Franconia-Saxony Main Line: What's next?

Bavarian Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) has also repeatedly called on the federal government to resume plans for electrification. Bernreiter is now convinced: "For the transport politicians of all parliamentary groups, the Franconia-Saxony main line now symbolizes the standstill in electrification."

Current signals indicate that the budget and transport committees in the Bundestag "no longer want to watch the tragedy". He was confident that the pressure on the traffic light government would also grow from within its own ranks. "Because only with the completion of the continuous electrification will international direct connections for passenger and freight transport from Bavaria via Saxony to Wroclaw or Krakow or beyond be within the realm of possibility. That's why this project is a top priority for us in Bavaria and also for our neighbors in Saxony."

Tunnels and historic bridges

The Franconia-Saxony Main Line is the name given to the train connection between Dresden and Nuremberg; it also includes branches towards the Czech Republic. Electrification is already well advanced on the Saxon side and electric locomotives can be used as far as Hof. The connections coming from the Czech Republic are also largely equipped with electricity up to the border. The debates are sparked by the extension of the Nuremberg-Marktredwitz-Hof line to the border with the Czech Republic. One difficulty: in the Pegnitz Valley between Upper and Middle Franconia, the route runs through many tunnels and over historic railroad bridges, and electrification here would involve a great deal of effort.

The Franconia-Saxony Main Line has been included in the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan as a priority project since 1992. The municipalities along the route are now waiting for the new calculation results from the Ministry of Transport. "We will not be able to remain on this diesel island," emphasized Hof District Administrator Oliver Bär (CSU). It is important to continue lobbying for electrification. He was convinced that they had the right arguments.

The route was of supra-regional importance, said Döhla, the head of the town hall in Hof. In 2023, too, cross-party forces had been pooled to highlight the importance of the project.

"The boards we are drilling are extremely thick, and you get the impression that they are even growing. But we are making every effort to provide objective information and we remain convinced of the absolute necessity and economic viability of the project," said Bayreuth Mayor Ebersberger. "There is also a solidarity between all regional political representatives for the project - that is something unusual in itself, that everyone really wants this major project."

• Saxon-Bavarian city network

Copyright 2024, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved