On March 31, 2026, the ABS 38 InfoCenter in Mühldorf became the venue for a crucial dialogue. Together with DB InfraGO, the VCD Bavaria Regional Association, the “Main Line for Europe” initiative, and the Südostbayernbahn (SOB) Customer Advisory Board, a clear message was sent: In front of numerous members of the German Bundestag, the Bavarian State Parliament, and district administrators, it was made clear that Southeast Bavaria’s European rail connection must no longer be allowed to fail due to bureaucratic financial hurdles.
At the high-profile event, there was consensus that the ABS 38 is the heart of the European rail axis Paris – Strasbourg – Munich – Vienna – Budapest. Annika Hummel (Managing Director of Main Line for Europe), Dr. Bronnert (Head of Logistics at Wacker Chemie & Board Member of Main Line for Europe), Dr. Christian Loos (Chair of VCD Bavaria), and Wilhelm Mack (Chair of the SOB Customer Advisory Board) emphasized the strategic significance in their remarks: The project is not a local initiative, but one of the most important lifelines for cross-border transport in Europe.
Closing strategic gaps instead of halting funding
Despite impressive progress under the leadership of overall project manager Alexander Pawlik (DB InfraGO)—13 of 16 planning approval sections are already in the process—the pending technical approval from the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) is causing critical delays. During the discussion, a unified stance emerged among the initiators regarding the following points:
- 115 million euros for the project ramp-up: The application for technical approval for planning sections 1 and 4 has been with the BMF since February. Commitment authorization is now required to secure the start of construction in 2028 and to actively advance the electrification toward Simbach.
- Meeting the deadline by June 30, 2026: The Federal Railway Authority expects the project to be ready for construction by the end of the second quarter. Policymakers must act now so that the planning phase can immediately transition into implementation.
- Economic Focus: Rail is vital for the Bavarian Chemical Triangle. Dr. Bronnert explained on behalf of Wacker Chemie AG that the company is currently forced, under high cost pressure, to expand its own logistics capacities to compensate for infrastructure deficits. This is increasingly undermining the site’s position in internal group competition.
- Passenger Perspective & Climate: The VCD Bavaria and the SOB Customer Advisory Board made it clear that ABS 38 finally means a modern connection for the people of Southeast Bavaria and the urgently needed capacity expansion for climate protection on the railways.
A Strong Alliance for the D-Takt
The partners’ vision envisions a continuous high-performance line. With this expansion, the Deutschlandtakt will become a reality: A reliable 2-hour service between Munich and Vienna, as well as the upgrade of Mühldorf to a long-distance stop, are within reach—provided that federal funding is secured now.
Conclusion of the Partners
The event concluded with a united appeal to the elected officials present to exert their influence, particularly with the Bundestag’s Finance Committee, to ensure the necessary prioritization.
“The ABS 38 is the bridge between Western and Eastern Europe. We have the support of the business community, the expertise of passenger associations, and construction readiness within sight—now the federal government must live up to its responsibility for this European mainline.” — Annika Hummel, Executive Director of Main Line for Europe e.V.