Full Steam Ahead for the Electrification and Modernization of the Bad Kleinen - Lübeck Railway Line
Plan for Railway Expansion: Bad Kleinen to Luebeck - Commencement of the railway line expansion from Bad Kleinen to Lübeck
Words that roll off the tongue, mate!
TheBonza Vegas is back, baby! We're talking about the Deutsche Einheit Number One, no less, where they've finally kicked off the modernization and electrification of the roughly 60-kilometer railway line between Bad Kleinen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Lübeck in Schleswig-Holstein. Originally, the idea was to continuously dual-track the entire route from Lübeck via Rostock to Stralsund, expanding it for 160 km/h. However, the federal government eventually decided it wasn't necessary, and the project was dropped from the requirement plan.
As Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Minister of Economics, Wolfgang Blank (independent), said at the ceremonial groundbreaking, this expansion is a vital step towards strengthening the connections between Lübeck and Schwerin. "With today's construction start, we're making notable progress on a crucial railway project for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The new connection will bring shorter travel times for regional traffic and boost our state's role in European freight transport," Blank asserted, full of conviction. The electrification is a crucial move towards a climate-friendly and efficient railway system.
Improvements for Passengers and Freight Transport
So, what's in store for us passengers and freight transporters? As part of the expansion, a connecting curve will be built near Gallentin, near Bad Kleinen. In the future, we'll be able to travel by train between Lübeck and Schwerin without needing to change trains or turn around in Bad Kleinen, which is currently the norm. The project is scheduled to be finished by 2028. "This will further connect the Hamburg metropolitan region, while also creating new, demand-oriented transport connections in Northwest Mecklenburg and Schwerin," Blank explained.
Apart from shorter travel times and a more stable timetable in regional traffic, the project will also beef up freight transport. The new route will relieve the Hamburg railway junction and create additional capacities on the East Corridor towards Southern Germany and Eastern Europe, the minister reported. However, construction work will mostly halt during the general renovation of the Hamburg-Berlin line from August 2025 to April 2026 to allow train diversions from Hamburg via Lübeck, Bad Kleinen, and Rostock to Berlin.
The Fehmarn Belt Connection
The railway company predicts that West Mecklenburg will eventually be connected to the planned Fehmarn Belt Crossing via this line. The crossing of the approximately 20-kilometer-wide strait will consist of a dual-track electrified railway line and a four-lane road connection, according to the Federal Ministry of Transport. It will link Puttgarden on the island of Fehmarn in Germany with Rødby on the island of Lolland in Denmark via a tunnel. The scheduled start of operation is 2029. The official start of construction was on January 1, 2021.
The Economic Perspective
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Schwerin welcomed the commencement of construction. The economy in West Mecklenburg has been pushing for this infrastructure project for years. "It improves the connection for commuters as well as the conditions for freight transport. The expansion strengthens the region as a location in national and international rail transport. Now it's crucial to maintain the pace and keep an eye on further necessary steps," explained IHK President Matthias Belke.
Moving Forward
Perspectively, the route should be continuously expanded to double track to also come into question for long-distance connections. "We expect a firm commitment from DB long-distance to the long-term strengthening of the Berlin-Schwerin connection. The federal government, the state, and the state capital itself should come together to pave the political path for this. ICE trains between Copenhagen, Lübeck, Schwerin, and Berlin should not remain just a vision," emphasized Belke.
West Mecklenburg, Lübeck, Schwerin, and those railways!
[1] – Enrichment Data (Disclaimer: As this is an AI model, my knowledge is based on the data fed into it during training. While I strive to provide accurate information, please cross-verify data from official sources.)
- The railway line between Bad Kleinen and Lübeck is part of the broader Northern German rail network and plays a role in regional connectivity. However, regarding recent and future developments—specifically electrification and expansion—there is currently no major project solely focused on upgrading the direct Bad Kleinen to Lübeck line in terms of electrification or double-tracking.
- The most significant railway project in the region is the transformation of the Vogelfluglinie corridor between Lübeck (specifically Bad Schwartau) and Fehmarn. This route is undergoing a complete reconstruction to become a double-track, electrified railway, largely on a new alignment alongside the A1 Autobahn. The existing Lübeck to Puttgarden line north of Neustadt (Holstein) has been closed since August 2022 and will reopen in 2029 as part of a new high-speed connection to Copenhagen via the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link tunnel. Once complete, the new Fehmarnbelt route will support international high-speed services and integrate with long-distance rail networks. However, the direct link between Lübeck and Bad Kleinen is not the focus of these upgrades. Instead, improvements to the broader northern network—such as the proposed direct Lübeck-Schwerin services—aim to alleviate congestion and improve travel times, but these are not specifically described as electrification or expansion projects for the Bad Kleinen–Lübeck line.
- The ongoing electrification and modernization of the Bad Kleinen - Lübeck Railway Line aligns with the industry's pursuit of efficient and climate-friendly transportation, integrating it further into the European freight transport system.
- Financial institutions and the transportation sector can benefit from the improved rail capacity along the extended Northern German rail network, particularly with the construction of the Fehmarn Belt Crossing, which will create more demand-oriented transport connections in Northwest Mecklenburg and Schwerin.
