Germany breaks ground on €6B freight rail line to ease Rhine Valley congestion

Construction has officially started on a major new freight rail line between Riegel and March. The project, part of a broader Europe-wide transport corridor, aims to ease congestion on the busy Rhine Valley Railway. Local authorities have welcomed the development, calling it a long-awaited step toward reducing noise and improving rail services.

The first phase of the project will build an 11-kilometre stretch of track running parallel to the A5 motorway. This section is expected to take around six years to complete. Once finished, the entire freight line between Offenburg and Müllheim will span over 90 kilometres.

The new route is designed to divert around 50,000 freight trains annually away from Freiburg and the Rhine Valley Railway. This shift will free up space for more passenger services on the existing line. Authorities predict the change will also cut noise pollution in nearby towns and boost rail reliability. The total cost of the project is six billion euros, with 5.2 billion euros coming from federal subsidies. Local officials, including the Emmendingen district administration, have praised the start of work, saying it will bring real relief to communities. They are also pushing for the line to be extended all the way to Offenburg, linking it to the planned Offenburg tunnel.

The new freight rail line forms part of the key Rotterdam-Genoa corridor. By moving goods traffic onto this dedicated route, passenger trains will face fewer delays, and residents along the Rhine Valley Railway will experience less disruption. The project marks a major investment in Germany’s rail infrastructure, with long-term benefits for both freight and commuter travel.