Bundestag backs Dresden–Prague line, tunnel due to open in December 2044

The Bundestag gave the green light on 21 May 2026 to the new Dresden–Prague line: on the German side about 46 km of track in the approach are being rebuilt (including four new tracks, 740 m overtaking tracks, 80 instead of 60 km/h between Dresden Hbf and Heidenau, ETCS Level 2), followed between Heidenau and Karbitz/Chabařovice by an approx. 30 km Ore Mountains tunnel of two single-track bores (18 km in Germany, 12 km in Czechia) for long-distance trains at up to 200 km/h. The federal government puts the total value at EUR 5.62 billion (2022 prices, including planning costs, nominalisation and risks) with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.03; construction is due to start in December 2032, the upgraded Dresden–Heidenau section is to open in December 2040 and the tunnel in December 2044. The freight association Die Güterbahnen welcomes the maximum gradient of 7 per mille, which according to DB InfraGO also allows heavy freight trains (150 a day), but criticises the long planning period and what it sees as too little new-build funding in the federal budget. The date is a placeholder: the article gives only the month, December 2044, for the tunnel's opening. (LOK Report, 22 May 2026; earlier report 13 May 2026)