Significantly fewer freight trains are operating on several newly built German railway routes than originally expected. This emerges from a response by the German Federal Government, which the Bundestag reported on October 22. The actual operations refer to 2025.
Between Erfurt and Halle or Leipzig, respectively, 449 freight trains were counted for the entire year. The earlier forecast had been 131 per day. Between Ebensfeld and Erfurt, there were 651 journeys annually compared to the previously expected 168 daily. On the Wendlingen–Ulm route as well, freight traffic fell significantly short of planning.
These figures are not evidence that these routes are generally underutilized. They relate specifically to freight traffic. For Nuremberg–Ingolstadt, the government also cites a tunnel meeting prohibition applicable in 2025 as a restriction.
For freight operators, the comparison above all demonstrates this: a new route alone does not guarantee a viable freight connection. What is decisive is the actually usable travel time, suitable train slots, and conditions for dedicated train operations. Anyone wanting to shift a transport chain to rail should therefore obtain a concrete operational concept. This includes advance planning to the terminal, the last mile, and a contingency plan for construction sites or alternative routes. Dispatch planning requires a reliable timetable for its operations.