Rewritten Article:
In the ongoing debate surrounding the development of the rail link between Hanover and Hamburg, Olaf Lies, the Transport Minister of Lower Saxony (SPD), has voiced his support for enhancing and expanding the existing railroad. This was his stance after discussing the matter with various stakeholders, such as representatives from Deutsche Bahn and the federal government. Lies remains firm against the idea of constructing a new rail line altogether.
For years, the question surrounding the best approach to modernize the crucial north-south axis along the rail route has remained contentious. The primary issue at hand is whether the existing railroad should be upgraded or a completely new one should be built.
Deutsche Bahn, in recent times, has expressed their preference for constructing a new train line. They believe that this move would drastically reduce the journey time between Hamburg and Hanover, down to 59 minutes - approximately 15 minutes less than the current travel duration.
Lies, however, champions the idea of gradually refurbishing the already established railroad, with plans to commence this enhancement in 2029. This delay, as he sees it, is both practical and necessary, as a 2026 renovation would no longer be viable in terms of time constraints.
Ute Plambeck, a Group Representative at Deutsche Bahn, acknowledges that the general refurbishment is essential for improving the overall quality of operations in the short term. She notes, however, that this upgrade, coupled with an additional third track between the two cities, would not be enough to guarantee punctual and reliable train service in the future. According to Plambeck, significant additional space will be required on the tracks to achieve that goal.
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While Lies and Deutsche Bahn have not presented a direct comparison between improving the existing railroad and constructing a new one for the Hanover-Hamburg route, Germany typically prioritizes upgrading and modernizing existing infrastructure to meet growing demands and enhance efficiency. As a key player in rail transportation in Germany, Deutsche Bahn has shown a combined focus on refurbishing existing infrastructure and investing in new projects such as the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, which aims to enhance European freight transport and regional connectivity. However, this perspective on the Hanover-Hamburg rail line specifically is not explicitly discussed in the sources available.
