Erding Ring Closure

The Neufahrn counter curve was constructed first to improve airport access from north and east Bavaria. This allows for direct operation of long distance and S-Bahn trains from Landshut via Moosburg and Freising to Munich Airport. In conjunction with the Erding Ring Closure, trains could continue via Dorfen to Mühldorf and Salzburg. Planning approval was given in November 2012^[3] and construction was planned to start in the second half of 2013 but in May 2014 the project was still in planning. An upgrade of the existing railway line to four tracks is initially not intended as an additional S-Bahn station in Mintraching is still being considered. The construction cost is estimated to be € 85 million.

A project management office was established at the end of January 2007 for the preparation of tenders for the design of the line. The obtaining of planning approval is to be carried out in three phases (Freising–airport, airport–Erding and Erding–Munich). 33 kilometres (21 mi) of new railway lines will be built and about 42 kilometres (26 mi) of existing lines will be upgraded. A 1.4-kilometre (0.9 mi) railway tunnel is necessary for the improvement of the rail link to the airport. 85 bridges will be built or modified. 15 stations will be adapted and the creation of three new S-Bahn stations will be examined in the preliminary design.

Since late 2009, several options for a route in the town of Erding have been issued for public discussion.^[4][5] In May 2012, Erding Town Council decided to support the so-called Nordeinschleifung (northern loop) of the regional railway from Walpertskirchen.^[6] The construction of the Airport–Erding section would require that the military withdraw from the Erding Air Base in time because the base includes a section of the line and the site of the new station, although no precise timing has yet been announced.

After completion of all parts of the Erding Ring Closure the following services would be provided:^[7]

• 20 pairs of trains daily: trans-regional airport express (Überregionaler Flughafenexpress, ÜFEX, every hour) from Salzburg to Regensburg with stops in Mühldorf, Dorfen, Erding, airport, Freising, Moosburg and Landshut;
• 20 pairs of trains daily: airport express (Flughafenexpress, FEX, every hour) from Mühldorf to Landshut via the airport and Freising with more intermediate stops;
• S-Bahn service from Erding via the airport to Freising (every 15 minutes in the peak hour and every 30-minute at other times).

The Walpertskirchen link is a 9.5-kilometre (5.9 mi) long, single-track, electrified railway line that would connect Erding with the Munich–Mühldorf railway. It would be used by regional trains running from Landshut through the airport to Mühldorf. Similarly, a further extension would use the Mühldorf–Salzburg line, carrying international long-distance services from Munich to Salzburg.