Project's rail signals are now indicating "go"
In a bid to improve regional connectivity, enhance travel times, and boost local economies, the states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are working together to revitalize several railway lines. The focus is on the Südbahn, a regional train with battery-powered trains, which will run from Hagenow Stadt via Ludwigslust and Parchim to Waren.
The proposed route includes the railway line from Neustadt (Dosse) to Pritzwalk and Güstrow, which is currently undergoing evaluation as part of the "Prignitz-Südmecklenburg" study [2]. Extensive construction works have been carried out by Regio Infra Nord-Ost GmbH on related routes, particularly around Neustadt (Dosse) and Pritzwalk, with a focus on infrastructure enhancement [1].
As for the Mecklenburgische Südbahn from Parchim via Karow to Waren an der Müritz, specific updates on the status of this line are not available. However, the broader context of railway infrastructure development in the region suggests ongoing efforts to improve connectivity and service quality.
The renovation project is estimated to cost approximately 650 million euros, with 259 million euros in Brandenburg and 394 million euros in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The proposed variants include upgrading existing infrastructure to improve efficiency and modernize services, as well as a more extensive overhaul, potentially including new alignments or additional stations for increased accessibility.
Jan Redmann, chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the Brandenburg state parliament, supports using federal infrastructure special assets to bring the project to success. Ralf Reinhardt (SPD), from the Brandenburg district of Ostprignitz-Ruppin, advocates for the implementation of the faster, but more expensive variant.
Katrin Lange (SPD), Brandenburg state parliamentarian and former interior minister, sees potential for an additional transport axis from Berlin via the Prignitz to the Baltic Sea. Rostock County Commissioner Sebastian Constien (SPD) supports considering the 160 km/h variant, despite higher investment costs.
The topic will be further discussed at a joint cabinet meeting of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in September. The study, commissioned by both states and presented in the Güstrow town hall, indicates that both the expansion of the north-south route to a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour and the operation with a maximum of 80 kilometers per hour would exceed the costs necessary for reactivation of the routes.
Operating both lines at 80 kilometers per hour with only battery-powered trains would cost 67 million euros in Brandenburg and 161 million euros in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Each train would have connections to the rest of the regional transport network at their endpoints.
Minister Tabbert of Brandenburg aims to better connect tourist regions in northern Brandenburg and southern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and improve commuter access to workplaces. The currently terminating Brandenburg RE2 line in Nauen, west of Berlin, would be extended as the second regional express line from Berlin via Neustadt, Pritzwalk, and Meyenburg to Rostock.
The consulting firm SMA examined two variants in the study, which includes introducing regional trains from Neustadt via Pritzwalk, Meyenburg, and Karow to Güstrow, from Waren via Karow to Plau am See, and from Parchim via Karow to Malchow.
The benefits of improved railway infrastructure can enhance travel times, increase capacity, and provide better connectivity between regions. This can boost local economies by facilitating transportation and potentially attracting more businesses and residents. Efficient rail services can also reduce emissions by shifting passenger and freight traffic from road to rail, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability.
Both states need to work together to convince the federal government to increase regionalization funds to support these ambitious infrastructure projects. The potential economic and environmental benefits, coupled with the improved connectivity between regions, make this a worthwhile investment for the future of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
[1] Regio Infra Nord-Ost GmbH (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.regioinfra.de/
[2] Ministerium für Infrastruktur und Landesentwicklung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.infrastruktur.mv-regierung.de/
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