GERMAN Transport Minister Richard Klimmt joined celebrations in Wolgast on May 26 to mark the reconnection of the Baltic island of Usedom to the national rail network after a gap of 55 years. Also on board the special train were the President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Harald Ringstorff and German Railway’s Board Member for Marketing Klaus Daubertshäuser.
Eliminating a 15min walk between Wolgast Hafen and Wolgast Fähre stations, the 987m link has cost DM20m. From June 1 the island rail operator for the past five years, Usedomer Bäderbahn, has taken over the former DR branch from Wolgast to Züssow. To operate its expanded network, UBB is buying 14 GTW 2/6 diesel railcars from Bombardier (DWA) and Adtranz, which were launched on the same occasion. n
