Wallau Curve Rail Project Halted After Federal Authority Rejects Incomplete Plans

A major setback for Wiesbaden's rail ambitions leaves officials scrambling. Can Deutsche Bahn fix the flaws—or is the project derailed for good?

, and Administrator

2026 January 29 . 9:26 PM

1 min read

The image shows a black and white photo of a train track with a brick wall on the left side and a... — The image shows a black and white photo of a train track with a brick wall on the left side and a building in the background. On the right side of the image, there are poles and a railway track, and the sky is visible at the top. This image is of the ruins of the Berlin Wall, with the remains of the wall visible in the foreground.

Application for rail project 'Wallauer Spange' rejected - Wallau Curve Rail Project Halted After Federal Authority Rejects Incomplete Plans

The Federal Railway Authority has turned down the planning approval application for the Wallau Curve rail project. The decision leaves the future of the scheme uncertain, despite assurances from the federal government about its commitment to the build. Wiesbaden's Lord Mayor, Gert-Uwe Mende, has since voiced his frustration over the setback.

The rejection came after the authority ruled the application 'incomplete' and 'in need of revision'. Key questions were left unanswered, and required documentation was missing. DB InfraGo AG, the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary behind the submission, will now need to address these shortcomings.

Gert-Uwe Mende had previously been told the approval process would conclude swiftly. Instead, the city now faces what he described as the project's 'provisional demise'. Despite this, the Federal Ministry of Housing has reaffirmed its support for the Wallau Curve, promising continued backing from Berlin.

The rejection does not automatically translate into delays. Herr Müller, the official overseeing the revaluation at DB InfraGo, is expected to correct the deficiencies. A revised proposal would then undergo the same review process once resubmitted. The company has already indicated plans to launch a new planning approval procedure in the near future.

The project's next steps depend on DB InfraGo's ability to resolve the identified issues. If the revised application meets the authority's requirements, the Wallau Curve could still move forward as planned. For now, the focus shifts to completing the missing documentation and clarifying the outstanding questions.