The BSW parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament has called for the "Central Germany Link" to be expanded in the near future. The federal government must stand by its promise and finally make the necessary funds available, explained the parliamentary group's transport policy spokesman, Roberto Kobelt. According to him, the electrification of the line between Weimar, Jena, Gera and Gößnitz and the partial double-track expansion of the line must begin as soon as possible.
The "Central Germany Link" is intended to provide a faster connection from Saxony via Thuringia to the west of Germany. At the beginning of this year, it became known that construction could not begin as planned. According to the Federal Ministry of Transport's answer to a small question from Green MP Matthias Gastel, there is a shortfall of around two billion euros for the construction of several rail projects by 2029, despite the billions in debt taken on by the federal government as part of the so-called special fund. These include the section from Weimar via Gera to Gößnitz of the 517-kilometre-long Central Germany line, which is estimated to cost 544 million euros.
