Train upgrade in the north: 80 km/h recommended for less cost!

Train upgrade in the north: 80 km/h recommended for less cost!

There are exciting developments in rail transport in northern Germany. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg have set the course for the expansion of the railway line between northwest Brandenburg and southwest Mecklenburg. A report has made it clear what progress can be expected here. Particularly interesting is the recommendation from the experts, who consider the variant for a travel speed of 80 km/h to be the most cost-effective option. This variant would cost an estimated 248 million euros, while the alternative with 160 km/h would be significantly more expensive at over 653 million euros. [n-tv reports](https://www.n-tv.de/regionales/mecklenburg-vorpommern/Bahnausbau-im-Norden-Gutachter-empfiehlt-80-km-h- Variant-article25963387.html).

The Minister for Transport in Brandenburg, Detlef Tabbert, highlighted the positive results of both variants, but cited the economic advantages of the 80 km/h option as crucial. His counterpart from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Wolfgang Blank, sees the connection between Berlin-Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a strategically important axis.

The details of the report

The report, which was prepared by SMA and partners, examined the railway lines between Neustadt (Dosse), Kyritz, Pritzwalk and Güstrow as well as the lines between Parchim, Malchow and Waren/Müritz. The aim was to increase the attractiveness of the rail connections and reactivate their use. Interestingly, the analyzes showed a positive cost-benefit ratio (NKV) of more than 1.0 for the 80 km/h variant, which, with a NKV of 1.46, is well above the 1.15 for the 160 km/h option. Strelitzius reports.

And that's not all: The federal states want to discuss the next steps for implementing the 80 km/h variant, including a possible mixed variant. This project will be discussed at a joint cabinet meeting in September. A possible start of construction could be planned for as early as 2034.

Financing and further steps

However, the financing framework has not yet been fully clarified. Both Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are committed to securing the necessary funds for planning services and construction financing. The aim could be for the federal government to contribute up to 75 percent of the costs. Tabbert emphasizes that increasing funding for local rail transport is an essential prerequisite for the future success of this project. Innovative mobility offers, such as on-demand buses, should also be promoted in the future in order to holistically improve public transport. The Brandenburgers report.

Overall, it shows that the two federal states are on the right track to make rail transport in the region more attractive. We can only hope that the necessary financial resources will be made available promptly to put the plans into action and further increase the mobility of passengers in the country.