Brandenburg's Woidke Unveils Cross-Border Rail Plans to Boost Germany-Poland Cooperation
Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke, who also serves as the Polish coordinator of the German federal government, recently announced significant developments in cross-border cooperation. The cultural train, connecting Germany and Poland, has sparked great interest, and its continuation until the end of 2020 aims to close an important economic gap.
The fourth Railway Summit, attended by high-ranking transport politicians from both countries, discussed the integration of infrastructure development around the Stettin metropolitan region. This includes traffic organization and connection to the planned Stettin S-Bahn, following the completion of electrification works on the Berlin-Stettin line. Both sides expect this integrated concept to boost development in Vorpommern and northern Brandenburg.
Woidke reported ongoing negotiations on the Structural Strengthening Act, which will support regions affected by the coal phase-out. This includes connecting the station of Görlitz to the Polish power grid. The state of Brandenburg has already committed to co-financing the electrification of the line Berlin-Kostrzyn-Gorzów with 30.2 million euros, while the district Märkisch-Oderland covered the municipal share of 2.2 million euros.
The summit also discussed the development of the Berlin-Kostrzyn-Gorzów ('Ostbahn') connection, with plans for a two-track electrified expansion supported by Poland. Woidke referred to the summit's significance in closing infrastructure gaps left by World War II, even 15 years after Poland's EU accession. The Polish railway plans to increase the number of daily pairs of trains on the Berlin-Posen-Warsaw line from four to seven by 2020.
Woidke invited everyone to the 5th Railway Summit in Germany in 2020, indicating the continued commitment to cross-border cooperation and infrastructure development. These initiatives are expected to strengthen ties between Germany and Poland, fostering economic growth and improving connectivity.
