ICE railway route from Augsburg to Ulm poised for approval
The ICE line connecting Augsburg and Ulm, a 85-kilometer stretch that has been in operation for around 170 years, is set for an upgrade. However, the current railway connection is not yet included in the planned renovations, which are only scheduled to be completed up to 2027.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has initiated the detailed planning process for the new construction project of the ICE line in 2019. The expansion of this route, one of the most heavily traveled in southern Germany, is estimated to cost billions of euros, with the current estimate sitting at around 5.5 billion euros. However, this figure does not account for inflation or exact types of construction.
The project aims to shorten the travel time between Augsburg and Ulm from over 40 minutes to 26 minutes. To achieve this, DB also plans to modernize the existing line for regional traffic. The new ICE line will largely follow the course of the A8 motorway.
The parliamentary handling for the project is scheduled for autumn 2025, according to a DB spokesperson. After parliamentary approval by the Bundestag, the financing and exact scheduling for the construction will be managed by Deutsche Bahn in cooperation with the federal government.
The design planning and approval procedures are the next steps for the project. Once these steps are completed, a more accurate construction time prognosis will be possible. It is worth noting that the planning and approval processes account for two-thirds of the total project duration.
Several route options for the new ICE line were examined, and the planned route is part of the connection between Munich and Stuttgart, and part of the European main line from Paris via Vienna to Budapest. The general renovation of important railway lines in Germany is to be completed by 2036, with the expansion of the ICE line between Augsburg and Ulm being a significant part of this endeavour.
In addition to the ICE line, DB also plans to modernize the existing line for regional traffic, making travel between these two cities more efficient and comfortable for passengers. The ICE line between Augsburg and Ulm, planned for years, is set to go to the Bundestag for approval in the next few months.
