Federal government secures EUR 2.5bn for rail, incl. Pfaffensteig tunnel

The federal government secures about EUR 1.7 billion for the roughly 11 km Pfaffensteig tunnel near Stuttgart, almost EUR 200 million for the Zwickau hub (construction start 2028), about EUR 339 million for lines and stations in the coal regions and more than EUR 65 million for noise protection on the eastern Berlin outer ring; the electrification of the roughly 19 km Gerstungen–Heimboldshausen line is also planned. This clears the way for DB InfraGO to continue planning and implementation.

Transport Minister Schnieder and DB InfraGO chief Nagl presented financing agreements for rail projects worth EUR 2.5 billion in total on 29 January 2026: about EUR 1.7 billion for the roughly 11 km Pfaffensteig tunnel, which links the Gäubahn to Stuttgart airport long-distance station and cuts the journey time on that section from about 22 to about 7 minutes, almost EUR 200 million for the Zwickau hub (construction start 2028), about EUR 339 million for stations and lines in the coal regions (including Cottbus and Leuna-Werke Nord with more than EUR 111 million) and more than EUR 65 million for noise protection on the eastern Berlin outer ring. The electrification of the roughly 19 km Gerstungen–Heimboldshausen line, which connects the Werra plant and the K+S site at Philippsthal to the DB network, is also planned. According to a federal government reply reported on 22 January 2026, the billion euros originally considered for the ICE maintenance depot in Cottbus from the Coal Regions Investment Act will instead go to rail projects in the Lusatian coalfield, while DB finances the depot from its own funds. (LOK Report, 22 Jan and 30 Jan 2026)