Federal Transport Minister Schnieder advocates for swift expansion of the Central Germany Connection

A total of 600 million euros is earmarked for the line expansion. The section from Weimar via Gera to Gößnitz is estimated at 544 million euros in construction costs, according to figures provided. The total route of the Central Germany Connection measures 517 kilometers and is to be fully electrified and continuously expanded to double track.

Background: What is the Central Germany Connection?

Planning for the electrification and double-track expansion of the Weimar–Gößnitz line has been underway for years, but secured financing has been lacking so far. Schnieder told MDR that they are currently fighting for the financing. Building permission is to be granted shortly.

According to Schnieder, alternative financing avenues are being examined in parallel, including the use of funds from the so-called special fund or reallocations within the transport budget. The required funds are to be included in the federal budget 2027 currently being negotiated in Berlin.

Prior to the meeting, the Eastern Germany Commissioner Elisabeth Kaiser had demanded a financing commitment from the federal government in a letter to Schnieder. She pointed out that the Federal Chancellor had promised the project. Kaiser emphasized that the long-promised expansion of the rail line must now be implemented: „Nun müsse der lange versprochene Ausbau der Bahnstrecke auch umgesetzt werden."

Voices from Thuringia and the federal government

Thuringia's Transport Minister Steffen Schütz (BSW) said after the external cabinet meeting, which Schnieder also attended, to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur: „Ich gehe nach wie vor von einem Baustart 2027 aus." Schütz expressed confidence that a solution had been approached and pointed to the importance of the project for a European connection between the Ruhr area and Poland.

Schnieder underlined the supra-regional significance of the route: The electrification is intended to enable faster long-distance rail connections from Chemnitz and Dresden via Erfurt to the Rhine-Main region and the Ruhr area. The connection is to link Saxony via Thuringia with western Germany and bring shorter travel times.

Open financing and timeline

According to the assessment of Green Party member of the Bundestag Matthias Gastel, around two billion euros are missing by 2029 for the construction of several rail projects, despite the federal government's multi-billion-euro special fund. Gastel had established this in a response from the Federal Ministry of Transport to a minor interpellation. The Federal Chancellor is Friedrich Merz (CDU).

Former Thuringian Minister-President Bodo Ramelow (Die Linke) had also recently emphasized the importance of the expansion for the Free State. The route is considered important for Thuringia because it is intended to better connect Weimar, Jena, Gera, and Gößnitz to the rail network.

Schütz said he trusted the statements of Schnieder and Federal Chancellor Merz regarding the Central Germany Connection. With regard to the planned construction start in 2027, he added: „Davon will ich mich auch nicht verabschieden und alles andere wäre eine absolute Katastrophe." The timetable therefore remains for the time being the central point of contention between the federal government and the state.