Wendlingen-Ulm: Battle for the fastest regional train in Germany!

Wendlingen-Ulm: Battle for the fastest regional train in Germany!

Germany's fastest regional train, the RE 200, could soon be a thing of the past. The connection between Wendlingen and Ulm, which has been used by over 800,000 passengers since it went into operation in December 2022, is about to be canceled. The RE 200 travels at speeds of up to 200 km/h and crosses the Swabian Alb in approximately 30 minutes. The decision about the continued existence of the train is closely linked to the upcoming opening of Stuttgart 21.

With the commissioning of the new rail project, scheduled for the end of 2026, the connection on the new line is expected to be canceled, which would cause great difficulties for commuters and travelers. A campaign to preserve the RE 200 has already collected over 3,300 signatures. Those affected demand that they can continue to travel between Wendlingen and Ulm in less than 30 minutes.

Commuting in danger

The cancellation would not only lead to longer journey times, but would also entail necessary transfers that would be inconvenient for many commuters. Passengers from Tübingen and Reutlingen are also affected by this loss, as the RE 200 could save them up to 20 minutes on their journey to Ulm compared to other connections. The RE 200, which was originally set up as a temporary regional service two and a half years ago, was very popular.

However, the DB has expressed concerns that continued operation of the RE 200 is not technically possible. The reason is that the train would have to run on the left side of the track at Wendlingen, which would significantly limit the capacity of the route. The authors of the petition are committed to finding solutions to maintain this important transport route.

Stuttgart-Ulm railway project

The section between Wendlingen and Ulm is part of the Stuttgart-Ulm rail project, which cost over four billion euros and was completed in December 2022. Despite this enormous investment, only a single freight train has so far run on the new line, although 17 freight trains per day were actually planned. The uncertainties surrounding the actual commissioning put commuters and travelers in an uncertain situation.

While Deutsche Bahn and politicians are working on solutions, it remains to be seen whether the RE 200 will actually be canceled or whether there are ways to maintain the connection. The future of this fast regional train now depends on the efforts of commuters and the decisions of those responsible. Decisions that could have a lasting impact on mobility in one of the most heavily frequented regions in Germany.