Enhanced Rail Link Establishes Improved Access to BER Airport via Dresden Train Services - Enhanced train service links Berlin's main airport to Dresden more efficiently
The Dresden Railway, a major infrastructure project in the region, is set to revolutionize travel to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) from mid-December 2025. This new railway line will significantly reduce travel time from Berlin Central Station to BER to just over 20 minutes.
The new 16-kilometer Dresden Railway segment between Südkreuz and Blankenfelde enables faster and more direct connections to BER. The trains will no longer run via Gesundbrunnen and Ostkreuz, but rather south via Potsdamer Platz and Südkreuz.
This development brings about key impacts on regional traffic and travel. Eastern Berlin residents will benefit from improved airport access, with regional trains RE20 from Lübbenau and RB24 from Eberswalde extended to BER, and RE32 from Oranienburg starting February 2026. However, some passengers from western Berlin districts like Spandau and Falkensee will need to transfer trains, as direct regional train connections via Gesundbrunnen will be discontinued.
The Airport Express (FEX) frequency will increase to every 15 minutes, enhancing regional connectivity and convenience. The inauguration of the Dresden Railway is scheduled for December 14, marking the largest infrastructure project in the region in many years.
The expansion will benefit not only Berliners but also many people in Brandenburg, as they will be able to reach the capital airport more easily. It's important to note that from October 24 to December 12, Südkreuz station will be closed for regional and long-distance traffic for the installation of two electronic signal boxes.
The expansion of the route, decided in 1993, will also reduce the travel time between Berlin and Dresden by ten minutes. The S9 journey takes 1 hour and 19 minutes, according to the Berlin passenger association IGEB. Passengers traveling from Gesundbrunnen will no longer have a direct regional train connection to BER and will have to take the S-Bahn and change at Potsdamer Platz.
From February 2026, the RE32 will run from Oranienburg to BER once an hour. The RB24 from Eberswalde will be extended to the airport. The new RE20 line from Lübbenau in the Spreewald to BER will commence with the change of timetable.
Alexander Kaczmarek, the DB representative for Berlin, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, announced the closure of Südkreuz station during the installation period. The VBB (Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg) was not mentioned in the provided paragraph.
In summary, the Dresden Railway substantially improves rail access to BER, cutting travel time nearly in half and increasing service frequency, thus enhancing the airport's regional connectivity.
Community aid can be provided to help those living in eastern Berlin adapt to the changes in train routes, particularly those relying on direct connections via Gesundbrunnen that will be discontinued. Vocational training programs could be organized in partnership with the transportation industry and finance sector to prepare locals for potential job opportunities associated with the increased traffic and airport activity.
With the commencement of the Dresden Railway, individuals residing in Brandenburg and other surrounding regions may require vocational training in various aspects of the transportation industry to capitalize on the improved accessibility to Berlin and BER airport, welcoming a new wave of economic growth for the community.
