RB23 hits Werneuchen and the northeast suburbs without a city detour
The RB23 Regionalbahn runs from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) Terminal 1-2 station out toward Werneuchen, stopping at intermediate stations in the northeastern corridor instead of heading into Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Trains sit in the same underground station used by other regional and S-Bahn lines, about a 3–5 minute walk from the T1 arrivals hall. If your hotel or home is along the RB23 route, you skip the extra leg via central Berlin and cut out at least one connection.
RB23 trains usually run every 60 minutes during the day, with gaps possible in late evening after about 22:00, so check the exact departure time on the VBB or Deutsche Bahn app before you leave baggage claim at Terminal 1. The ride from BER to outer stops like Werneuchen can run close to an hour, while nearer suburban stations fall in the 25–40 minute range. Factor this into any late-night arrival where missing the hourly train means a long wait on the platform.
A standard VBB ticket from BER to stations in the ABC fare zone starts around a few euros more than a simple AB city ticket; you’ll usually need a Berlin ABC ticket when boarding RB23 at the airport. Ticket machines sit on the station level below Terminal 1, near the Regionalbahn platforms, and they accept contactless cards plus coins and notes. Validate any paper ticket in the small red or yellow stamping machines before stepping onto the RB23; the fine for riding without validation can hit €60 per person.
The RB23 shares tracks and platforms with other regional lines, so watch the departure screens on the concourse for the train number “RB23” and final destination “Werneuchen” or similar. Platforms are signed with large blue DB boards, and airport signage from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 points you toward "Regional- und Fernbahnhof" in German and English. If you’re connecting from a non-Schengen flight into T1, budget about 30–40 minutes to clear passport control, collect bags, walk to the station, and buy a ticket before the RB23 departure time.
If your end point is Alexanderplatz, Hauptbahnhof, or Südkreuz, other lines like the FEX, RE7, RB14, or S9 usually get you there faster than RB23, which angles out instead of punching into central Berlin. Taxis from BER to the northeast suburbs can run well past €50, so even with an ABC ticket RB23 often undercuts road options by a big margin. Quick tip: screenshot the RB23 timetable for your arrival day while you’ve got airport Wi‑Fi in Terminal 1, then walk straight down to the right platform without stopping to re-check apps on a weak signal.