Following four years of major infrastructure work, DB InfraGO has completed and opened the upgraded section between Altendorf and Strullendorf, a significant milestone in the wider development of the Nuremberg – Bamberg rail line. This section now features four tracks, a crucial enhancement that will help manage increasing rail traffic on one of Bavaria’s busiest railway corridors.
The project, stretching over 52 km, forms part of the German Unity Transport Project No. 8 and has received substantial backing, with a total investment of around EUR 2 billion provided by the Federal Government, the Free State of Bavaria, local municipalities, and Deutsche Bahn. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder highlighted the national importance of the project, noting that EUR 1.44 billion in federal funds have been used to create infrastructure that not only benefits the immediate region but supports rail connectivity across Germany. He described the development as more than a technical upgrade, positioning it as a key element in creating a stronger and more reliable railway network.
Between 2021 and 2025, DB InfraGO has delivered a broad package of improvements in the Altendorf–Strullendorf section. This includes 40 km of newly built tracks, 45 km of overhead lines, and the installation of modern noise barriers. Platforms at Hirschaid and Strullendorf have already been made fully accessible, with Buttenheim due to follow later in the year.
According to DB InfraGO’s CEO, Philipp Nagl, the completion of the final stretch brings significant benefits to both regional and long-distance travel. The separation of slower and faster services across four tracks allows for smoother, more punctual operations, offering greater reliability for all passengers.
Delivering better connectivity across Southern Germany
Since late 2023, passengers have already experienced these improvements. The Franken-Thuringia Express now runs every 30 minutes between Nuremberg and Bamberg throughout the day. From mid-2024, Germany’s fastest interregional train service has been operating on the same line, connecting Nuremberg and Erfurt at speeds of up to 190 km/h, completing the journey in under two hours. S-Bahn passengers have also benefited from enhanced services, including the opening of Forchheim Nord station and the addition of several new connections between Forchheim and Erlangen since 2023.
The Nuremberg – Bamberg rail line plays a central role in the high-speed corridor linking Munich and Berlin. With an average of 350 trains passing through daily, it is one of the most heavily used rail sections in the country. Long-distance ICE traffic has expanded significantly, with 31 daily services now running in both directions between Nuremberg and Erfurt.
Around half of these are Sprinter trains, offering faster connections. Bamberg alone now sees 30 ICE services stopping each day, linking it directly with major cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. Since the launch of the upgraded high-speed line between Berlin and Munich, ICE passenger numbers have risen more than threefold, and the rail service now claims around 70 percent of the market share on that route.
Future-focused development is set to continue, with several key projects already underway or in the planning phase. These include a major freight train tunnel beneath Fürth, the extension of the S-Bahn between Fürth and Eltersdorf, and a comprehensive upgrade of the Bamberg rail junction.
This junction is a pivotal section in a broader 500-km network stretching from Nuremberg to Berlin via Erfurt and Leipzig, which represents Germany’s most ambitious rail modernisation effort in decades. For Bamberg itself, this is likely the most significant infrastructure development in the city’s history, involving 61 km of rail tracks, 2 km of port tracks, 72 km of overhead lines, and the construction of the new Bamberg-Süd station, which will link the area to the S-Bahn network.
A key element of the expansion is the construction of a new 15-kilometre double-track freight line between Nuremberg and Eltersdorf. This route is designed to ease congestion around Fürth and includes a 7.5-km tunnel specifically for freight services. The tunnel will feature 25 km of track, 28 km of overhead lines, and seven emergency exits, allowing freight traffic to be routed underground and separated from faster passenger services.
The upgrade of the Nuremberg – Bamberg rail line is fully integrated into the national Deutschlandtakt initiative, which aims to deliver a coordinated, efficient, and high-frequency rail timetable across Germany. This project not only improves current operations but sets a foundation for future mobility, linking regional, national, and international routes through a more capable and sustainable rail network.
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