Schönefeld: End of regional and long-distance traffic at the old train station!

Schönefeld: End of regional and long-distance traffic at the old train station!

In December 2025 there will be a significant change in regional and long-distance transport at Schönefeld train station (near Berlin). As airliners.de reports, Deutsche Bahn has discontinued regional and long-distance services with the current timetable change. This station was once a major transport hub, but is now located at the former Terminal 5 of BER Airport, which has been more inactive since its closure in November 2022.

For commuters and travelers, access to BER Airport will now be via the regional train lines RB24 and RB32, which run directly via Berlin-Lichtenberg and Ostkreuz. Despite the closure, Schönefeld station remains illuminated and the platforms are open to the public. However, there are no timetable notices and the digital displays on the platforms that are no longer in use no longer show current departure or arrival times.

History and development of the station

The station has a long and eventful history. It was opened on September 27, 1900 as Schönefeld (Kr. Teltow) and initially served for business purposes. Over the years it has been repeatedly redesigned through various construction projects such as the Berlin outer freight ring and the electrical connection to the S-Bahn. The station's importance increased particularly after the Second World War when it was connected to the Berlin S-Bahn network. In 1962 it was renamed Schönefeld Central Airport and served as an important transport point for travelers to the airport for many years.

With the opening of the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) in October 2020, a fundamental realignment took place. The old infrastructure was largely discontinued and the train station was renamed Terminal 5. Since then there have only been sporadic connections before all trains ran via the new main station from October 31, 2020. Only on certain nights did some trains still stop at the old station. In the period from December 2022 to December 2025, regional traffic was resumed for a short time, with only the S-Bahn running at Schönefeld station from December 14, 2025, as Wikipedia) notes.

Future prospects

Schönefeld train station remains a central point in the strategic planning for the airport and the adjacent logistics areas. With good access to S-Bahn routes, which run every six to 14 minutes between Schönefeld and the terminal, passengers do not have to rely on regional and long-distance trains. There are also discussions about expanding the S-Bahn in Berlin, which should further improve transport options. Future projects could include a second north-south S-Bahn line, with the need for new trains increasing to meet growing demand on the network, as the S-Bahn Museum reports.

The connections and good access to Terminal 1/2 underline the practical importance of Schönefeld, even if the station is now primarily frequented by S-Bahn traffic. At a time when the mobility sector is changing rapidly, it remains to be seen how the transport infrastructure in Schönefeld and the surrounding area will be further developed.