Study Tests Reopening of Neumünster-Ascheberg Railway Line - Abandoned German rail line may roar back to life after 30 years
A long-dormant railway line between Neumünster and Ascheberg could soon see new life. Local authorities have launched a study to assess whether the 26-kilometre route, unused since 1995, can be reactivated. The project aims to fill a gap in regional rail transport that has persisted for nearly three decades.
The Neumünster-Ascheberg line once carried passengers until the mid-1980s before switching to freight transport. But since its full closure in July 1995, no trains have operated on the stretch, leaving the region without direct rail services.
Now, the Plön district, the city of Neumünster, and Nahverkehrsverbund Schleswig-Holstein (Nah.Sh) have jointly commissioned a feasibility study. The research will evaluate necessary infrastructure upgrades, potential service levels, estimated costs, and expected passenger numbers.
Funding for the project remains uncertain, but the study itself is being shared among the three partners. Results are anticipated within the next year.
If successful, the reactivation could improve regional mobility over time. The study will provide a clearer picture of what it would take to bring trains back to the line. Until then, no concrete plans or secured funding exist for the revival.
