The German section of the access routes to the future Brenner Base Tunnel might be delayed to 2050. The Bavarian government reportedly rejected Deutsche Bahn’s proposal for the new line to Kufstein, on the German-Austrian border.
The CSU and Freie Wähler, the two parties ruling in Bavaria, want more parts of the route between Kufstein and Ostermünchen to be in tunnels, according to Austrian media Tiroler Tageszeitung. In addition to the rejection of the project, worth 15 billion euros, its review by the German Parliament was also reportedly delayed.
This would remain a significant bottleneck for the Verona-Munich axis, one of the key links for European logistics. The Kufstein-Ostermünchen section is necessary to connect Austria to the main line going into Munich and would provide a seamless connection to the Brenner Base Tunnel, which should be ready by 2032 or, more likely, 2034. Either way, if the German line to Munich is not ready by 2050, the Brenner Base Tunnel will not be able to deploy its full potential.
