Saxony Pushes for Federal Commitments on Dresden-Prague Railway Tunnel Project

Saxony's Infrastructure Minister Regina Kraushaar and Czech Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik are urging the German federal government to fulfill its commitments regarding the new high-speed railway line connecting Dresden and Prague. Described as a key European project with significant EU co-financing potential, the initiative requires planning security, a state treaty, and specific funding allocations. Approximately 20 million euros are needed in the 2027 federal budget to advance planning stages. The project features a 30-kilometer tunnel through the Eastern Ore Mountains, which would become Germany's longest railway tunnel at 18 kilometers on the German side. This infrastructure aims to reduce travel time between the two cities from 2.5 hours to just one hour. Additionally, the ministers discussed the strategic importance of maintaining navigability on the Elbe River to support inland shipping connections to Hamburg. The officials emphasize treating rail, road, and waterways as an integrated transport system to enhance sustainable mobility in Central Europe. Kraushaar is scheduled to address the German Bundestag on May 21 to advocate for the necessary legislative and financial approvals.