Woidke advocates for expansion of the Ostbahn between Berlin and Poland

The Berlin–Küstrin-Kietz route is classified in the current Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan merely as "potential need." According to the ministry, an upgrade to the category "urgent need," which is mandatory for federal funding, would require "a positive overall economic assessment."

Federal Ministry of Transport sees no need

Brandenburg's Transport Minister Robert Crumbach (SPD) assessed the planned first-instance jurisdiction of the Federal Administrative Court for the Ostbahn as "a first important step toward expansion." Crumbach also emphasized that the high significance of the route was reflected in the fact that in future only the Federal Administrative Court would decide in the first and last instance – "und ist ein sehr großer Erfolg."

Crumbach simultaneously called for continuing the effort: "Es gilt jetzt, weiter dafür zu kämpfen, dass die Ostbahn zügig in den vordringlichen Bedarf des Bundesverkehrswegeplans aufgenommen oder über andere Ausbaugesetze forciert wird." Brandenburg's Minister-President Woidke has also been vehemently pushing for years for the rapid expansion of the route.

In the draft of the Infrastructure Future Act, the Ostbahn is designated as a railway line with first-instance jurisdiction of the Federal Administrative Court. SPD Member of the Bundestag Stefan Zierke, a member of the Bundestag's Transport Committee, sees momentum in this: "Trotzdem bewegt sich etwas."

Plans for a continuously double-track route

Zierke referred to the Acceleration Act and the infrastructure special fund as framework conditions for the expansion: "Beschleunigungsgesetz und Sondervermögen Infrastruktur schaffen dafür die Rahmenbedingungen." He also referenced a concept from the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB) from 2023 for a gradual expansion of the Ostbahn. With this approach, demand could be strengthened – "So lässt sich die Nachfrage Schritt für Schritt stärken."

The Ostbahn (RB 26) is not electrified on the German side and is in parts single-track. Brandenburg is pursuing the goal of a continuously double-track, electrified route with a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour.

Significance as an alternative route

The Ostbahn could also gain importance as an alternative route, as the Berlin–Frankfurt (Oder) line is to be modernized in a few years, which could cause significant traffic disruptions. Around two years ago, a new Oder bridge was also put into operation.

The Interessengemeinschaft Ostbahn, an association of municipalities and chambers of industry and commerce (IHK), views the planned first-instance jurisdiction of the Federal Administrative Court positively. The interest group sees the judicial upgrade as a signal for the urgently needed expansion of the cross-border connection.