The Interests Community for Ostbahn (IGOB) is pressuring the federal government to hasten the expansion of the RB 26 line to Poland. Frank Schütz, IGOB's Managing Director, voiced concerns about the limited freight-friendly level crossings to Poland. With Frankfurt (Oder) crossing already oversaturated, Schütz pointed out the Ostbahn's capability to absorb the burden from the overloaded RE1 line - but only with an extension. IGOB will participate in the East German heads of government meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Leipzig on Friday, planning to engage politicians in discussions.
The Ostbahn is now part of the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan's expansion potential for federal railways. However, Schütz emphasized the need for prompt prioritization, urging that its status be upgraded from urgent to extremely urgent. Berlin, Brandenburg, and the VBB shared this urgency, working with DB and the VBB in negotiations for funding.
The discussion revolves around double-track extension and electrifying the RB 26 line towards Poland. The estimated 1.3 billion euro cost of extending the line from Berlin to Küstrin-Kietz includes electrification by 2036 and the establishment of double-track sections.
Schütz highlighted the need for an expedited timeline in the phased expansion plan. The objective is to enhance commuter services, increase accessibility, and shift freight traffic from roads to rails. Preliminary work for this project has already been initiated, including studies on noise mitigation and level-crossing modifications.
The eastern partners, as well as local stakeholders such as clubs, associations, and neighboring municipalities, regard the Berlin-Küstrin-Kietz connection as a crucial piece in German-Polish transport. Politicians in Brandenburg consider the line vital for regional economic growth, encompassing both passenger and freight transportation.
The congestion at the Frankfurt (Oder) railway crossing underscores the importance of the Ostbahn handling a portion of the overflowing traffic on the overburdened RE1 line. Based on Schütz's statements, this can be achieved only if the Ostbahn undergoes swift expansion, a demand echoed by municipalities like Berlin and Brandenburg.
In a nutshell, the IGOB is advocating for rapid expansion of the Ostbahn line to Poland to alleviate traffic congestion, improve commuter services, and promote the shift of freight transportation from roads to rails. The expansion plan includes electrifying and double-tracking the RB 26 line, aiming for significant progress in the near future.
