Deutsche Bahn has commenced a 1.6 billion EUR project to strengthen the rail network in Hesse through a four-track expansion of the Hanau-Gelnhausen line.
This investment will provide separate lanes for passenger and freight traffic across the 23-kilometre route in order to deliver more reliable services.
In addition, Deutsche Bahn is modernising all six transport stations along the route. Residents will also benefit from new noise barriers over a length of approximately 30 kilometers.
Once the route has been expanded, long-distance and freight trains will run on the two inner tracks, while local transport will use the two outer tracks.
“With the four-track expansion of the line between Hanau and Gelnhausen, we are solving a bottleneck in the rail network that has existed for many years. In keeping with our Strong Rail strategy, we are creating the conditions for greater reliability and punctuality in train traffic across the entire network. The expansion will have an impact far beyond the region. My express thanks go to everyone involved who supported the project from the start and pushed it forward with a lot of passion and commitment for a better railway.”
This project is part of the Frankfurt RheinMain plus infrastructure development programme which aims to provide more capacity and quality in rail transport.
Alongside this project, work to construct two additional tracks on the route between Gelnhausen and Fulda is also progressing, This undertaking likewise aims to resolve a bottleneck at a key point in the German rail network.
“The rail infrastructure in the RMV area is currently and will be growing enormously in the coming years: We are even breaking records this year when it comes to expansion and new lines. With the expansion between Hanau and Gelnhausen and the subsequent planned new line from Gelnhausen to Fulda, we are making local transport in East Hesse highly attractive and setting the course for greater quality and punctuality through tracks that are separate from freight and long-distance transport - for our currently more than 20,000 passengers on the route and for many people in the region who will then come along and ride with us.”
