Special train to Berlin: Western Pomerania is fighting for 500 million for railway expansion

Special train to Berlin: Western Pomerania is fighting for 500 million for railway expansion

On Monday morning, a special train was started from Sassnitz on Rügen to demand the urgently needed 500 million euros for railway expansion in Western Pomerania. Organized by the Vorpommern-Magistrale Action Alliance, the train set off with more than 50 passengers, including business representatives and over a dozen mayors. Among the participants were Schwerin's Economics Minister Wolfgang Blank and district administrators Stefan Kerth and Michael Sack. The aim of the trip: to expand the Vorpommern mainline between Berlin and Stralsund in order to increase the speed to up to 160 km/h, which would shorten the journey time by around half an hour. The South German reports that the mood on the train was optimistic and happy and the participants were provided with sandwiches and drinks.

The project is not only of symbolic importance, but also has a concrete background: the city leaders of Anklam, Stralsund, Greifswald and Pasewalk have written an incendiary letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The mayors express serious concerns that the “Western Pomerania Mainline” will not be built due to cost reasons, especially after planning was stopped at the beginning of 2024. There is a risk of economic and democratic damage if the expansion is not continued. NDR explains that the expansion is seen as a return for the construction of the LNG terminal in Rügen, but its commissioning is not progressing with the railway expansion.

Federal government under pressure

The federal government is under pressure to find quick solutions. In the summer of 2023, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck promised to expand the railway line between Berlin and Binz for the aforementioned 500 million euros. The draft for the 2025 federal budget, which is to be approved by the federal cabinet on Tuesday, envisages budgeting money for the project. State Secretary Heiko Miraß described the railway expansion as a central transport project for the region, which suggests broad political support for the project. Nevertheless, the federal government must act now so that the excitement does not turn into disappointment. Northern Courier highlights that Deutsche Bahn would like to invest a total of around half a billion euros in the expansion of the rail network in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2023, which promises improved transport connections for the region.

The expansion plans are not just a question of speed. They are also crucial for economic development and improving the infrastructure in Western Pomerania. More than ever, the existence of connections to tourist strongholds such as Rügen, Hiddensee, Fischland-Darß and Usedom is important. Citizens are eagerly awaiting progress, while infrastructure often reaches its limits during peak season. Smooth rail traffic could therefore not only shorten travel time, but also increase the region's attractiveness.

In view of these challenges and current developments, regional decision-makers and the federal government must work towards ensuring that the four-lane connection between Berlin and Stralsund becomes a reality and thus remains a good deal for everyone involved.