Groundbreaking ceremony for the Lübeck-Schwerin rail connection: key project until 2028!

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Lübeck-Schwerin rail connection: key project until 2028!

The groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the rail connection between Lübeck and Bad Kleinen was celebrated on June 13, 2025. This project is serious: major investments are to be made over a 63-kilometer route in the coming years. The Schönberg and Grieben train stations are also part of the plan, which are to be completed by the planned completion and modernization in 2028. This measure not only increases travel speeds to up to 160 km/h, but also relieves pressure on the Hamburg rail hub. Dr. Wolfgang Blank, Minister for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labor in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, recently described the project as a key project for the north.

A very important part of the project is the introduction of the new Gallentine curve at Bad Kleinen, which eliminates the need to change trains and turn around. This makes traveling between Lübeck and Schwerin much more convenient. In addition, a new railway overpass will be built for Zickhusener Weg in Gallentin in order to further improve the traffic situation.

Important modernizations

The planned renovations include two digital signal boxes in Bobitz and Gallentin in order to advance digitalization and improve the possible uses of the trains. The overtaking tracks in Bobitz and Grevesmühlen are also to be extended so that longer freight trains can run unhindered. These measures are not only necessary, but also long overdue, as the current conditions for interregional transport are considered inadequate.

As db-engineering-consulting.com reports, the existing line from Lübeck to Bad Kleinen is currently single-track and not electrified, with a maximum speed of only 120 km/h. This requires a time-consuming change of direction in Bad Kleinen, which affects the efficiency of the connections. The planned measures will not only advance the electrification of the route, but also equip the crossing stations in Herrnburg, Grevesmühlen and Bobitz with 750 meter long tracks to ensure high availability and flexibility.

Relief for the greater Hamburg area

Another goal of this expansion is to relieve pressure on the greater Hamburg area. In the future, rail freight traffic is to be relocated to and from Scandinavia, which will make it possible to bypass the Hamburg rail hub. This measure represents a practical alternative for supra-regional rail transport in rail freight transport (SGV) and rail passenger long-distance transport (SPFV). The modernization of the platform roofing in Schönberg station, a steel framework building from 1936, is not neglected: it should be maintained in accordance with the preservation of a historical monument and thus also represent the history of the region in a worthy manner.

The construction work is divided into three planning approval phases (PFA). These include the sections from Bad Kleinen to Grevesmühlen/Börzow, the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania/Schleswig-Holstein state border and finally the route to Lübeck. The Grevesmühlen–Bad Kleinen section is currently closed until July 31, 2025.

In summary, the expansion of the Lübeck–Bad Kleinen route is not only perceived as a significant infrastructure measure, but also as a promised upgrade for travelers and the economy in the north. Improving the connection between Lübeck and Schwerin should significantly boost regional traffic and increase the overall attractiveness of the railway. We can only hope that the voices of the importance of such projects will be heard among the population - there is certainly much more possible!