THE German state of Thuringia has signed a financing agreement with infrastructure manager DB Networks to support planning for the partial double-track reconstruction and electrification of the 103km Weimar - Gera - Gössnitz (- Zwickau/Chemnitz) line.
The line is currently not electrified, although a short section shares electrified tracks in Jena-Göschwitz station. It forms the only non-electrified part of the ‘Central German connecting line’ between Erfurt and Chemnitz/Dresden.
Much of the 68km Weimar - Gera section is already double track, but the planning work will establish if doubling the two single track sections, totalling approximately 12km, is worthwhile.
The planning work will also cover electrification of the entire route at 15kV ac; the 35km section east of Gera to Gössnitz will remain single track.
The initial planning work will be completed by the end of this year.
Modernisation and electrification of the line is a priority in the German Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan 2030 and will enable the replacement of diesel trains. It will also make possible the introduction of regular long-distance services connecting Chemnitz with Erfurt and the Ruhr by 2030 as part of the ‘Deutschland Takt’ regular interval national timetable.
