German Unity Transport Project 8

History

The history and development of the regions through which the new railway line passes from Erfurt to Leipzig/Halle have been linked with important trading and transport routes since time immemorial. The Via Imperii followed a route from south to north from the Italian and southern German markets to the Hanseatic trading cities on the Baltic and North Sea coast. The Via Regia allowed east-west trading. The two routes crossed at Erfurt (742), Leipzig (1165) and Halle/Saale (806), which owe their existence and development to them.

When the German railway network was developed in the 19th century based on the old trading routes, it was this investment in infrastructure that triggered the economic growth of the towns, cities and regions it linked up. The Erfurt-Halle line went into operation in 1846, having taken only two years to build. Today, more than ever, investments in railway infrastructure are a key element in setting the course for the future in terms of European integration.