Infrastructure - Construction of the second railway bridge in Emden technically possible
A second railway swing bridge over the Emden Inner Harbour is technically feasible according to a new feasibility study conducted by Deutsche Bahn, as announced by the Industry and Commerce Chamber (IHK) for East Frisia and Papenburg. The study was presented in the harbour committee on Wednesday. A two-track expansion of the line between Emden's main and marshalling yards, along with the construction of a second swing bridge, is theoretically possible.
However, a new signalling station from 1979 would also need to be built according to the study. The total costs would amount to "significantly over 100 million Euro," according to a statement. The Federal Government commissioned the feasibility study at DB Netz AG on behalf of the State of Lower Saxony, the City of Emden, and the IHK.
Lower Saxony's Transport Minister Olaf Lies, who attended the IHK meeting along with representatives from business, politics, and the Emden city administration, considers a second railway bridge necessary. "For a productive economy, there needs to be productive infrastructure. That's why I support both projects," said the SPD politician in a statement.
The existing 70-year-old railway bridge has been causing disruptions for years, and both politics and business are pushing for its replacement. The bridge allows train passengers to reach several Ostfriesian islands, as well as being important for car transport in the harbour and the logistics of the VW plant.
However, Detlef Barner, Head of Asset and Maintenance Management Network Bremen at the railway infrastructure subsidiary DB InfraGO, reported that the functionality of the existing swing bridge is still intact. "Since the start of the repair work, the number of disruptions has noticeably decreased and further measures are still being taken," he said.
- The feasibility study conducted by German Railways (DB) suggests that building a second railway swing bridge in Papenburg, as proposed by Lower Saxony's Transport Minister Olaf Lies, is technically feasible.
- The construction of this new bridge would require the construction of a new signalling station, as outlined in the feasibility study presented by the IHK for East Frisia and Papenburg.
- The total costs of this project, including the two-track expansion and the construction of the second swing bridge, will significantly exceed 100 million Euro, according to a statement from the Federal Government.
- The existing 70-year-old railway bridge in Emden has been causing disruptions for several years, prompting demands from both politics and business for its replacement.
- This railway bridge is essential for train passengers to reach various Ostfriesian islands and for car transport in the harbour, as well as being crucial for the logistics of the VW plant.
- Despite the need for replacement, Detlef Barner from DB InfraGO reported that the functionality of the existing swing bridge has improved notably since repair work began, and additional measures are still being implemented.
