Double-Track Extension Takes Leap Forward on Lübbenau-Cottbus Line
Great strides have been made in expanding the Lübbenau-Cottbus railway line's double-track setup. Yesterday, Deutsche Bahn, federal and regional governments, and the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB) announced the financing agreement. Construction commencement is planned for the tail end of 2026, with trains running every half-hour by the following year. Approximately 265 million euros will be dedicated to the expansion. An impressive 255 million euros of this funding will be channeled through the Coal Regions Investment Act, with Brandenburg contributing initial start-up funds.
The extension project will allow for more trains to operate, according to Deutsche Bahn. Alongside constructing the second track on the nearly 30-kilometer-long rail line, countermeasures will be taken at twelve level crossings. Additionally, second platforms will be established in Raddusch, Kunersdorf, and Kolkwitz. Consideration will also be given to constructing noise barriers along the route. Since the 1945 Soviet Union reparations following World War II, the Görlitz Railway from Berlin to Görlitz has remained single-track between Lübbenau and Cottbus.
Crucial role in Lusatian development
The double-track expansion is deemed essential to Lusatia's success in structural change, as noted by regional railway representative Alexander Kaczmarek. By providing additional capacity and improved stability within rail traffic between Berlin and the Spreewald and Lusatia, this second track significantly enhances services.
Minister Rainer Genilke of Brandenburg sees it as a significant step in the transport transformation for Brandenburg, while State Secretary Susanne Henckel confirms the federal government's support for structural change in former coal-mining regions such as Lusatia, stating that projects of interest will play a critical role in connecting regions.
Win for VBB
The federal government's financing commitment serves as tangible proof that the states of Berlin and Brandenburg's investments in i2030 planning projects are proving fruitful for the VBB. "Planning is well underway for a variety of rail projects," VBB Managing Director Ute Bonde shared. The transport association hopes that many more federal funding commitments will follow to improve and expand local and suburban rail services.
Enhancing ICE maintenance depot connectivity
Deutsche Bahn anticipates positive effects of the double-track expansion beyond improving rail connectivity: the improved connection to the new ICE maintenance depot in Cottbus, which will commence operations in January 2026 and reach completion by 2026. The initial 400 of the 1200 jobs will be created when it opens, with the majority of skilled workers originating from Lusatia.
Lack of expediency criticized
Critics voiced concerns surrounding the federal government's delays in railway expansion planning, tension between time requirements and the coal phase-out in 2038.
General Manager Jens Krause of the Cottbus Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and business associations stressed that infrastructure growth has lagged in Germany, highlighting the "decade-long" timeline for the completion of the double Cottbus-Lübbenau track.
UVB Managing Director Sven Weickert echoed these sentiments and called for greater expedience in planning and construction for various projects indigenous to Berlin and Brandenburg.
Enrichment data: - The project timeline and funding are not specified in the sources, although rail service improvement and connectivity are the focus of the expansion. - The double-track extension's positive impact on regional transportation, Lusatian development, and broader economic goals are foreseen in the expansion.
The double-track extension aims to improve rail connectivity between Berlin and Cottbus, create additional capacity, and restructure several elements of the original line to boost the viability and frequency of train services. The expansion acts as a pivotal step in contributing to the ongoing transport transformation in Brandenburg and the broader goal of revitalizing former coal-mining regions like Lusatia.
