Suche
Mein Konto
Railway planning revealed: Hanover-Hamburg receives an urgently needed overhaul!
Deutsche Bahn is planning to expand the Hanover-Hamburg line by 2029 and is considering building a new line to relieve congestion.
Railway planning revealed: Hanover-Hamburg receives an urgently needed overhaul!
Deutsche Bahn (DB) today presented plans for the urgently needed expansion of the overloaded route between Hanover and Hamburg. The current capacity utilization of this route is an alarming 147 percent, making this connection one of the least punctual in Germany. Given the forecast increase in the number of passenger and freight trains, a reduction in delays is essential. This is where the announced quality offensive comes in, which is scheduled to start next year, followed by a comprehensive general renovation of the route in 2029. Deutsche Bahn reports that the The plans are part of a major initiative aimed at not only improving the existing infrastructure, but also creating new routes.
A total of 29 variants for route expansion were examined. From these, four promising options were analyzed in more detail and evaluated based on almost 200 criteria. The decision as to whether and in what form the construction of another route over Bergen will ultimately rest with the German Bundestag, which is expected to hold a parliamentary hearing on this issue later this year. The new line via Bergen, a central element of the project, meets the criteria for the Deutschland-Takt and is intended to create space for local, long-distance and freight transport, which is currently in high demand. Welt adds that these plans could also enable new local transport stops in the Heidekreis, which would further improve the mobility of residents.
A new eye for rail infrastructure
The overload of the rail network is not just a problem on the Hanover-Hamburg route. Compared to 2008, the number of congested railways will have increased more than eightfold to over 1,321 kilometers by 2025. To counteract this, not only renovation work will be necessary, but also investments in new routes. In this context, the Pro-Rail Alliance has pointed out that rail transport in Germany has increased by over 50 percent in passenger transport and almost 90 percent in freight transport since 1994. This clearly shows how urgent an overhaul of the rail network is. Allianz pro Schiene reports that the expansion of the rail network is stagnating, while demand is constantly growing.
But what are the next steps? In the autumn, a project team will travel through the region to present detailed maps and content - such as noise protection measures - and to collect the opinions of local residents. This is an important step in engaging citizens and addressing their concerns. Ultimately, it is the local people who will benefit from the changes and whose quality of life these infrastructural measures can have a significant impact on. The federal government, as the main financier of these projects, has already announced that the wishes and demands from the project region will be incorporated into the planning.
In summary, it can be said that Deutsche Bahn is taking a step in the right direction with its quality offensive and the planned renovations. The challenges are great, but with a clear plan and the involvement of the population, rail transport in northern Germany could soon experience a breath of fresh air.