A DM2·8bn funding package for reconstruction of German Railway's Sachsenmagistrale main line linking Hof with Dresden and Leipzig will be agreed later this year, according to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Transport Minister, Johannes Nitsch. He told Sachsen Economics Secretary Dr Wolfgang Zeller on June 9 that the funds will cover upgrading of 306route-km: the 226 km from Hof to Dresden and 80 km from Werdau to Leipzig.
A symbolic sod-turning was held on December 18 last year, and completion is scheduled for 2006. As well as renewal of track, bridges and stations, level crossings will be replaced and the power supply network renewed. Over 140 signalboxes covering 270 route-km will be replaced by six electronic control centres.
Some curves will be realigned, raising the minimum speed from 70to 120 km/h. In May 1999 DB will introduce 160 km/h tilting trains, cutting the Hof - Dresden journey time by 45 min to 2h 45min. Completion of the upgrading will cut this to 2h 15min, and bring the 171 km Hof - Leipzig trip down to a round 2h.
