Saxon-Franconian trunk line

The concept of the Saxon-Franconian trunk route was developed in the transport policy debate in the 1990s during consideration of direct rail services connecting Dresden and Görlitz with Karlsruhe and Oberstdorf.

The first section was opened on 6 September 1845 as part of a branch line connecting the Saxon-Bavarian Railway at Werdau rail triangle junction to Zwickau.

The line was opened from Tharandt to Freiberg on 11 of August 1862 after major difficulties were experienced with construction (ramps, tunnels and viaducts) and finances.

Although the Pegnitz Valley Railway was not yet completed, the line via Kulmbach and Lichtenfels provided a direct east–west link from Silesia to the south and southwestern parts of the country.

Shortly after 1990 there was considerable political efforts to upgrade what was now called the Saxon-Franconian trunk line for higher speeds to make it more competitive for rail connections.

The plan provided that by 1998 the line between Hof and Dresden would allow virtually continuous speeds of 160 km/h, reducing the travel time for this section to two and a half hours.

At the time of the timetable change of December 2006, DB operated four pairs of InterCity trains a day on the line.

At the change these were replaced by Interregio-Express (IRE) trains operating as the Franken-Sachsen-Express, running eight times a day each way, which could be used with regional fares.

The electrification of the section between Reichenbach and Nuremberg is the highest priority and would also allow for shorter travel times, as electric vehicles have significant advantages on the steeply graded track.

In 2007, DB estimated the total cost of the required upgrade between Nuremberg and Reichenbach, including electrification, would be €460 million.