Rhine Valley Railway Expansion Causes Temporary Closures and Delays
The expansion of the Rhine Valley train line to four tracks is underway, causing temporary closures and disruptions. This crucial north-south axis in Europe is seeing significant investment, with the infrastructure division of Deutsche Bahn, DB InfraGO, estimating the nationwide railway network's investment backlog at 110 billion euros.
The project, expected to be completed in 2041, is leading to the cancellation of most regional trains. Only services between Basel and Müllheim are running every two hours. Long-distance trains between Freiburg and Basel are also affected, with no services from Friday evening to early Monday morning. Passengers are advised to use replacement buses, but travel times are significantly extended, often doubling.
The expansion comes as punctuality of regional trains in Baden-Württemberg has dropped to 88 percent. This is due to the high number of construction sites and aging infrastructure. While the work is necessary for modernization, it is causing inconvenience for commuters and travellers. Express buses marked as 'IC' can only be used with a long-distance ticket, not the Germany ticket, further limiting options for passengers.
The Rhine Valley train expansion is a significant project aimed at improving Germany's rail network. Despite the temporary disruptions and increased travel times, the long-term benefits of this investment are expected to enhance connectivity and reliability for passengers. The estimated 110 billion euro backlog underscores the need for such projects to maintain and upgrade the country's railway infrastructure.
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