Mode of transport - Rail
The rail infrastructure reflects its logistical importance
The rail network of Deutsche Bahn AG comprises roughly 3800 km in Baden-Württemberg; there are also approx. 900 km of railway which is not owned by the Federal Government. The main axes of the rail goods transport network consist of a total of 1206 kilometers of railway.
Rhine Valley route Mannheim-Basle
Container stacker loads a goods train at port
In terms of international rail transport, the Rhine Valley route between Mannheim and Basle is an important corridor for passenger transport and, in particular, also for goods transport. This route provides excellent links between Baden-Württemberg, the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam (ARA ports) and the Mediterranean area. In this context, the Rhine Valley route must also be able to fulfill its role as a feeder route for the NEAT (New Transalpine Rail Link) through Switzerland.
High-speed route Mannheim–Stuttgart
The existing high-speed route between Mannheim and Stuttgart is designed for a mixture of passenger and goods transport and provides an excellent connection between the two largest cities in Baden-Württemberg. There is a direct transport connection to the Kornwestheim marshalling yard and rail loading station via Bietigheim-Bissingen and Ludwigsburg. There are other marshalling yards in Baden-Württemberg in Mannheim and Offenburg. In addition, there are satellite stations with marshalling equipment (mainly locomotives) in Karlsruhe, Basle and Stuttgart-Untertürkheim.
Integration in European arterial route Paris-Budapest
Baden-Württemberg will be integrated into the Paris-Budapest arterial route, linking cities and agglomerations of extremely high economic and cultural importance, as part of the Stuttgart 21 project which includes a new rail route between Stuttgart and Ulm.
The dead-end station at Stuttgart will be converted into a through station and connected to the regional and national rail network by a ring system. In future, rail traffic heading towards the south-east will use a new high-performance track which mainly runs parallel to the A8 motorway and permits maximum speeds of up to 250 km/h. The range of rail transport options will be expanded significantly and traveling times will be shortened. With the lowering of Stuttgart main train station, the new station at the airport and the new station at the Neue Messe exhibition center, the rail, road and air transport networks of Baden-Württemberg will be linked together in a unique way, which creates synergy effects and stands as a symbol of the modern economy of Baden-Württemberg.
Südbahn and Gäubahn rail routes
The Südbahn connects Ulm in the region of Upper Swabia to the Stuttgart-Munich ICE route and the Gäubahn connects the western parts of the state to Switzerland and northern Italy.
Logistics trains
As traffic flow increases on the motorways and main roads throughout Europe, the railway network will become even more important in the future. The increasing usage of logistics trains on the railway network (e.g. for automotive parts by Opel, retail goods by Karstadt) indicates this tendency.
Combined transport
Container freight transfer from truck to rail
With combined transport, the respective advantages of the road and railway networks are united. Road transport is used for collecting and distributing goods at the source and at the destination. The goods are then bundled together and transported by rail for the majority of the distance, thus relieving the pressure on the roads e.g. on Alpine routes.
Benefits of Trans-European rail networks
Europe remains the largest single market in the world. Trans-European rail networks make a considerable contribution to improving the economic and social cohesion of the community and strengthen the economic future of Baden-Württemberg by bringing in additional jobs and investment throughout the entire state.