Railway upgrade for the Prignitz: 80 km/h planned - what's behind it?

Railway upgrade for the Prignitz: 80 km/h planned - what's behind it?

On August 13, 2025, an important report on the expansion of railway lines in the region was presented in a joint press release from Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The focus is on the connections between Neustadt (Dosse), Kyritz, Pritzwalk and Güstrow as well as between Parchim, Malchow and Waren/Müritz. The aim of the report was to improve the attractiveness and reactivation of these railway lines. How Strelitzius reported, the study showed a positive benefit-cost ratio of over 1.0, with two variants for expanding the routes being analyzed.

A more cost-effective alternative involves expanding to 80 km/h, which, according to the experts, is particularly advantageous with an NKV of 1.46. The additional expansion standard to 160 km/h would achieve a higher NKV of 1.15, but would be associated with higher costs. The Transport Minister of Brandenburg, Detlef Tabbert, emphasized the great importance of this rail connection for the region and announced that the next steps to implement the 80 km/h variant would be examined. It is particularly important to clarify the financing of the planning services. The Ministry of Infrastructure and State Planning (MIL) has already signaled in this context that an increase in funding for local rail passenger transport is necessary to ensure the long-term financial security of operations.

Research and future prospects

The report was prepared on behalf of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania transport company and the Berlin Brandenburg transport association. It not only includes a potential analysis, but also a future concept for passenger and freight transport as well as a cost calculation for upgrading the railway lines. A great opportunity arises if the federal government covers up to 75 percent of the construction costs. Transport Minister Dr. Wolfgang Blank from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania emphasized the need for nationwide support for financing. This is a key challenge, as the two countries must work to increase and dynamize regionalization funds.

A parallel project by the MIL and the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association will start in the first quarter of 2025 and is dedicated to feasibility studies for the reactivation of additional railway lines and stations in Brandenburg. In this context, the Wustermark – Ketzin and Rathenow – Rathenow Nord connections as well as the Heidefeld train station will be analyzed. The goals include checking the current status of the routes as well as developing a sustainable offer concept and creating a cost estimate. Several ongoing studies are also examining the feasibility of new routes. Positive results could lead to further benefit-cost studies to demonstrate the economic benefits of reactivation.

Current status and outlook

The rail line between Pritzwalk and Neustadt (Dosse) has already been expanded to 80 km/h to ensure material transport. This measure shows that there is already progress in the region and that there is a good knack for implementing future projects. The coming months could be crucial in setting the course for a more modern, attractive rail landscape that not only benefits the economy but also commuters.

The future of rail connections in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has great potential. With current developments and the necessary support, rail could soon prove to be one of the best ways to get from A to B in the region.