GERMANY: The federal government has announced €1·7bn in funding for construction of the Pfaffensteig Tunnel, a key component in realising the full benefits of Stuttgart 21, as part of a €2·5bn package of rail investment confirmed by the Ministry of Transport on January 29.
The 10·8 km twin-bore tunnel proposed to link the Gaübahn and Stuttgart airport’s new long-distance station would facilitate a shortening of journey times by around 15 min to 7 min.
Completion is envisaged by 2032, allowing passengers from the Gaübahn to make same-platform changes at Flughafen-Fernbahnhof for trains running towards Ulm and München; it is also key to improving travel between Stuttgart and Zürich.
Other projects to be supported in the package are: a series of capacity improvements in the lignite mining area around Cottbus (€339m) including at Leuna-Werk Nord and Cottbus itself, plus at Bischdorf and Königs Wusterhausen to allow 740 m long freight trains to run; electrification of the 19 km Gerstungen – Heimboldshausen line which serves potassium traffic and the Werra Kombi Terminal container facility in Philippsthal; modernisation at Zwickau Hauptbahnhof and between Zwickau-Mosel and Lichtentanne (€200m); and noise reduction measures on the eastern section of the Berlin outer ring (€65m+).
Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder said ’we continue to invest heavily in the modernisation and expansion of the railways. In addition to the renovation of the network, which enjoys absolute priority, we must not neglect expansion and new construction. This is because there is already hardly any capacity for additional trains, especially on the routes that are in high demand. This makes it all the more important to set the right course today for the mobility needs of tomorrow.’
