GDR prestige train SVT Görlitz: restart in September 2025!

GDR prestige train SVT Görlitz: restart in September 2025!

The famous GDR express train SVT Görlitz is about to be put back into operation after extensive restoration work. After years of intensive effort, the first trips for the public could take place as early as next September PZ News reported. The historic train, which once connected Berlin with the cities of Prague and Vienna, will in future offer 40 to 50 trips per year and can also be chartered for private events.

The return of the SVT Görlitz is made possible by passionate rail enthusiasts. They collected funding and donations to carry out the restoration and contributed their own hours of work. At a recent open day in Halberstadt, queues were long and many visitors, who had traveled from various regions of Germany, admired the train's lovingly refurbished interior.

Ceremonial return to service

Around 200 guests were received at a festive ceremony, including members of the support association and numerous supporters of the project. So far, around seven million euros have been invested in the “A Train for Central Germany” project. Mario Lieb, the boss of SVT Görlitz gGmbH, expressed his hopes for commissioning in the fourth quarter of this year after significant delays that dragged on for two years, reported MDR.

The upcoming trips offer guests special tourist tours in the nostalgic charm of the SVT Görlitz. The first trips will initially take place in Germany, with the prospect of later also adding international routes to Vienna and Copenhagen. Technical work is already showing progress, as the A power car of the train can now drive under its own power, while the B power car is still being worked on. The current task is to install new compressed air hoses for the brake system and to install window panes in the wagons.

A piece of history

The SVT Görlitz, a flagship of the Deutsche Reichsbahn, was manufactured in the 1960s and is one of the few remaining exhibits of its kind, of which only three examples are still partially preserved. At that time, the express railcar was approved for speeds of up to 160 km/h, while a speed limit of 120 km/h applied on the Reichsbahn routes. Lessons from the history of the Deutsche Reichsbahn, which operated in the Soviet occupation zone, and its challenges in restoring infrastructure, show how valuable such historic trains are to identity and culture.

The SWDT with its special features is not only a technical heritage, but also a piece of German history that shines in new splendor thanks to the commitment of volunteers and supporters. Wikipedia illuminates the difficult history of the Deutsche Reichsbahn and shows how the train played an important role in international transport at the time.

The return of the SVT Görlitz will undoubtedly delight not only railway fans, but also those who would like to take a look at the past. With its unique flair, it could make many a trip an unforgettable experience.