ICE Railway Line Augsburg-Ulm is poised for approval

The project for the new ICE (InterCity Express) route between Augsburg and Ulm is set to be presented to the German parliament, the Bundestag, in the autumn of 2025. This long-awaited modernization project, which has been planned for decades, is part of a larger initiative to renovate important railway lines in Germany, with a completion date scheduled for 2036.

The planned route largely follows the course of the A8 motorway, and several different options were examined during the initial stages. The existing railway line between Augsburg and Ulm, approximately 85 kilometers long and around 170 years old, is one of the most heavily traveled in southern Germany.

The new ICE route is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities, with the estimated journey time decreasing from over 40 minutes to just 26 minutes. The cost estimate for this ambitious project is approximately 5.5 billion euros, although this figure does not include inflation or exact types of construction work.

The detailed planning process for the new construction began in 2019, and DB (Deutsche Bahn) is also planning to modernize the existing route, which remains crucial for regional traffic. However, it's important to note that the Augsburg-Ulm section is not yet included in the renovations planned up to 2027.

The planning and approval processes are expected to account for two-thirds of the total project duration in large rail projects. The exact scheduling for more than two dozen corridors throughout Germany is still pending. The next steps after parliamentary handling will be design planning and planning approval procedures.

The exact expected start time for the new ICE line construction between Augsburg and Ulm, once planning and approval procedures are completed, depends on the parliamentary decision. This decision was delayed by the early 2025 elections, causing a half- to one-year delay compared to original plans. Project leaders remain optimistic about a quick parliamentary approval after the summer of 2025.

Adjustments in the upcoming planning could affect the final cost of the project. Only with subsequent detailed planning will the construction work organization and timeline become more concrete. The route is part of the connection between Munich and Stuttgart and the European main line from Paris via Vienna to Budapest.

As the project moves forward, stakeholders will eagerly await the parliamentary decision and the subsequent steps towards the modernization of this vital railway line.