The German Federal Government and Deutsche Bahn (DB) sign agreement for double-track expansion and electrification on the Cottbus–Görlitz route.
The Federal Government and DB are continuing to drive structural change in the coal-mining regions. Federal Transport Minister Dr. Volker Wissing and DB CEO Dr. Richard Lutz signed an agreement today that will allow ten more projects to be planned in the coal-mining regions.
The largest project is the expansion of the Berlin-Cottbus-Weißwasser-Görlitz route. In future, trains will be able to travel faster, which will significantly reduce travel times. A higher route capacity will also enable a larger range of trains. To this end, the Cottbus–Görlitz section of the route will be double-tracked and electrified.
“Structural change in the name of climate protection requires concrete offers and perspectives for the regions most affected by the change. The Federal Government is therefore supporting structural change in the former coal mining regions with up to 40 billion euros. The transport projects that are financed from this are important in order to bring new companies, new jobs and thus new perspectives and opportunities to the region. The expansion and electrification between Cottbus and Görlitz is a great example of this and an important project for Lusatia,” said Federal Minister Volker Wissing.
“The coal is going, the railway is coming! We are now continuing what we have already achieved with the new ICE plant in Cottbus together with the federal and state governments. The electrification and double-track expansion of the Cottbus-Görlitz route will create a piece of strong rail that will connect the region with the metropolis of Berlin and its Polish neighbors. With this and the other expansion projects, the planning of which we are now immediately starting, we are making an important contribution to a successful structural change in the country. People, the climate and the economy will all benefit from this,” added DB CEO Richard Lutz.
The signing of the agreement also marks the start of planning for the 44-kilometer-long northern section between Bad Lausick and Geithain of the Leipzig-Chemnitz line. This line is also to be electrified and expanded to two tracks. Preparations for the planning have already begun. The next planning steps, such as surveying, environmental studies and routing, are now underway.
The agreement also includes eight additional rail infrastructure projects in the coal regions, for which DB can now also begin planning.
Cottbus–Görlitz: 1 of 10 additional rail projects
With the signing of the financing agreement, planning for the expansion or electrification of a total of ten additional rail projects can begin:
| Serial No. | Plan |
| 3 | Route Berlin-Grünau-Königs-Wusterhausen |
| 10 | Cottbus-Forst route |
| 11 | Graustein-Spreewitz route |
| 12 | Leipzig-Falkenberg-Cottbus route (1st partial measure) |
| 18 | Route Naumburg-Halle |
| 19 | Route Berlin-Cottbus-Weißwasser-Görlitz (-Breslau) |
| 23 | Route Leipzig-Bad Lausick (-Geithain-Chemnitz) |
| 24 | Route Aachen-Cologne |
| 33 | S-Bahn Leipzig-Merseburg |
| 38 | S-Bahn network Rhenish mining area (eastern section) |
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