Under the agreement Tyrol will contribute €10m towards the €14.3m project, with the remainder coming from the Bavarian government. The partners have agreed to seek European Union funding through the Interreg programme, which aims to promote co-operation between regions.

The project is due to be completed in 2020 and will enable the extension of the hourly Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Reutte electric service to Pfronten-Steinach. A through service from Munich to Pfronten-Steinach via is also planned.

“This is a small but symbolic step towards the gradual reduction of the diesel island in the Allgäu,” says Herrmann. “In the medium term we want to extend the electrification to Kempten.”