Schiemann: Rail connection to Poland must become a top priority

According to CDU politician Marko Schiemann, a high-speed rail connection from Saxony to Poland must finally become a top priority for the federal government. “We need a binding commitment that they will finally implement their 2003 intergovernmental agreement with Poland,” he told the German Press Agency in Dresden. 

Federal Government Should End the Division of Germany’s Rail Networks

“With the Peaceful Revolution, the people of the GDR ended the division of Europe. Now the federal government must end the division of the rail networks,” said Schiemann. Poland has done its part and is pressing for implementation in Germany. This is not about a regional rail line, but a route of international significance.

Schiemann recently met with Jan Tombiński, Poland’s ambassador to Germany, in Bautzen. “Cooperation with Poland offers great opportunities for our region. Good neighborly relations and cross-border cooperation are a concrete locational advantage for the Free State of Saxony,” Schiemann emphasized. A crucial prerequisite for this is an efficient and sustainable cross-border infrastructure. 

Strengthening the border region’s appeal through a high-speed rail connection

“The fast and reliable rail connection from Dresden via Bautzen and Görlitz to Wrocław would significantly improve the Free State of Saxony’s connection to Lower Silesia and the European rail network. It not only benefits commuters and businesses but also enhances the appeal of our border region as a hub for business, science, and quality of life,” argued the CDU politician. 

Schiemann pointed out a significant imbalance in rail connections toward the west and east. While there are 28 electrified rail connections to Western Europe, there are only three to Eastern Europe. 

Electrification of the route agreed upon 23 years ago

A fully electrified rail line between Dresden, Görlitz, and Wrocław (Breslau) had already been agreed upon in a German-Polish agreement back in 2003. Poland has long since implemented this, but Germany has not. In the Federal Transportation Infrastructure Plan, the route is currently classified only as a “potential need.” The cost-benefit ratio—last assessed in 2018—is considered too poor. Politicians from Saxony have long been advocating for the route to be upgraded to “urgent need.” They argue that significant changes have occurred since 2018, and a reassessment could yield a better result.