Sylt railway project: Don’t panic! The federal government promises two-pronged expansion!

Sylt railway project: Don’t panic! The federal government promises two-pronged expansion!

In an important step for the future of rail connections in North Frisia, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, Gero Hocker, signaled at a rail summit in Niebüll on Tuesday evening that the double-track expansion of the marsh railway line was a high priority. This statement came following reports of possible delays or even cancellation of expansion plans, which caused concern in the region.

Hocker emphasized that the Bundestag should address the issue during this legislative period, before the 2025 federal elections. There are a total of seven projects planned that the ministry would like to initiate, including the section from Niebüll via Klanxbüll to Westerland. The importance of the rail project for the region, especially for economic sectors such as tourism and gastronomy, is undisputed, said Hocker. The State Secretary came to the summit at short notice to address the unrest surrounding the planned developments.

Collaboration and resolution

At the fourth march track summit, representatives from the district and state showed support for a joint resolution. This calls on the federal government not to postpone the planning and to complete the preparations by spring 2025 so that the costs of the expansion can be taken into account in the 2026 federal budget. The resolution should be signed by those involved on Tuesday evening.

The planned expansions include the sections between Niebüll and Klanxbüll and from Morsum to Tinnum on Sylt. It is also planned to electrify the entire route, which should lead to more stable transport connections on the west coast. Politicians from all levels had previously expressed concern about the reports and appealed to the federal government to stick to its expansion plans despite ongoing austerity measures. The anger among the approximately 4,000 commuters to and from Sylt has recently grown significantly in view of repeated train cancellations and delays.

These developments are an important signal for the region, which relies on better connections and infrastructure. As the Secretary of State explained, according to information from www.ndr.de, the continuation of the planning is essential not only to meet local needs, but also to increase the attractiveness of the region.

Commuters and local politicians have been calling for a double-track expansion between Niebüll and Westerland for years. This measure could not only shorten travel time, but also reduce the load on the transport system. Given the ongoing problems with rail traffic in the region, the current status is positive news for everyone involved.