Planning a cross-border train trip through Central Europe in 2026? Major engineering-works closures are disrupting the Vienna–Munich and Budapest–Munich corridors for most of the year.
Here’s exactly which routes are affected, when, and how to plan around it.
- Two German rail lines linking Vienna and Munich are closed for repairs in 2026.
- A separate closure in Austria, on the Mattersburg line, also runs until December, with replacement buses covering the route.
- Vienna–Munich trains are rerouted via Salzburg, adding about 15 minutes; a few services take roughly twice as long.
- Build in extra time, double-check your train’s exact route before booking, or compare flights for your travel dates.
Europe rail closures 2026: what’s shut and when
Three separate closures are disrupting Central European rail travel through most of 2026, and they come from two projects. Two of the closures are on Deutsche Bahn’s (DB) network in Germany, and one is on ÖBB’s network in Austria.
All three are planned works: track renewals or electrification, not weather events or strikes.
That means the shutdown dates are fixed and published well in advance, which is useful if you’re booking a trip around them.
Deutsche Bahn’s Nürnberg–Regensburg–Passau corridor
DB is rebuilding the Nürnberg–Regensburg–Passau corridor in two back-to-back phases.
This is the same corridor international trains use to link Vienna and Munich via Passau.
Phase one closed the Nürnberg–Regensburg section on 6 February 2026 for a full rebuild of the track, overhead power lines, and the stations along it. It was originally due to reopen on 10 July 2026, but DB pushed that back when safety checks on the new signalling — the trackside system that tells trains when to stop and go — ran long.
The line is now expected to reopen no later than 31 July 2026, the start of the Bavarian school summer holidays.
Phase two shifts the work south to the Obertraubling–Passau section, right at the Austrian border. That segment is fully closed to both passenger and freight trains from 14 June to 12 December 2026.
Rail-replacement buses cover both closed sections throughout. Expect longer journey times than the timetabled train, especially on the Nürnberg–Regensburg buses that mix express and local stopping patterns.
Austria’s Mattersburg line electrification
ÖBB is electrifying and modernising the Mattersburg line in Burgenland. It is separate from the German works but lands in the same year.
No REX93 or R93 trains run between Wiener Neustadt and Deutschkreutz from 9 February to 12 December 2026, while the electrification work itself extends as far as Loipersbach-Schattendorf.
A dedicated replacement bus service calls at stops between Wiener Neustadt Hauptbahnhof and Baumgarten, where you can change for onward connections toward Sopron and Deutschkreutz.
This project is unrelated to the DB corridor works. But it means Burgenland’s rail network carries its own disruption risk on top of the German closures — worth knowing if your itinerary touches both.
How this affects your Vienna–Munich or Budapest–Munich trip
Direct daytime trains between Vienna and Nuremberg are suspended entirely during the Obertraubling–Passau closure.
There is no direct substitute on that exact routing until the line reopens in December.
Vienna–Munich trips are rerouted via Salzburg instead of Passau. ÖBB has added extra Railjet Xpress, ICE, and EuroCity departures on the Vienna–Linz–Salzburg–Munich corridor to cover the lost capacity, and typical journey times run about 15 minutes longer than the old direct route.
Some Railjet services are being extended further, running via Graz and the Tauern tunnel to Salzburg and Munich. That longer routing can take over eight hours — roughly double the direct Vienna–Munich time of about four hours — so check your specific train’s routing before booking.
Here’s how the three routings compare on journey time:
The Salzburg reroute barely changes the length of your trip; it’s only the extended Graz–Tauern service that turns a half-day journey into a full one.
Budapest–Munich EuroCity services normally run via Vienna and Salzburg rather than through Passau. So they aren’t directly cancelled by this closure.
They do share the busier Salzburg–Munich corridor with the extra rerouted Vienna–Munich trains. Expect fuller trains and less schedule flexibility on that stretch through December.
Freight is affected too: roughly 120 freight trains a day that normally cross at Passau are being diverted via the Salzburg–Munich route, adding to congestion on that line for the rest of 2026.
