Pure nostalgia: Historical railway takes a journey in Neubrandenburg!

Pure nostalgia: Historical railway takes a journey in Neubrandenburg!

On July 12, 2025, a very special trip was offered in northeastern Germany. The Pro Bahn passenger association invited to the nostalgic special trip from Neubrandenburg to Friedland, which immediately met with great interest. The journey with a historical "piglet taxi" led over the disused railway line and offered not only a trip into the past, but also a look into the possible future of regional mobility.

The 90-minute journey started at the Neubrandenburg Central Station and led through charming former industrial areas, the Ihlenfeld and the tranquil region of Staven. The route, which is to experience planned improvements with top speeds of up to 70 km/h by 2026, is part of the mobility offensive in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The aim of these initiatives is to revive the rail infrastructure and in particular reactivate passenger traffic on the former freight route, which has not been available since 1994.

insights and experiences during the trip

The participants of the special trip had the opportunity to understand the historical importance of the route. During the journey, not only information on the history of the railway line was imparted, but also discussions about future offers in rail passenger traffic were initiated. The stay in Friedland, which comprised about 1.5 hours, offered space for exploring the sights in the city center, whereby the organizers provided numerous tips on the special train flyer.

With driving prices of 17 euros for adults and 10 euros for children up to 14 years, the trip was also an entertaining and affordable experience. The demand was so great that the special train was already fully booked and no further registrations were possible. This enthusiasm for the historical train journey is a sign of the grown interest in the rail - not least because the federal government plans to significantly increase the number of passengers by 2030.

A look into the future - reactivation of the railway lines

A central aspect of this event was public relations to reactivate the Neubrandenburg - Friedland - Friedland. According to the Allianz Pro Schiene, the reactivation of former railway lines in Germany is essential to improve mobility and strengthen the connection of places. The rail experiences a comeback in terms of passenger transport, but also the transport of goods, which is to reach a market share of at least 25 percent by 2030.

The positive feedback and forecasts for the number of passengers on the route, which is estimated on 534 people on working days, show that there is potential for permanent resuscitation. These efforts are supported by initiatives such as Pro Bahn and the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania transport company, which, among other things, promote the reactivation through feasibility studies.

The revival of the old rail systems and the nostalgic flair of trips as in the special trip to Friedland hope that the tradition of rail transport in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and beyond will soon be alive again. So it remains to be seen which upcoming projects will further shape the landscape in northeastern Germany.