Train chaos between Karlsruhe and Pforzheim: diversions until October!

Train chaos between Karlsruhe and Pforzheim: diversions until October!

From today, September 26, 2025, travelers on the railway line between Karlsruhe and Pforzheim will be affected by extensive restrictions. These result from construction work that is expected to last until October 11th. The direct Deutsche Bahn (DB) connection is interrupted during this time, affecting both long-distance and regional transport. Travelers should prepare for diversions and no stops.

Line 61, which serves trains to and from Stuttgart, is particularly suffering from the diversions. These will be rerouted between Karlsruhe and Vaihingen (Enz) via Bruchsal, eliminating the stops in Pforzheim and Mühlacker. Line 26 from the north is also affected; Here there are no stops in Heidelberg Hbf, Wiesloch-Walldorf and Bruchsal. Regional traffic on the RE 1 line, which connects Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, will also be rerouted via Bruchsal. The DB states that, according to the changed timetables, the trains should still reach their destination faster.

Details about the construction work

The construction work is necessary to replace around 5,200 sleepers on a track. Since the neighboring track has to be closed, an increased traffic load on the diversion routes is to be expected. In addition, the RE 45 (Karlsruhe-Heilbronn) only runs to or from Karlsruhe-Durlach. The MEX 17 to and from Bietigheim-Bissingen ends and begins in Pforzheim, which also means that there will be cancellations on the route between Karlsruhe and Pforzheim.

In order to support travelers, a replacement rail service will be set up between Karlsruhe and Pforzheim. The DB recommends checking current connections via bahn.de and the DB Navigator app in order to better plan various options and possible waiting times at transfer points.

Background of the restrictions

The planned duration of the work extends until November 20th. Preparatory work has been underway since August. The need for these measures highlights DB's ongoing efforts to modernize the infrastructure and ensure safety in rail transport. Similar construction work of this kind can also be observed in other regions, such as on the Anhalter Bahn, where sustained changes and optimizations were necessary over decades before the infrastructure could be restored (MDR).

With these measures, Deutsche Bahn hopes to improve the quality of its services and secure transport connections in the long term, even if short-term restrictions for passengers are unavoidable.