Better rail link between Chemnitz and Leipzig: preliminary planning for electrification begins
With the signing of a contract by Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs, Sven Morlok, and Arthur Stempel, Deutsche Bahn's Group Representative for the Free State of Saxony, preliminary planning for the expansion of the rail link to Leipzig begins today in Chemnitz. The initial aim is to find a technically and economically viable option for the connection. This should provide Chemnitz with better access to long-distance rail transport via Leipzig in future. An application for the inclusion of the expansion project in the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan is to be submitted this spring.
Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig: "I am delighted that with today's signing, the preliminary planning for the electrification will now actually begin and that the commitments made at the rail summit in summer 2012 will be honoured. This shows that the joint efforts of recent months have paid off! We have repeatedly emphasised that the city and the region need this modern, fast and reliable connection.
It is now crucial that the railway and the Free State join forces to press ahead with the assessment of the options. After all, sound planning is the prerequisite for the expansion of the line to actually be realised with the new Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan."