Hanover-Hamburg in less than an hour: dispute over train connection
There is still no sign of a solution to the dispute over the expansion of the train connection between Hanover and Hamburg. From new construction to expansion, everything is possible.
Hanover – In the dispute over the expansion of the train connection in Lower Saxony between Hanover and Hamburg still has no sign of a solution. While Lower Saxony’s new state government, like the previous government, is rejecting a new building, Deutsche Bahn (DB) emphasized that the three possible variants are still being examined with an open mind – these are an expansion that is close to the existing one and an expansion that is close to the existing one with bypasses, but also a new building that is far removed from the existing one Route .
On Monday, November 28, 2022, a railway spokeswoman said when asked that the test results would be handed over to the Federal Ministry of Transport at the end of 2022. They are then to be presented and explained to the public in coordination with the Federal Ministry, the State of Lower Saxony and the municipalities involved. The aim is to get more traffic onto the rails and, for example, to enable a journey time of 59 minutes between Hanover and Hamburg. A journey with the ICE on the route currently takes around 80 minutes.
59 minutes by train from Hanover to Hamburg: “Expansion instead of new construction”
Lower Saxony’s Minister of Transport Olaf lies (SPD) said the Hanover general timeg, the state government has a clear stance on the issue, and it says: “expansion instead of new construction”. Prime Minister too Stephen Weil (SPD) asked Deutsche Bahn months ago to commit to the Alpha E project – the renewal of existing routes. He pointed out that Alpha E is a difficult compromise, but one that is supported by the citizens.
The national association of the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) repeated its request on Monday to open up to a new building. die state government in Lower Saxony Must allow a factual and fair examination of all train options between Hamburg and Hanover. However, the Alpha E variant offers neither sufficient capacity nor attractive travel times. “If something can’t work, then it won’t work – not even if a majority of a committee has decided that it has to work,” said VCD state chairman Martin Mutzel.