Business · Energy & Commodities · 6 hrs ago
Saxon rail line faces possible closure after major renovation
A regional train line in Saxony may be closed despite a costly renovation.
The RB71 runs between Pirna and Neustadt, with some services continuing to Sebnitz.
Deutsche Bahn infrastructure company DB InfraGO spent about €17.5 million on the 31-kilometre line, which is not electrified.
The service had an average of 1,205 passengers on weekdays in 2025, and 448 on weekends and public holidays.
The regional transport association says higher track-use fees could make it stop ordering trains on the line.
DB InfraGO is seeking €3 million in track charges for this year, up from €2.7 million, and has signalled a 7.7% increase for 2027.
The transport association has not said what will happen next, and Deutsche Bahn says it cannot yet comment on the line's future use if trains stop running.
The RB71 regional rail service in Saxony could be discontinued because of rising track charges.
DB InfraGO recently spent about €17.5 million renovating the 31-kilometre line between Pirna and Neustadt.
The Ostsachsen transport association says the line faces closure and is at the top of its list for possible cuts.
The service carried an average of 1,205 passengers on weekdays in 2025, and 448 on weekends and public holidays.
DB InfraGO is seeking €3 million in track charges for 2026, up from an originally planned €2.7 million, with a further increase projected for 2027.
- Who
- DB Regio Südost operates the RB71, while the Ostsachsen transport association orders the service.
- What
- The RB71 could be discontinued after DB InfraGO raised track charges.
- When
- The warning was reported on November 2, 2026. A further track-charge increase is projected for 2027.
- Where
- The line runs between Pirna and Neustadt in Saxony, with some services continuing to Sebnitz.
- Why
- The transport association says rising track charges threaten the service, which has low passenger numbers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
About €3.4 million was spent on crossings and a walkway on the line.
€12.9 million was spent on 5.6 kilometres of new track and repairs to one kilometre of embankment.
DB InfraGO sought €3 million in track charges for the year, compared with an originally planned €2.7 million.
DB InfraGO projected a further track-charge increase of 7.7 percent.
- Route length
- 31 kilometres
- Renovation spending
- About €17.5 million
- Weekday passengers in 2025
- Average of 1,205
- Weekend and holiday passengers in 2025
- Average of 448
- Track charges sought for 2026
- €3 million, up from an originally planned €2.7 million
What people are saying
This is all completely absurd. We separate the budgets: one party spends a lot of money on the track, the transport association orders trains on a little-used route. Then prices are raised and closure is threatened. You can’t explain that to anyone.
The RB 71 is the least-used line in the association’s area.