📋 Tender Overview
Green light for the long-distance railway tunnel in Frankfurt The metropolis on the Main is getting the long-awaited railway tunnel. Most long-distance trains will in future travel to the main station 35 meters underground and stop at the new main station. As a through connection the tunnel relieves the currently heavily trafficked overground tracks. This means that passengers in the Frankfurt transport hub can travel more reliably and faster. At the same time significantly more trains can head for the main station. Local transport in the Rhine-Main region also benefits from the greater range. After a study confirmed the feasibility of the tunnel Deutsche Bahn DB is now starting concrete planning. The subsequent construction period is around ten years.DB Infrastructure Board Member Ronald Pofalla The main line tunnel is another important element for the Germany cycle which will connect the metropolises of our country every 30 minutes. Thanks to the new tunnel with two underground tracks and four platforms we are increasing the capacity at the Frankfurt hub from 1250 to 1500 trains per day - thats an increase of 20 percent. We are thus strengthening the track for the urgently needed mobility and climate change in the trade fair city of Frankfurt and our country.Enak Ferlemann Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Minister for Transport and Digital InfrastructureToday is a high point in the European Year of the Rails. We now know The new mainline tunnel under Frankfurt is technically and economically feasible as the central core of our Germany cycle. Therefore we immediately start planning this project for more capacity in one of the largest rail hubs in Germany. In this way we are freeing the network from chronic bottlenecks and increasing the attractiveness of the railways Faster long-distance transport more space for local transport and greater punctuality for everyone. The European dimension of this project is clear whether from Berlin to Barcelona or from Prague to Paris - many TEE 2.0 trains will run through the mainline tunnel. This will make Frankfurt a pulsating hub in the Europatakt.Tarek Al-Wazir Hessian Minister for Economic Affairs Energy Transport and HousingThe Frankfurt mainline tunnel would be a huge step forward for the Frankfurt rail hub in the middle of Germany. We urgently need it in order not only to maintain mobility in the Frankfurt-Rhein-Main region for citizens for logistics trade fair industry and tourism but also to significantly improve it. With the long-distance railway tunnel the range of long-distance and local transport can be expanded This strengthens the railways and protects the climate. In addition the long-distance railway tunnel will shorten travel times and the Frankfurt main station will be strengthened as a central access and transfer station within Germany and Europe. In short the mainline railway tunnel is a great success for intelligent and environmentally friendly control and processing of rail traffic. Peter Feldmann Lord Mayor of the City of Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt and the entire region are setting the course today for the future. We Frankfurters are proud of our long tradition as an international trade fair and trade center. The central location and easy accessibility have always been key success factors for us. By opting for the mainline tunnel we are expanding our transport hub - with more trains fewer delays fewer cars fewer traffic jams better air. I am pleased with the result of the feasibility study Prof. Knut Ringat Managing Director Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund GmbH The long-distance railway tunnel opens up a phenomenal perspective for local transport in the region. It strengthens our central transfer point in the RMV network and creates space for new journeys from the surrounding area which we urgently need today. It is the piece of the puzzle that connects the many expansion projects in the region and is therefore crucial for a successful turnaround in mobility in terms of climate protection. I am delighted that the feasibility study has come to a positive result and now I hope that planning and implementation will be carried out quickly for the entire region. Key points of the feasibility studyThe feasibility study commissioned by the federal government in 2019 is based on a double-track tunnel construction that runs from the east or west towards Frankfurt Central Station and connects there with four underground tracks to a new underground station. The results of the investigation show that the Frankfurt long-distance railway tunnel and the underground through station are technically feasible. The specified cost framework of around 3.6 billion euros is currently feasible.For the possible route of the long-distance tunnel DB examined a northern central and southern corridor between the main station and the east of Frankfurt. The middle corridor runs under the high-rise buildings. Their foundations which are up to 50 meters deep make a tunnel technically difficult. The northern corridor also encounters numerous structural obstacles.The south corridor emerged from the investigation as the best variant. It leads underground past the Frankfurt skyscrapers to the main train station. Another advantage of the variant the future tunnel can be connected twice to existing railway lines. The trains can then use the north and south Main routes. This link creates optimal capacity for all trains in the direction of Hanau. In a westerly direction the tunnel will be connected to the new third Niederrder bridge. In the feasibility study DB also examined various options for the construction and design of the new underground station. This is being built under the southern part of the main train station.
