Berlin to Szczecin

[deltic]

Looking to make this journey in September. DB timetable is confusing - put a date in September but the footnotes says the train via Neubrandenburg only runs in August and also that it is cancelled between Berlin Hbf (tief)->Oranienburg due to engineering work. It also suggests a route via Angermünde which then requires a bus connection to Szezecin. Does the bus require a separate fare or will a through rail ticket cover the bus service?

 

[mugam4]

Looking to make this journey in September. DB timetable is confusing - put a date in September but the footnotes says the train via Neubrandenburg only runs in August and also that it is cancelled between Berlin Hbf (tief)->Oranienburg due to engineering work.

Yes, not many options here. The RE5 that would allow you to avoid the bus by going to Neubrandenburg and catching the RE4 (not the Berlin RE4, it's another state's RE4, DB Regio Nordost Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) also has engineering work as you say, but for which the details aren't published yet. I think I'd wait for details of the works that affect RE5.

It also suggests a route via Angermünde which then requires a bus connection to Szezecin. Does the bus require a separate fare or will a through rail ticket cover the bus service?

Yes, it's a rail replacement for RB66 Angermünde - Szczecin Główny. See DB Regio Nordost's announcement and timetable:

Die Züge der Linien RE 66 (Szczecin – Berlin-Gesundbrunnen) und RB 66 (Szczecin – Angermünde) fallen zwischen Szczecin Glowny und Angermünde/Berlin-Gesundbrunnen aus. Als Ersatz nutzen Sie bitte die Busse zwischen Szczecin Glowny und Angermünde sowie die Züge der Linie RE 3 (Stralsund/Schwedt – Lutherstadt Wittenberg). Beachten Sie die vom Zugverkehr abweichenden Fahrzeiten des Ersatzverkehrs.
The trains of the lines RE 66 (Szczecin - Berlin-Gesundbrunnen) and RB 66 (Szczecin - Angermünde) are canceled between Szczecin Glowny and Angermünde/Berlin-Gesundbrunnen. As a replacement, please use the buses between Szczecin Glowny and Angermünde as well as the RE 3 trains (Stralsund/Schwedt – Lutherstadt Wittenberg). Please note that the travel times of the replacement service differ from the train service.

And also, note for your trip in September:

Ab 28. August gilt ein nochmals veränderter Ersatzfahrplan.
From August 28th, a changed replacement timetable will apply.

Check back on DB Regio Nordost's construction page for the RE3, RE5 and RB66 (you may need to adjust the dates, but it won't be updated too far into the future). You may need to click Alle Meldungen zeigen to view all items on the calendar.

 

[deltic]

Thanks @mugam4 that's very helpful

 

[dutchflyer]

In case you only want to cover distance easy and quicker: buses run much faster, much more often and cheaper too. But many are minivans also setting pax down on for them good places. In german forums many complaints about the SEV=replacement buses and very bad connections and overcrowded regional trains via the longer all-railline more up north.

 

[TheGuy]

You can take the way via Angermunde - Pasewalk - Szczecin which apparently doesn't require using any replacement bus service, but you can't probably use the VBB tickets (much cheaper) on this way, which are valid on the main way via Angermunde - Szczecin (which now requires using a replacement bus). I remember not so long ago VBB tickets were valid as an exception on some ICE (only ones with an annotation in the timetable) trains up to Prenzlau(?) on the way from Berlin to Angermunde, but it may have changed.