What to do if your trip crosses these routes
| What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Build in extra transfer time | Rerouted trains and rail-replacement buses run to different, often slower schedules than the direct services you’ll see in older timetable searches. |
| Check the actual routing before you book | Some Vienna–Munich trains now run via Salzburg instead of Passau, with journey times that can vary by hours depending on which service you pick. |
| Consider flying the corridor instead | For a fixed-date trip, comparing fares between Vienna and Munich, or between Budapest and Munich, can be simpler than juggling a rerouted multi-leg train journey. |
| Plan for a possible stopover | If a rail-replacement bus connection is tight, a night in Regensburg, Passau, or Nuremberg can turn a stressful connection into a relaxed one. |
| If you hold an Interrail or Eurail pass | Replacement buses are normally covered, but seat reservations on the extra long-distance services can sell out during peak summer weeks — book those ahead where reservation is required. |
Other 2026 rail engineering works worth knowing about
These two projects aren’t the only planned disruption on Europe’s rail network this year. A few others worth checking if your route touches them:
| Route | Closure window | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich–Munich (EC route) | 7 Feb – 31 Oct 2026 | Extended journey times of around 10 minutes, with several short full closures and replacement buses on sections between Lindau, Buchloe, and Munich through August and October. |
| Buchs SG–Feldkirch (Austria–Switzerland) | 14 Jun – 14 Oct 2026 | Adds around an hour to Vienna–Vorarlberg journeys, with night trains diverted via St. Margrethen. |
| Arlberg line | 18 – 23 Nov 2026 | Short full closure suspends Railjet services toward Vienna and Graz on that section, with replacement buses between Sargans and Ötztal. |
| Iselle di Trasquera–Milano | 26 Jun – 26 Jul 2026 | EuroCity trains terminate at Brig, with shuttle/replacement services covering the rest of the route into Italy. |
None of these overlap directly with the Vienna–Munich or Budapest–Munich corridors covered above.
But they’re a reminder that 2026 is a heavy year for rail engineering works across Europe, so it’s worth a quick check for any cross-border trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Vienna–Munich train still running in 2026?
Yes, but not on its usual direct routing through Passau. Trains are rerouted via Salzburg with extra Railjet, ICE, and EuroCity departures added to cover demand, and journeys typically take about 15 minutes longer than before.
When exactly is the Deutsche Bahn Regensburg–Nuremberg line closed?
The Nürnberg–Regensburg section closed on 6 February 2026 for a full track and station rebuild. It was originally due back on 10 July 2026 but has been delayed by signalling checks, with DB now targeting a reopening by 31 July 2026.
Does this affect Budapest–Munich trains too?
Budapest–Munich EuroCity trains already run via Vienna and Salzburg rather than through Passau, so they aren’t directly cancelled. They do share the busier Salzburg–Munich stretch with the extra rerouted Vienna–Munich trains, so expect fuller trains through December 2026.
What is happening with Austria’s Mattersburg line?
ÖBB is electrifying the Mattersburg line, with no REX93 or R93 trains running between Wiener Neustadt and Deutschkreutz from 9 February to 12 December 2026. Replacement buses run the route, with connections toward Sopron and Deutschkreutz via Baumgarten.
Should I still book an Interrail or Eurail pass for a 2026 Europe trip?
Yes — passes remain valid on rail-replacement buses and rerouted trains, but build extra time into any itinerary crossing these corridors. Reserve seats ahead on the added long-distance services where reservations are required, since summer capacity is tighter than usual.
Is this closure a crisis, or planned maintenance?
It’s planned engineering work, not a crisis, strike, or weather event. The dates are published well in advance by DB and ÖBB, which makes it possible to plan around them if you check before you travel.
Plan around the disruption, not through it
Europe’s 2026 rail closures aren’t a reason to cancel a cross-border trip, but they are a reason to double-check your exact routing before you book. A little extra buffer time, or a flight for the tightest connections, keeps a planned engineering closure from turning into a missed connection.
Compare and book flights on Wego for Vienna, Munich, or Budapest if a rerouted train doesn’t fit your schedule.
Sources
- Deutsche Bahn — Korridorsanierung Bayern: Nürnberg–Regensburg
- Deutsche Bahn — Korridorsanierung Bayern: Obertraubling–Passau
- ÖBB — Baustelleninformation: Bauarbeiten Deutsche Bahn (Vienna–Munich rerouting)
- ÖBB — Baustelleninformation: Sperre Mattersburger Bahn
- SBB — Engineering works and timetable changes in Europe 2026
- aviation.direct — Bahnstrecke Nürnberg–Regensburg öffnet erst Ende Juli 2026 (original 10 Jul reopening delayed)
- Blue Guides — Travel by Rail in Europe: Changes for 2026 (Vienna–Munich via Graz/Tauern journey time)
- Salzburg24 — 120 Güterzüge mehr pro Tag: DB-Sperre bringt Salzburg sechs Monate Zug-Chaos
- Trainline — Vienna to Munich train times (direct Railjet duration)
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