Bavaria's Minister of Transport, Christian Bernreiter, hands over the funding decision for the Zugspitzbahn
2.3 million euros for the renewal of tracks and overhead lines
- Largest project of the special funding program for non-federal railways in Oberbayern
- The first phase of construction between the Zugspitzbahn station Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Kreuzeck-/Alpspitzbahn station has already started
- The measure also benefits Deutschlandticket users
The cogwheel train to Zugspitze will be modernized with the support of the state of Bavaria by the end of the year. In order to be able to continue to provide an attractive offer, the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG is investing a total of 2.9 million euros in the renewal of its track and overhead line systems. As part of a Bavarian special funding program for the renewal of infrastructure outside of Deutsche Bahn, the state of Bavaria is contributing a total of 2.3 million euros to the project. Yesterday evening in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria's Minister of Transport, Christian Bernreiter, handed over a corresponding funding decision to the CEO of the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG, Matthias Stauch.
"The railway line of the Zugspitzbahn is unique in Bavaria and is, in addition to tourism, in the valley area also important for local transport in the Werdenfelser Land. With the planned renewal of the track and overhead line infrastructure, the Zugspitzbahn is investing in the future and thus ensures an attractive and safe transport offer for the citizens in the long term. The state of Bavaria is therefore happy to support the project with a total of 2.3 million euros. The project is the financially largest project in Oberbayern from our current special funding program."
The route of the more than 90-year-old cogwheel train will be extensively renovated in the coming months by the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn. The focus is on the valley section between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Grainau, on which the Free State orders the trains as a local transport service and which can therefore also be used with the new Deutschlandticket. The first construction phase is located between the Zugspitzbahn station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Kreuzeck-/Alpspitzbahn stop. After more than 40 years, among other things, the wooden sleepers are replaced by concrete sleepers, the rails are renewed and the so-called substructure is also rebuilt. In the area of the Riessersee pedestrian crossing up to the Katzenstein tunnel, the carrying cable of the overhead line will also be completely replaced. Original parts from the construction of the cogwheel train from 1929 are still in use here.
During the construction work, the section between the Zugspitzbahn station Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Kreuzeck/Alpspitzbahn stop will be completely closed from May 2nd to 19th, 2023. During this time, the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn offers a rail replacement service with buses. The construction work will continue after the summer season in November 2023.
The funding from the state of Bavaria comes from a 35 million Euro pot limited until the end of 2023, which was created in 2022 as part of the Corona investment package for investive infrastructure modernization of non-federal railways in Bavaria.
