Due for completion by the end of 2021, the project encompasses electrification of both the 155km Munich - Lindau line (from Geltendorf) and the 120km Ulm - Lindau line. The lines are among the most important non-electrified lines in the south of Germany.
Electrification will enable numerous improvements to services on both corridors. The largest benefits will be for international services, with electrification and an increased line speed of 160km/h shaving around an hour off the current 4h 30min Munich - Zürich journey time.
The locomotive-hauled trains will be replaced by multi-system Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) ETR 610/RABe 503 Pendolino tilting trains and SBB’s new Stadler Rail RABe 501 Giruno inter-city EMUs will also be suitable for operating on this route.
The project will include the construction of a new station at Lindau-Reutin, which will eliminate the need for international trains to reverse at Lindau Main Station.
The total cost of the project is around €660m, including €440m for the Munich - Lindau portion. The project is being financed by the German federal government and the state of Bavaria with the aid of a €50m loan from the Swiss federation.
Scheuer said passenger numbers on the route are expected to double by 2030.
