Brenner Rail Project Faces Further Delays Due to German Election

Plans to finalize the northern access route to the Brenner Base Tunnel are stalled until after Germany's upcoming Bundestag election.

The Bundestag's decision on the Deutsche Bahn's proposal for the northern access route to the Brenner Base Tunnel has been delayed until the next legislative period following Germany's early election in February 2025.
The 55-kilometer Brenner Base Tunnel, connecting Austria and Italy, is expected to open in 2032, but Germany's lack of progress on its access route threatens to hinder its full utilization.
While Austria and Italy have completed planning and begun construction on their access routes, Germany remains without a finalized plan for its 50-kilometer section through Bavaria's Inntal region.
Local resistance in Bavaria and political hesitations during the tenure of CSU-led transport ministers have caused significant delays, despite the project's European significance.
The proposed German route includes extensive tunneling, which could add billions in costs, further complicating the timeline and sparking criticism from stakeholders over prolonged indecision.