In an hour on the train from Dresden to Prague: With the construction of a new route, this should be possible and the Elbe Valley will be relieved of rail traffic. When will the first train roll through Germany’s longest railway tunnel?
Germany’s longest railway tunnel is to be built in the Eastern Ore Mountains and will significantly shorten the travel time between Dresden and Prague. After examining various variants for the new line, the construction of a single, around 30 kilometer long tunnel between Heidenau on the German side and Usti nad Labem on the Czech side is now favored, said Deutsche Bahn. The full tunnel variant is the best solution for the environment as well as technically and economically.
In an hour to Prague
The new construction project is considered an internationally important rail transport project. The background is that the current route through the Elbe Valley is reaching its capacity limit. The new route is intended to offer a flood-safe alternative and shorten travel times. In the future, passengers should be able to travel from Dresden to the Czech capital in just about an hour. Currently the journey usually takes around two and a half hours.
The project connects nations and creates the conditions for more passenger and freight transport by rail, stated Deutsche Bahn’s representative for Saxony, Martin Walden. The construction of the route needs absolute priority, emphasized Saxon Transport Minister Martin Dulig (SPD). With the decision now announced on the course, another milestone has been reached. The full tunnel variant also has greater approval among citizens in the region, explained Dulig.
According to the plans, two parallel tunnel tubes are to be driven through the eastern Ore Mountains. The tubes are each single-track and are intended to be used by both passenger and freight trains. On the German side, the new construction of the tunnel also includes the expansion of the route between Dresden and Heidenau. To this end, around 46 kilometers of new tracks, modern control and safety technology as well as new parking facilities for trains are to be built.
Tunnel construction took around twelve years
The Dresden-Prague route is part of a European rail corridor from German North and Baltic Sea ports through southeastern Europe to Istanbul and Athens. According to Deutsche Bahn, citizen dialogues are planned in the communities from January to provide information about the planning. The preferred option should be finalized by the middle of next year and the documents will then be submitted to the Bundestag. A decision on implementation and financing should be made at the end of the legislative period.
However, rail travelers will have to wait at least another two decades until the first train rolls through the tunnel. According to current forecasts, construction is expected to start around 2032, according to Deutsche Bahn, and the construction period is estimated to take around 12 years.
The Landrückentunnel in Hesse is considered to be the longest railway tunnel in Germany at 10.8 kilometers. The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel between Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark, which is currently being built, is expected to be around 18 kilometers long.
Source: Stern
