GERMANY: Work has started on electrification of the privately-owned Euregiobahn regional network serving the north and east of Aachen.
A groundbreaking ceremony in Herzogenrath on February 2 to mark the start of work was attended by Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder and Oliver Krischer, Transport Minister for the Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Stolberg-based infrastructure manager EVS Euregio Verkehrsschienennetz GmbH manages a 47 km network with 21 stations, which are served by DB-operated Euregiobahn regional route RB20 linking Aachen, Herzogenrath, Stolberg Altstad and Langerwehe.
The total cost of wiring the network at 15 kV 16·7 Hz is put at €46·3m. The federal government has agreed to contribute €42·8m through the GVFG municipal transport financing act, covering 90% of the budget. The Land will provide a further 5%, leaving EVS to cover the remainder from its own resources.
According to EVS Managing Director Thomas Fürpeil the electrification work is scheduled to be completed in time for the December 2028 timetable change. The orbital Ringbahn between Herzogenrath and Stolberg Hbf is to be tackled first, followed by the Eschweiler Talbahn from Stolberg Hbf to Langerwehe and the short branch from Stolberg Hbf to Stolberg Altstadt.
The federal transport ministry emphasised that ‘electric vehicles can accelerate better on the railways, which shortens journey times. Electrically-powered trains reduce maintenance costs, lower operating costs, are quieter and more climate-friendly. In short: electrification makes rail travel better.’
EVS is looking at electrifying the lines from Stolberg Altstadt to Breinig and Alsdorf to Aldenhoven-Siersdorf, which are being reactivated to extend the Euregiobahn network, but Fürpeil said the funding for this had still to be agreed. Disussions are also reportedly underway for reviving a cross-border link to Eupen.
