RE4: Twice as many seats on the route to Lübeck

Press release of the Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour

From 14 August and until the timetable change on 14 December 2024, almost all RE4 journeys on the Lübeck - Bad Kleinen - Güstrow - Reuterstadt Stavenhagen section will be operated with two coupled railcars. This will double the number of seats from 110 to 220 per journey.

"The state is thus once again expanding the number of seats available on the RE4, which was already increased last summer," said Reinhard Meyer, Minister for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour. "The additional seating capacity is particularly needed on the Güstrow - Lübeck section, as passenger numbers have risen sharply here since the introduction of the Deutschlandticket." Due to the upcoming section closures between Schwerin and Hamburg, additional passengers are also expected. Reinhard Meyer: "For decades, the railway has been running on wear and tear, and now construction has to be carried out in many places at the same time. There is also a shortage of staff and materials, which makes it even more difficult to limit the impact on travellers. The fact that it has nevertheless been possible to equip the RE4 with twice as many seats is a ray of hope."

The Managing Director of VMV-Verkehrsgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Daniel Bischof, says: "As our contractual partner, DB Regio requires additional railcars for this further increase in capacity, which first had to be procured. These railcars are now available just in time for the start of the total closure between Hamburg and Berlin. We are pleased that, together with Schleswig-Holstein, we can relieve some of the pressure on the RE4 service in the short term and can now offer 220 seats per journey instead of the usual 110. However, it will still be tight over the next few weeks if many passengers switch to this route. We ask passengers for their understanding, patience and, above all, consideration."

The double traction on the RE4 will cost the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern around 1.1 million euros.

 The "MV FÄHRT GUT" journey planner

 The state-wide timetable information service "MV FÄHRT GUT" for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern contains all timetable data for the RE4. The state's free app contains all timetable data for M-V and is available for Android and iOS (www.fahrplanauskunft-mv.de).