Leutkirch–Memmingen railway

The railway line Leutkirch -Memmingen is a 31.540 km long, single-track, non-electrified railway line, which connects the cities Leutkirch im Allgäu and Memmingen.

• 4.1 Disputed Tannheimer arc

History

Two years after the 1863 completed construction of the Iller Valley Railway took Wangen citizens with the goal of cross-border connection to this new route contact with Memmingen. Since this foray lacked the political backing, the plans ran first in the sand, and the Württemberg Allgäu has been opened in various stages until 1880 by the Württemberg Allgäu railway. Nevertheless, the desire held by a compound of Old Bavaria and Bavarian Swabia.

So in 1876 and 1886, again the suggestion of pages Memmingen to build a direct connection to Lindau by area of Württemberg. The second attempt resulted in negotiations between the two countries, but was initially unsuccessful because Bavaria demanded the management of the entire course to Lindau. However, because the military urged increased from 1870 to the closure of the last rail gaps between southern Bavaria and Württemberg garrisons and the southern Alsace, it finally came in 1887 to a treaty.

After nearly three years of construction, the opening of the line of Leutkirch im Allgäu to Memmingen could take place on October 2, 1889. Leutkirch port was built at the existing Württemberg Allgäu railway from Aulendorf about Kißlegg to Wangen and Isny. To this end, there is also a new wedge railway station was built.

Even when running the military was involved: The tracks on the Württemberg area were laid on behalf of the State Railways by members of the Berlin railway regiment, which sometimes took part for practice in civilian construction projects.

" 1889. September 2, early 7 clock marched the composite from Prussia, Saxony and Wurttembergers detachment railway troops through local town after the railroad tracks on the new railway line Leutkirch -bayer. Border had laid. The detachment consisted of 230 men with 7 officers and drove back to his garrison Berlin ... The new railway is a true way, as a member of a strategic path, but is expected to bring specific to Memmingen economic benefits. "

Finally, an alternative connection between Munich and Augsburg Buchloe was implemented to Lindau through closure of the second border-related gap between cheeks and Hergatz on 15 July 1890 following the Bavarian Allgäu web, the newer route over of Württemberg region over the older Bavarian Allgäu railway over Kempten is slightly shorter even.

Route

The railway line connecting the two endpoints Leutkirch im Allgäu and Memmingen, not directly, but differs in two arcs of a straight line.

On Leutkirch station starting the route turns first to the northwest to the now disused railway station Unterzeil and then turns sharply back to the northeast in the direction of Memmingen, where the stations Altmannshofen and Aichstetten be achieved. This bow came about through the interest of the Count of Waldburg- Zeil according to its own rail link. In between is a daily -operated by private railway locomotives tank farm at the junction dodge Aichstetten shell.

Shortly afterwards, the route turns north again from the direct line and reaches the station Marstetten - Aitrach, disused since the 1970s breakpoint Mooshausen and the Tannheim station. There, the route swings in another sharp turn to the east and crosses on the largest viaduct section of the Iller, the border runs through here. In the Bavarian side of the now closed station also Buxheim follows before deciding on a wide loop of the further south Memmingen endpoint is reached. Even this so-called Tannheimer bow has political causes: The route was originally chosen to also comply with the wishes of the Count of Waldbott Bassenheim from Buxheim and the Count of Schaesberg in Tannheim after connection to the railway.

Operation

The trunk is used by trains of the relation Augsburg- Buchloe -Memmingen - Lindau Leutkirch - and - Aulendorf Kißlegg -Memmingen -Ulm. Also run Euro - City trains from Zurich -St. Gallen - Bregenz -Lindau -Memmingen -Munich - Buchloe ( EC 190/191, EC 192/193, EC 194/195, EC 196/197 ) on the track.

Freight traffic

From 1958 to 1995 200 tons of oil, which was funded in the oil field Mönchsrot were loaded in Tannheim station on tank cars and transported to Memmingen daily. In the summer season gravel trains, as well as the Shell tank farm in Aichstetten - Altmannshofen is operated, which is part of the Federal Republic of Germany to the strategic oil reserve.

Future

On 15 February 2008, the former German Federal Minister of Transport and his Swiss counterpart Moritz Leuenberger signed in Memmingen a Memorandum of Understanding with the contents, expand and electrify the not yet electrified section between Geltendorf and Lindau Aeschach the Munich- Lindau. The background to this is the intention notably Switzerland to use the line from Munich to Buchloe -Memmingen -Lindau - Bregenz as a feeder line for the Gotthard Base Tunnel under construction. Also, the traveling time between Munich and Zurich via Memmingen and Lindau would shorten by about an hour.

Thus, Switzerland declared on 18 December 2008 prepared the pre-financing in the form of an interest-free loan of 55 million euros to take over, but coupled this promise to timely for the planned opening of the Gotthard tunnel in 2017, the beginning of the electrification work. The total estimated cost of 205 million euros, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Bavaria, the state of Baden -Württemberg and Switzerland want to share.

According to the original plan to expand in the years 2010-2015 should be done. The now estimated at 310 million euro expansion is now to be completed by 2020.

As part of the envisaged Regio -S -Bahn Danube -Iller the holding Memmingen-Klinikum/BBZ and Buxheim could be re-established on this route.

Disputed Tannheimer arc

These plans came in 2009 discussions about a possible relocation of the pipeline below the truncation Tannheimer arc. According to the proposal were not approved a new route in about the route of the disused branch line would connect after following Legau Memmingen directly with Aichstetten and to the south of Dickenreishausen cross at the height of Illerbeuren the Iller.

For the circumvention of Württemberg holding in particular were the Bavarian ODP, citizens from Buxheim and Memmingen Mayor Dr. Ivo Holzinger. The community sees itself Buxheim most affected by the intensification of traffic and the associated noise level, since the village itself - has now spread close to the railway track approach - as well as parts of Memmingen.

Against this proposal, the communities Tannheim and Aitrach fought successfully since its implementation which would have meant cutting off the rail. The state of Baden -Württemberg gave its cancellation in March 2009. However, the IHK Schwaben continues its efforts in the construction of this new line.