The first construction work for a new railway line in Frankfurt and to Frankfurt Airport is underway. The schedule is now fixed.

Frankfurt. Initially, there are only a few tree fellings at the Stadion railway junction and in Neu-Isenburg. But they are the first work for the Regionaltangente West (RTW), the new railway line that is to lead west around Frankfurt. Frankfurt’s head of mobility, Stefan Majer (Greens), has announced that all three construction phases should be given the green light by next year.

The trains of the RTW are to operate as two-system city railways partly on existing tracks, partly on new lines. The 100 meter long RTW vehicles are to drive on the central section from Sossenheim to Neu-Isenburg every 15 minutes, otherwise every 30 minutes, and stop at a total of 26 stations.

Two extensions are already planned

The RTW route runs from Bad Homburg via Eschborn, Sossenheim, Höchst, the airport and Neu-Isenburg to Dreieich-Buchschlag. Branch lines lead to Bad Soden, the Praunheim industrial park and the center of Neu-Isenburg. Two extensions are currently being considered: in the south to Langen, in the north from Praunheim to the northwest center.

“Planning strengthened” for the connection from the north-west center

For the continuation to the Northwest Center, the city is “increasingly involved in the planning,” the head of department explained on Monday evening to the mobility committee of the city councilors. As soon as there are results there, he wants to present them to the committee. The sticking point is above all the location of the station at the north-west center and whether the above-ground RTW route can be linked with the underground route running under the shopping center at any cost.

According to Majer, the work since last Wednesday at the Neu-Isenburg and Stadion stations is intended to prepare for the first construction sites. The construction of an arched bridge at the stadium should begin this year. This is to span the long-distance railway line to the main station. “Since the corresponding track closures have already been requested from the railways, the work must definitely start on schedule.”

The authority even orders immediate enforcement for the route via Frankfurt Airport

According to RTW-GmbH, “ecological measures” had already taken place in the run-up to the clearing. New habitats for sand lizards have been created. Measuring points for groundwater monitoring would now be set up and the railway would carry out underground cable engineering and overhead line work.

This work is possible because the planning approval decision for the first, 16-kilometer-long southern section between Kelsterbach and Neu-Isenburg via the airport was not just issued on January 26, including building rights. The Darmstadt regional council has also ordered immediate enforcement, explains the head of department.

By the end of the year, planning permission for the northern section from Sulzbach to Bad Homburg and Praunheim should be in place. This section is also 16 kilometers long. In the summer of 2018, the plans and the submissions were publicly declared in Sossenheim, Majer recalled. Since there were still changes in the plans, these are currently being processed. Public participation ended at the beginning of February.

Section in Höchst is “the most complex part”

It will take the longest until there is also planning permission for the central section. It extends from Sulzbach to Kelsterbach. “That’s the most complex part,” explains Stefan Majer. Among other things, the Höchst train station WILL be partially rebuilt and a light rail line will be routed from there with a tunnel under the tracks to Leunastraße, then further along and across the Main to a southern part of the industrial park. The planning approval decision for this section is expected in 2023, i.e. the department head. The documents should be disclosed by the end of the year.

Currently, those responsible for public affairs are being consulted, for example authorities, associations or the operators of supply networks. The city is currently preparing its overall statement. Discussions were also being held internally regarding the transfer of the property. Citizens are also involved. You can express yourself officially after the disclosure anyway. However, RTW-GmbH had already offered several information events for citizens in advance. Suggestions from this are already being incorporated into the planning.

Construction of the line is expected to cost 1.1 billion euros

The construction of the 50-kilometer route is expected to cost around 1.1 billion euros and be completed in 2028. Thanks to the tangential connection, passengers can reach many destinations faster and without having to change trains. “The decisive factor is that not all traffic flows have to go through the city center anymore,” says City Councilor Majer. This should relieve the main train station and the S-Bahn trunk line. (Dennis Pfeiffer-Goldmann)