Celler SPD demands clear improvements for rail connections and punctuality

Celler SPD demands clear improvements for rail connections and punctuality

What's going on in Celle? The discussion about rail connections in the district seems to be anything but an end. On June 27, 2025, the route comparison for the Hamburg – Hanover railway line was presented by the Deutsche Bahn infrastructure company. This debate has been going on for many years and dates back to 1992, when the so-called “Y-route” first came into play. A lot has happened since then, but the Celler SPD is dissatisfied with the current status of planning and is calling for more transparency on the subject of rail connections, as the Celler press reports.

The railway itself favors a new route that will run along the A7 and B3. In order to further flesh out these plans, the members of the Celle SPD met last week with Bjarne Reitz from the German Transport Club (VCD) and found clear words: The status quo is inadequate and the need for construction work for a functioning rail connection is beyond question. Maximilian Schmidt, the chairman of the SPD in the Celle district, sees an urgent need for action so that the Metronome, currently one of the most unpunctual local trains in Lower Saxony, can get its delays under control.

Construction projects and future visions

As part of the planning, it has already been announced that a quality initiative for the Hamburg-Hannover route will be launched by 2026. A general renovation of the route is planned for 2029. Yannis Naumann, member of the Celle SPD sub-district executive committee, vehemently advocates for increased capacity and wants the affected municipalities to be actively involved in discussions about the routes and train stations.

Also worth mentioning is the “Rail North Dialogue Process”, which was initiated in 2015 and discussed alternative route options to the original Y-route concept. This was not just about the variants offered by Deutsche Bahn, but also about suggestions put forward by various actors and environmental associations. These included, for example, the VCD variant and the Alpha variant, which proposed a reduced expansion of existing routes.

A look at Deutsche Bahn

In addition, Deutsche Bahn AG has launched a comprehensive restructuring program that is scheduled to run until 2027. The focus is on the renovation of the infrastructure, railway operations and economic efficiency. The aim is to restore the performance of the railways and significantly improve the customer experience. CEO Richard Lutz explains that there is an urgent need for action due to the poor state of the infrastructure and external crises. This also includes the goal of reducing infrastructure-related delays by 20 percent by 2027.

In view of these developments, which have an impact on the political landscape, the question arises as to whether the Celle SPD and the citizens in the region receive the necessary support and clear guidelines to enforce their needs in the public transport sector. The discussion is in full swing and time is running out for concrete decisions. Citizens can only hope that something will finally move and that rail connections will be improved so that everyone can benefit from a more punctual and reliable connection.

For further information on the planned railway projects and their development status, those interested can read the reports from the Celler Presse here and the BUND Lower Saxony here read as well as the latest information about Deutsche Bahn here see.