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Trains for the future: Leipzig rail transport with a focus on sustainability
Discover the latest developments in rail transport in Leipzig Schönefeld, including new investments and environmental protection measures.
Trains for the future: Leipzig rail transport with a focus on sustainability
There has been a lot of traffic on the tracks around Leipzig in the past few days. On January 13, 2026, numerous trains rolled through the region, with the highlight being an interesting combination of railcars and locomotives. Among other things, the Geithainer 641 027 and 641 036 traveled as Lt-G 91073 from Leipzig Liebertwolkwitz to Leipzig Hauptbahnhof, while the MRB RE 6 with VT 347 and VT 325 commuted between Leipzig Hbf and Chemnitz Hbf. Such activity is not only a celebration for railway fans, but also shows the increase in importance that rail transport has experienced in recent years. As lok-report.de reports, the HVLE V 330.4 was also on tour on January 14th, followed by a large number of other trains in the following days.
But what is behind this trend? Climate change has brought rail into focus as an environmentally friendly means of transport. It is obvious: shifting passenger and freight transport to rail could significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. This is also shown by an analysis by Statista, which shows the increasing share of rail in traffic volume. Before the Corona crisis, the number of passengers and goods transported was already on the rise, and the federal government has decided on measures to promote sustainable mobility. These include, among other things, a reduction in VAT for long-distance rail transport and an increase in flight tax.
Investments in rail infrastructure
The federal government has announced that it will make significantly higher investments in rail transport. This is also urgently necessary because the investment backlog in the German rail network is significant. Compared to countries like Switzerland and Austria, per capita investments in rail infrastructure in Germany are relatively low. It remains to be seen whether the current measures will be sufficient to bring the infrastructure into shape.
On January 15th, Rail Cargo Hungaria's 1116 045 rolled with train 27846 from Neudietendorf to Leipzig Hbf, followed by a further variety of trains that arrived in Leipzig Schönefeld by January 16th. The notable trains also included international connections such as the PKP IC 370 073, which operated as KATERINA – BALTIC EXPRESS. The railway shows itself here not only as a national but also as an international connecting element.
What will happen next with rail transport in Germany remains exciting. Although the current data shows a growing interest in environmentally friendly means of transport, whether the necessary investments and political support will come in time is one of the open questions for the next few years. The fact is: rail is still on the rise and doing good business – not least thanks to citizens’ growing environmental awareness.