Thuringia and the Central Germany Link

The term "Mitte-Deutschland-Verbindung" (MDV) originated in 1992/93 with the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan and refers to the 436 km long connection defined as an expansion route from Paderborn to Bebra, Erfurt, Weimar, Jena, Glauchau, and Chemnitz. It runs from west to east and connects the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Thuringia, and Saxony. It was once considered one of the most important rail projects aimed at equalizing living conditions in reunified Germany.

The book focuses on the historical and transport policy history of the 219 km long main section of the MDV located in Thuringia, as well as the adjoining section in Saxony between (Bebra-) Erfurt, Gera, and Glauchau (-Chemnitz). A particular emphasis is placed on the section between Weimar, Gera, and Gössnitz. In addition to a historical overview, the author traces the decades-long transport policy failures of both politics and the railway and describes the causes of the ultimate failure of the original project, which reached its first negative peak with the cessation of long-distance services in East Thuringia in June 2001. Furthermore, for over three decades, there has been debate in Thuringia regarding the recently approved electrification and the numerous still single-track sections of the topographically challenging routes.

The book uniquely combines a sophisticated presentation for railway enthusiasts with historical reflections, mostly colorful illustrations from various eras, and the contradictions and inconsistencies of recent German railway history. Detailed captions evoke long-forgotten facts and allow the reader to form a judgment about the disgraceful political failures of German transport policy. The author has been dealing with the topic for decades and presents a condensed status report with this title. Here, railway history meets transport policy.