Infrastructure for the Future: The Siemens Railway Is Set to Resume Service in 2029

Text: Annette Kusche| Political Communications and Committees Advisor

Together with the VBKI Mobility Committee, we were able to visit the site in mid-April to get a firsthand look at the current status and future prospects of this exciting infrastructure project. The line was built by Siemens between 1927 and 1929, handed over to the Deutsche Reichsbahn, and operated until its last scheduled run on September 18, 1980. It remains a dedicated railway line to this day. The project gained new momentum in the fall of 2018 with the development of the Siemens Innovation Campus in Siemensstadt.

During a tour of the historic route with its old rail tracks between Wernerwerk and Siemensstadt, it became clear just how much potential the line holds, as it is set to once again play an important role in mobility in the capital region. The planned date for service to begin is 2029, and the infrastructure is already in good condition. We were accompanied by experts:Alexander Kaczmarek, Deutsche Bahn’s corporate representative for Berlin, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, as well asHolger AuferkampandJens Brückner(DB AG)

In the presentation that followed, Alexander Kaczmarek explained thei2030 infrastructure program, through which Berlin and Brandenburg, together with Deutsche Bahn and the VBB, are driving forward the expansion of the rail infrastructure. The goal is to create an efficient, future-proof network for the growing metropolitan region.

Special thanks also go toSandra Spieker, assistant to the Group RepresentativeFrank Wernecke, a member of the VBKI, for coordinating the concluding discussion atthe Werner-von-Siemens Center for Industry and Science (WVSC), and to team leaderMadlen Dietrichfor the warm welcome on site, as well as toDominique EichlerandAchim Gasper, co-chairs of the VBKI Mobility Committee.

The site visit has once again demonstrated that an efficient infrastructure is crucial for quality of life, economic development, and social inclusion. Projects such as the Siemensbahn make an important contribution to sustainably securing and expanding mobility in the greater Berlin area. To learn more about the work of the VBKI committees, please contact Annette Kusche.