Coalition backs request to build new Hannover-Hamburg railway line

After prolonged negotiations, the black-red coalition reached an agreement on a parliamentary request to move forward with a new railway between Hannover and Hamburg. The transport committee of the Bundestag will consider the draft on Wednesday, followed by a full parliamentary debate on Thursday evening. The proposal seeks to alleviate a central bottleneck in the rail network by adding capacity, shortening travel times for long- and regional services, and committing to upgrades of the overloaded existing line.

It also includes provisions for stronger noise protection and specific improvements for Landkreis Harburg. While the plan has long been contentious in Niedersachsen, local residents worry about being cut off, and SPD chief Lars Klingbeil has previously criticized the route through his constituency. The government recommends adopting the “preferred variant” outlined by DB InfraGO, a double-track line of 109 km from Hannover-Vinnhorst to Meckelfeld, though full implementation could take decades.