Detailed planning will commence from 2021. Construction is unlikely to begin before 2023.
The work includes track doubling on four sections to improve capacity on the currently single-track line, between:
- Unterelchingen and Langenau
- Niederstotzingen and Sontheim
- Sontheim and Bergenweiler, and
- Itzelberg and Oberkochen.
New stations, signalling upgrades and 15kV ac electrification are also planned.
Funding for the project is expected to come primarily from the expanded Municipal Transport Financing Act (GVFG) agreed by the Federal government in February, which will provide €10bn for regional investment in rail and light rail between 2020 and 2029.
The improvements will enable the operation of more regional services, as well as an hourly Ulm - Aalen express train.
