Expansion of Track Infrastructure Planned by Rail and Road Companies - Expanding Infrastructure: Plan for Terrain and Rail Development
Expanded Rail Network Transforms Schleswig-Holstein's Travel Landscape
Schleswig-Holstein is poised to enhance its rail travel offerings with modernized stations and upgraded tracks, as announced in a cooperation agreement between the state government and Deutsche Bahn. The initiative includes over a dozen major projects, subject to funding approval, with some projects to be financed through debt-financed infrastructure funds.
"The acceleration of the mobility transition is crucial for the daily lives of the people in this region, the economy, and the climate," stated Richard Lutz, Deutsche Bahn CEO.
Key Initiatives
The new Schlei-crossing lift bridge at Lindaunis is slated for completion by August 2027, a move that Daniel Günther, Minister-President, hailed as a vital regional statement. The Schlei at Boren-Lindaunis has been restricted to pedestrian traffic for years, with the bridge closed to vehicles and trains since September 2020. The state government plans to expedite the expansion of the indispensable Sylt line connecting Niebüll on the mainland with Westerland on the island by covering advance planning costs.
Planning costs for this expansion run into millions of euros, according to Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The state has previously assumed financial guarantees for the Marschbahn expansion, a 173-kilometer stretch whose electrification is expected to drastically reduce costs.
S4 Line and Stations
The cooperation agreement includes the "hinterland connection" of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel to Denmark, the extension of the S4 line from Bad Oldesloe to Hamburg, and the renovation of high-performance tracks from Hamburg to Lübeck and Flensburg. Additionally, Deutsche Bahn intends to modernize train stations, branded as "railway flagships." Smaller projects such as the expansion of the Pinneberg-Elmshorn, Kiel-Preetz, or Neumünster-Bad Oldesloe lines are also on the agenda.
No approximate cost framework was available for the various projects, with the speed of construction implementation also presenting a cost factor. Claus Ruhe Madsen, the Minister of Transport, emphasized this point.
Neumünster's Future Secured
Lutz assured roughly 600 Bahnwerk employees in Neumünster that the plant is currently well-utilized, suggesting continued employment for the foreseeable future. Previous closures rumors have sparked concern, although Lutz could not offer an eternal guarantee for the plant's survival.
Serpil Midyatli, SPD parliamentary group leader, noted that the maintenance workshop's jobs were previously considered at risk, but welcomed the recent resolution regarding those concerns.
According to background data, the electrification of the Marschbahn line from Hamburg to Westerland represents a significant step toward sustainable rail transport in Schleswig-Holstein. The project involves various stakeholders and planning and construction phases that are currently underway. The S4 line extension and the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection are integral components of the region's rail infrastructure strategy, supporting broader network upgrades and new rolling stock procurement.
In the efforts to better Schleswig-Holstein's transport landscape, the development of the fisheries sector could be aided by integrating funds from debt-financed infrastructure funds, considering the importance of financing for large-scale projects. The completion of the Schlei-crossing lift bridge at Lindaunis and the expansion of the Sylt line, key initiatives in the rail network enhancement, could serve as catalysts for the growth of the local fish industry by improving transportation links to fishing areas and markets.
