Timetable change: RMV is canceling trains and increasing ticket prices from January!

Timetable change: RMV is canceling trains and increasing ticket prices from January!

From December 14, 2025, there are likely to be some changes on the tracks in Hesse that will affect both commuters and occasional travelers. The new timetable of the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV), as n-tv reports, assesses the condition of the rail infrastructure as overloaded. Therefore, some connections and stops in regional train services will be canceled, which will have noticeable consequences in the everyday lives of the many passengers, around 2.5 million every day.

The affected connections include the popular RE5, which will no longer run between Frankfurt and Fulda in the future. The RE70 will also no longer serve its stops in Mörfelden and Mannheim-Waldhof. Anyone who relies on the RB53 must be prepared for the fact that it runs to Flieden instead of from Gemünden via Schlüchtern as usual. The RE85, known as the Odenwaldbahn, will no longer stop at Offenbach Central Station. Such deletions are noted with displeasure by the RMV management, especially by Knut Ringat.

Innovations in regional transport

But not only negative things are on the agenda. There are also positive aspects in the new timetable, for example the transfer time on the Friedberg-Friedrichsdorf route brings improvements. The new Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport will also now be better connected to local public transport. There are also selective optimizations in the regional bus routes. However, there remains anger about the unreliability of many connections in view of current construction sites and the insufficient coordination between RMV and Deutsche Bahn.

In an open letter, Ringat called on Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla to improve communication and coordination during the extensive construction work. Extensive construction projects are also being announced for 2026, which could result in a further deterioration in service. Nine major construction sites are planned in the rail network, including the renovation of the digital signal box in Mainz, which is scheduled to last from January to October 2026. This is further exacerbated by the severe restrictions on regional connections.

Rising prices in local transport

Another issue that concerns passengers is the rising ticket prices. From January 1, 2026, prices will increase by an average of 4.75 percent. The Germany ticket will then cost 63 euros instead of 58 euros, and reduced local transport tickets in Hesse will also be more expensive. Affected tickets such as the 9 a.m. monthly and annual tickets as well as the 65 Plus monthly tickets will no longer apply. The background to these increases is increased costs for wages, track use and energy, as reported.

The announcements in regional transport also include the RT5 regional tram line between Melsungen and Kassel, which will only run hourly from mid-July 2026. In addition, some trips on the RE5 and RB38 will be canceled, while there will be additional trips and stops on other lines. Further details about the changes to the North Hessian Transport Association (NVV) timetable are to be announced at the beginning of December.

Contrary to expectations, there is also a ray of hope for travelers: Deutsche Bahn's new timetable will come into force from December 15, 2024. According to Hessenschau, international train connections and more ICE trains are to be introduced between Frankfurt and other important cities such as Paris and Brussels. The aim is to improve long-distance transport, but given the current regional restrictions, this creates an ambivalent picture.

The repair and modernization of 1,500 kilometers of route by 2027 represents a long-term hope for change. It remains to be hoped that the numerous planned construction works will actually lead to an improvement in travel comfort and time

.

Anyone who regularly relies on the rail should be particularly vigilant from December 14, 2025 and find out about the new travel connections in good time. The Pro Bahn passenger association has also already called for improvements and more reliability and better signage for replacement services. For many, driving will not be easy due to the restrictions that come with the timetable change, and the question remains whether these words will be followed by actions.

The complete overview of the new Deutsche Bahn timetable is provided by the information from Deutsche Bahn.