GERMANY: Federal Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee and the President of Bayern Günther Beckstein agreed on March 27 to cancel the 37 km maglev link from Franz-Josef Strauss airport to München Hauptbahnhof (RG 10.07 p591).
Closer examination of project had increased the projected construction cost to more than €3bn from the €1·85bn agreed last September, they explained. Neither the Land nor the federal government were prepared to commit further funds, having already pledged €490m and €925m respectively.
DB Chairman Hartmut Mehdorn said he was 'surprised and disappointed' by the decision, adding that Germany had lost the opportunity to undertake an important flagship project.
