but economic operation will no longer be feasible with fewer than ten passengers per trip.