Brandenburg Minister Pushes Berlin‑Poland Ostbahn Expansion Amid Federal Delay

Brandenburg Minister Dietmar Woidke is urging a faster expansion of the Ostbahn rail line that runs from Berlin to the Polish border. He argues the connection is vital for both local residents and the regional economy, and accuses the German federal government of giving lower priority to projects in eastern Brandenburg. The line, currently partly single‑track and non‑electrified, is listed as a “potential need” in the Federal Transport Plan and lacks funding for a rapid upgrade.

The German transport ministry says there is no clear economic justification for expanding the line for additional long‑distance passenger or freight traffic, and therefore sees no urgent need for investment. Poland, however, and regional authorities in Brandenburg, Berlin and the Lubusz Voivodeship have called for a modern, double‑track, electrified line capable of 160 km/h speeds and accommodating 740‑metre freight trains, viewing it as a crucial alternative to the heavily used Berlin‑Frankfurt‑Oder‑Rzepin‑Poznań corridor. The disagreement leaves the Ostbahn project in a stalemate, with no immediate federal financing confirmed.