Berlin's New Train Connections to BER: Winners and Losers Revealed
Berlin and Brandenburg are set for significant changes in S-Bahn and regional traffic with the upcoming operation of the new Dresden railway line. The new route, scheduled to start operation on December 14, 2025, will significantly enhance the connection between Berlin and Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).
The 16-kilometer new route will reduce travel time from Berlin Central Station to BER to just over 20 minutes, allowing faster journeys to Dresden in under two hours. This new service will also bring about changes in the airport express (FEX) and other regional lines.
The Airport Express will be rerouted to run south via Potsdamer Platz and Südkreuz instead of Gesundbrunnen and Ostkreuz, and its frequency will increase to every 15 minutes. Several regional lines will be extended to BER for better connectivity, including RE20 from Lübbenau, RB24 from Eberswalde, and from February 2026, RE32 from Oranienburg.
Eastern Berlin residents will benefit from improved direct access to BER, integrating the airport better with the local transport network. However, some passengers will experience less convenience as Gesundbrunnen station will lose its direct regional train connection to the airport, and travelers from western districts like Spandau and Falkensee will need to change trains to reach BER.
Temporary disruptions will occur as Südkreuz station will be closed for regional and long-distance traffic between October 24 and December 12, 2025, during installation of new electronic signal boxes.
In summary, the new Dresden railway line operation will notably accelerate and increase the frequency of train services connecting Berlin to BER and Dresden, enhancing airport accessibility especially for eastern Berlin and Brandenburg regions, while necessitating some transfers and temporary travel adjustments during construction and switchover periods.
The new rail service is expected to benefit many Berliners, bringing about changes in S-Bahn and regional traffic in Berlin and Brandenburg. Deutsche Bahn (DB) has confirmed that the project will be completed on time, and the new rail service will officially start operation on December 14.
[1] Source: DB Press Release, Monday, August 15, 2022 [4] Source: Berlin Brandenburg Airport Press Release, Monday, August 15, 2022
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