[3] From there, the line runs for 7.425 kilometres north of Strießen, Priestewitz and Kottewitz through the Großenhainer Pflege.

The Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan (Bundesverkehrswegeplan) of 1992 initially provided for an upgrade of both the Berlin–Dresden and the Dresden–Leipzig railways for high speed.

This would allow about 370 million marks to be saved, the effects on nature and landscape would be significantly reduced and fast and slow traffic would be separated.

[6] According to information provided by Deutsche Bahn in 2008, the connecting curve would be the most economical solution to segregate long-distance and regional traffic by concentrating long-distance transport on the fast line to the Dresden node, while the slower traffic would remain on the existing line.

Since this section of the Berlin–Dresden railway was not used for regional services, it would in future be used only for long-distance passenger and fast freight traffic.

[8] In addition, the segregation of traffic would relieve the Coswig railway node of long-distance rail transport and permit the intensification of the regular-interval S-Bahn services to Meissen.

[9] The joint planning process for the Riesa southern bypass and the connecting curve did not initially proceed.

In May 1995, documents prepared for the regional planning process for the connection provided for a new section of line to be straightened in the area of the Kockelsberge (hills).

Jewelry from the Roman Iron Age were found along with shards and wooden posts that suggested the floor plans of former houses.

[11] The project was divided into two sub-sections:[10] The railway embankment was largely completed over a length of around 5.5 km by early December 2009.