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Deutsche Bahn has closed the Rheintalbahn between Freiburg (Breisgau) Hauptbahnhof and Basel Badischer Bahnhof for the first weekend of October 2026, with regional trains cancelled from 5:00 on Friday, October 2, until 6:30 on Monday, October 5, according to a DB press release. Long-distance trains are hit hardest on Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4.
The closure matters for anyone crossing between Germany and Switzerland by rail this weekend, because most ICE trains stop in Freiburg and replacement buses run the rest of the way. Local reporting on the closure, including a weekend summary from ms-aktuell, adds the Swiss railway’s figures for diverted trains and cancelled night services.
- Closed section: Freiburg (Breisgau) Hauptbahnhof to Basel Badischer Bahnhof.
- Regional trains: cancelled on the section from Friday, October 2, 5:00 to Monday, October 5, 6:30.
- ICE trains: SBB lists Friday, October 2, 21:00 to Monday, October 5, 6:00 for cancellations on the closed section.
- Night trains: Zurich to Amsterdam services are cancelled on the nights of October 2 to 3, 3 to 4 and 4 to 5.
- Extra time: up to 60 minutes on the few ICE trains diverted via Singen, per SBB.
ICE Lines End in Freiburg or Karlsruhe
On October 3 and 4, DB says ICE lines 12 (Berlin to Switzerland) and 43 (Hamburg, Cologne and Basel) begin and end in Freiburg. Line 20 (Hamburg, Kassel and Basel) begins and ends in Karlsruhe, and separate works remove every long-distance stop at Offenburg.
A limited number of trains still run through. DB says five ICE pairs a day between Karlsruhe and Zurich are diverted via Singen, and ms-aktuell reports that SBB expects up to 60 extra minutes on those journeys.
Replacement Buses Between Freiburg and Basel
DB runs two long-distance replacement buses. The IC-Bus A links Freiburg Hauptbahnhof and Basel SBB without an intermediate stop, and the IC-Bus B links Freiburg Hauptbahnhof and Basel Badischer Bahnhof without a stop.
Regional replacement buses are slower. Bus C stops in Neuenburg and Weil am Rhein, bus D serves the villages along the line, and bus E runs between Freiburg and Müllheim. DB warns that bicycles cannot be carried and asks travelers to avoid very large or heavy luggage.
Regional Lines Cancelled on the Section
Three regional lines lose service between Freiburg Hauptbahnhof and Basel Badischer Bahnhof: RE 7 from Karlsruhe, RB 26 from Offenburg and RB 27 from Freiburg or Müllheim. From October 2 to 4, RB 26 also does not run between Offenburg and Lahr.
For that northern gap, DB points riders to RE 7, which adds a stop in Friesenheim, and to a replacement bus that also serves Friesenheim.
Night Trains Between Zurich and Amsterdam
The closure also removes night services. NS International lists Nightjet 403 from the Netherlands to Basel and Zurich as unable to run on October 2, 3 and 4, and Nightjet 402 from Zurich and Basel to the Netherlands as unable to run on October 3, 4 and 5.
Ms-aktuell reports that other night trains, including links from Zurich to Hamburg, Berlin and Prague, are rerouted and may drop stops in Basel, Freiburg, Offenburg or Karlsruhe. French TGV trains between France and Basel use the French network via Mulhouse and are not affected, the same report says.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Ride an ICE from northern Germany to Basel on October 3 or 4 | Plan to change in Freiburg and take IC-Bus A or B, then allow extra time for the bus leg. |
| Need to reach Zurich quickly | Look for one of the five daily ICE pairs diverted via Singen and add up to 60 minutes. |
| Hold a Nightjet between Amsterdam and Zurich | Check your booking for the cancelled nights and ask the operator about rebooking or a refund. |
| Travel with a bicycle or a large suitcase | Avoid the replacement buses, which cannot carry bikes, or choose another date or route. |
Friday, October 2 at 21:00 is the first ICE cut-off. Evening ICE trains on the closed section are cancelled from this point, according to SBB.
Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4 are the peak days. Long-distance trains from the north end in Freiburg or Karlsruhe on these two days.
Monday, October 5 at 6:00 to 6:30 is the planned restart. Regional service returns at 6:30 and ICE service at 6:00, so check the live timetable before an early trip.
Can I still get from Freiburg to Basel by train this weekend?
Not directly on the closed section. DB runs replacement buses between Freiburg Hauptbahnhof and Basel SBB or Basel Badischer Bahnhof instead.
Why is the Rheintalbahn closed?
DB says it bundled work on a new electronic interlocking in Basel, the overhead line near Weil am Rhein and track maintenance to avoid extra closures later.
Are trains from France to Basel affected?
Not according to local reporting. TGV services between France and Basel run via Mulhouse on the French network, outside the closed section.
Can I take a bike on the replacement buses?
No. DB says the replacement buses cannot carry bicycles and recommends leaving very large or heavy luggage at home where possible.
