The planned cutbacks to the expansion of the Chemnitz-Leipzig rail line are drawing criticism from many quarters. “Despite full electrification, the expansion plans fall far short of the expectations originally promised and the region’s actual needs,” explains Sebastian Drechsler, spokesperson for the Chemnitz Rail Initiative. Under the cost-cutting plan, half-hourly service between the two cities would only be possible in the early morning and late afternoon. Drechsler states that this clearly fails to meet passengers’ actual needs.
According to Deutsche Bahn and the Ministry of Infrastructure, the project’s costs have spiraled out of control. Based on the latest projections, a complete double-track expansion plus electrification for the northern section between Leipzig and Geithain alone would cost more than 1.3 billion euros. A new feasibility study therefore proposes making only about 24 of the 44 kilometers double-tracked in that section. Electrification will still proceed.
