Elze, December 25 – Wagons of a freight train derailed yesterday near Elze, causing significant disruption to rail traffic between Hannover and Göttingen. The affected section of the line is expected to remain closed until at least early January 2026, according to DB Infrago. The incident, which occurred on December 24, 2025, has led to a temporary suspension of regional train services and potential delays on other routes.
Derailment Details and Immediate Consequences
The derailment took place yesterday afternoon, December 24, when a wagon of a freight train left the tracks. Shortly thereafter, additional wagons derailed and overturned. This resulted in damage to concrete sleepers over a four-kilometer stretch and the tearing down of an electricity mast. A freight train traveling in the opposite direction sustained minor damage, but no injuries were reported. The Federal Police are currently investigating the cause of the accident. Initially, it was believed that the second train also derailed, but this was later corrected by the Federal Police.
Repair Work and Duration of Closure
DB Infrago, the infrastructure company, announced on Christmas Eve that a detailed assessment of the damage would be conducted until December 26. This assessment is crucial for providing a more accurate prognosis of the repair duration. A spokesperson for DB Infrago told NDR Niedersachsen that while initial estimates suggested a quicker resolution, it is now possible that repairs could extend beyond early January. The company informed NDR Niedersachsen on Wednesday morning that the repairs might take even longer than initially anticipated.
Impact on Passenger Services
The private railway company Metronom has established an emergency bus service between Banteln and Barnten (both in the Hildesheim district). These buses also serve the stops Nordstemmen and Elze (both in the Hildesheim district). Passengers are advised to expect longer travel times. Regional Express (RE2) services continue to operate on the partial routes between Banteln and Göttingen, and Barnten and Hannover. Metronom has also warned of potential “individual delays” on the Hamburg-Hannover route. Travelers are encouraged to check the current situation via the Metronom website, app, or WhatsApp before starting their journey, as changed train numbers in electronic timetables may lead to display errors. The long-distance services of Deutsche Bahn are not affected by this incident.
Broader Context of Rail Disruptions in the Region
This incident adds to a series of recent disruptions in the region’s rail network. The Huntebrücke in Oldenburg experienced a crack in early November, leading to a three-day closure for securing work. Though trains are now running without restrictions, full repairs are expected until spring 2026, primarily overnight to minimize impact. Earlier in October, an overhead line fault near Klein Süstedt disrupted services between Uelzen and Hannover, causing significant delays and partial cancellations for regional and long-distance trains. Furthermore, a signal box failure in Barsinghausen in late November led to the cancellation of S-Bahn services between Barsinghausen and Haste for a day, highlighting ongoing infrastructure challenges. These events underscore the frustrations and stresses faced by commuters in the Hannover region, as highlighted in a report on commuter experiences at Hannover’s main station.
Metronom’s Stabilisation Timetable
Since Monday, Metronom has implemented a “stabilisation timetable” which aims to improve reliability until mid-December. This plan has already involved canceling 16 services per week. This measure, however, precedes the current derailment incident.
Source: NDR Niedersachsen, DB Infrago, Metronom, Federal Police
