Construction begins for Potsdamer Stammbahn: Noise and vibrations threaten!

Construction begins for Potsdamer Stammbahn: Noise and vibrations threaten!

Deutsche Bahn provides information about important subsoil investigations on the historic Potsdam main railway, which will last until March 2026. This investigation is carried out as part of the i2030 sub-project, which focuses on the recommissioning of the long-unused route between Potsdam and Berlin. The sections in Steglitz-Zehlendorf are particularly affected and therefore require the attention of residents and urban planners.

The work will begin in November 2025 and will include both subsoil and explosive ordnance soundings, which will be carried out between Potsdam-Griebnitzsee and Berlin-Schöneberg. Deutsche Bahn InfraGO AG took over the preliminary planning on behalf of the states of Berlin and Brandenburg.

Details about the investigations

The subsoil and explosive ordnance soundings will take place on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents should expect noise and possible vibrations during this work. However, the railway will do everything in its power to keep disruptions as low as possible. Property owners in the affected areas have already been informed.

• Bernhard-Beyer-Straße (Steinstücken)
• Machnower Straße (Kohlhasenbrück) bis Teerofenweg
• Benschallee (Düppel) bis Friedenauer Brücke (Steglitz)

The Potsdam Main Railway was opened in 1838 and is considered the first railway line in Prussia. Its importance declined after the Second World War, when a central connection was interrupted by the destruction of a bridge. The S-Bahn service between Zehlendorf and Düppel was discontinued in 1980, which makes the need for reactivation all the more urgent. The aim of the measures is to optimize commuter flows and improve connections to growth areas such as Kleinmachnow and Stahnsdorf.

Infrastructure projects and rail network

The rail network in Germany, which currently covers a length of around 39,200 km, has become increasingly important in recent decades. The largest network operator, Deutsche Bahn, has recorded an increase in passenger traffic of over 50% and freight traffic of almost 90% in recent years. These developments underline the need for rail infrastructure to meet increased demands.

In the context of the upcoming investigations, the future of electrified routes will also be discussed. Currently, around 62% of the federal rail network is electrified, with the aim of increasing this proportion to at least 75% by 2030. Better networking and the reactivation of the Potsdam main line could make a decisive contribution to achieving these goals.

Further information about the construction work and the i2030 project can be found on the Deutsche Bahn and the project websites. It is important for residents and interested parties to stay informed about developments in order to identify possible disruptions and opportunities to improve regional connections in good time.

For more details, read the full reports berlin.de, gazette-berlin.de and allianz-pro-schiene.de.