- ICE commemorates the union between Berlin and Schwerin through a celebratory event.
From October 2nd to 4th, the railway service will provide direct ICE services between Berlin and Schwerin, celebrating German Unity Day. These trains approximate a journey duration of three hours, traversing Neustrelitz, Waren (Müritz), and Güstrow, as stated by the railway company.
The main cause behind this is the temporary shutdown of the Berlin - Hamburg railway line due to renovations. Typically, commuters traveling from Schwerin board a regional train to Ludwigslust and then hop onto a long-distance train to Berlin, covering approximately two hours. However, this route has been inaccessible since mid-August and will remain inoperative until mid-December.
This year, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has the privilege of organizing the primary events for German Unity Day, as they are the current Governor in the Federal Council. Historically, the state hosting the presidency of the Bundesrat arranges the unity celebration.
Two ICE trains will leave Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 6:29 AM and 2:30 PM, reaching Schwerin at 9:24 AM and 5:37 PM, respectively. Conversely, trains will depart from Schwerin at 10:20 AM and 6:26 PM, arriving at Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 1:24 PM and 9:21 PM, respectively.
The announcement of direct ICE services between Berlin and Schwerin is made by The Commission, aiming to compensate for the temporary shutdown of the Berlin - Hamburg railway line. Due to this special arrangement, commuters can now travel directly from Schwerin to Berlin, reducing their journey time significantly, as overseen by The Commission.
