Erzgebirgstunnel

Project objectives

Preliminary planning of the Erzgebirge tunnel with the aim of preparing route designs next year and a preferred variant by 2024. A German-Czech state treaty is to seal the project in 2025.

Project description

An important connection in cross-border rail traffic (both for the Federal Republic of Germany and the Free State of Saxony as well as for the Czech Republic and the south-eastern neighboring countries) is the Berlin-Dresden-Prague route. An extension and acceleration of the existing railway connection between Dresden and Prague through the Elbe Valley is not possible for ecological and topographical reasons. In this context, the future management of the growing cross-border traffic in the Berlin-Dresden-Prague rail corridor is to be pursued as a joint strategic goal of Germany and the Czech Republic. Therefore, the construction of a new double-track, electrified high-speed line for passenger and freight traffic with several tunnels and bridges between Heidenau and Ústí nad Labem should be realised.

Project data

• Line length approx. 32.5 km, of which approx. 30 km in tunnel
• 2 single-track tunnel tubes
• Overlap up to 600 m

Project specifics

The tunnel is being planned together with the Czech railway infrastructure company Správa Železnic. This is Germany's longest railway tunnel.

Services

Basic evaluation and preliminary planning.