Situated in the heart of Europe, the Upper Rhine is a strategic crossing point for many railway lines, particularly those used by high-speed trains.
Rail transport plays a vital role across the Upper Rhine region. Across borders, transport stakeholders in France, Germany and Switzerland are working to strengthen this momentum by driving forward projects that will shape the region’s future.
In this article, discover five major cross-border rail projects designed to strengthen connections between France, Germany and Switzerland.
These five projects have been identified as priorities, not least because they are included in the Alsace Cross-Border Cooperation Plan (SACT). They address the transport needs expressed by local residents and help to strengthen links between the main urban centres and strategic infrastructure in the three countries.
The reactivation of the (Saarbrücken)-Haguenau-Rastatt-(Karlsruhe) railway line is the central theme of the MobiPAMINA feasibility study, presented in April 2022. This ‘missing link’ between Haguenau and Rastatt is a key issue in the current context of mobility projects in the region.
This project aims to improve connections between Strasbourg, Haguenau, Karlsruhe and Saarbrücken, in order to boost passenger travel, support economic development and facilitate freight transport.
The development of the Strasbourg-Appenweier junction will complement this project by facilitating the development of Franco-German high-speed rail links, whilst improving the flow of regional traffic and cross-border freight.
This project aims to strengthen the rail link between Strasbourg and the major German cities on the Upper Rhine by modernising the Appenweier curve and improving its connection to the German network.
The reopening of the Colmar–Freiburg rail link will strengthen connections between Alsace and Baden-Württemberg, making cross-border travel easier and supporting the development of the Rhine region.
The reopening and modernisation of the Mulhouse–Müllheim line will help to boost cross-border travel between Alsace and Baden-Württemberg, improve access to high-speed rail networks and promote more sustainable travel.
This project aims to connect EuroAirport directly to the regional rail network in order to make it easier for passengers to travel, reduce road traffic and boost the appeal of the cross-border region.