Frankfurt Mainline Rail Tunnel: Feasibility Study

In September 2019, the German Federal Ministry of Transport and German Railways (DB) commissioned an in-depth feasibility study for a long-distance tunnel beneath Frankfurt am Main Central Station. The study is financed by the federal government and carried out by DB Netz AG and is intended to examine the technical feasibility of a long-distance railway tunnel including a new underground station. The planners‘ initial cost estimate of 3.5 billion euros is also being reviewed. The results of the study, scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2020, should be available in spring 2021.

The concept developed in the current Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan is based on a double-track tunnel construction, which runs from the east and west towards Frankfurt Central Station, forming a four-track underground through station with two platforms below the south side of the existing station. In this way, long-distance trains passing through Frankfurt could gain seven to eight minutes of travel time. Local traffic would also benefit from the freed-up tracks in the terminus station.

G. B./M. K.