HAMBY-SYLT railway line: Electrification brings new challenges

Status: 07/31/2024 7:20 p.m.

The planned expansion of the railway line between Hamburg and Sylt shows significant effects for car access connections. An upcoming study has presented solutions for the challenges through overhead lines.

by Fabian Boerger

challenges through the electrified route

From 2030, an important step towards environmentally friendly mobility is to take place: the railway line between Hamburg and Sylt is electrified. This means that the trains should in future be operated with electricity instead of diesel. However, the changeover brings challenges, especially for the car trains that regularly commute between Niebüll and Westerland.

What does the electrification mean for car train traffic?

A central problem are the overhead lines that limit the height of the vehicles transported there. This mainly affects larger vehicles that are transported on the car trains, such as trucks and sprinter. A current investigation has now dealt with the question of how these new circumstances will influence ongoing operation.

Results of the study on the future of car trains

The preliminary results of the investigation were presented by Transport Secretary Tobias von der Heide (CDU) and Jochen Schulz, the nearby Head of Head. The study shows that car trains and overhead lines can be combined, but it is necessary to install special protective roofs. These should ensure security measures and enable even higher vehicles to transport.

reduced capacity of the car trains

A possibly negative consequence of the electrification could be reducing the transport capacity of the car trains. According to the study results, it is expected that the capacity in the single -digit percentage range drops. This could affect the economy of the car train operators and must be discussed urgently.

safety aspects in focus

Security is a top priority for the operators. Markus Hunkel from RDC Germany underlined that all new measures have to be carefully checked in order not to endanger the safety and operation of the car trains. A detailed report on the results and effects is expected to be published in September.

public demands for infrastructure improvements

The quality of train traffic is essential for many commuters. Achim Bonnichsen from the commuter initiative sees the expansion of the route as important, but indicates the need for a second track on the Hindenburgdamm. According to him, signal and soft disorders are common problems that affect reliability.

environmentally friendly alternatives and slow modernization

The marching railway that connects the Sylt Peninsula with the mainland has experienced multiple changes in recent years due to modernization -related renovation backlog. These modernizations are necessary to ensure effective and environmentally friendly transport, which is associated with the electrification of the route. The aim is that the electrified trains are not only more environmentally friendly, but also more reliable.

Overall, the fact is that the switch to electrical drives can be a significant improvement in public transport in the region, even if challenges, especially with regard to the infrastructure and the capacity of the car trains, have to be managed.