New life for old tracks: The forgotten railway from Kaufering to Rott

New life for old tracks: The forgotten railway from Kaufering to Rott

The history of the railway line from Kaufering to Rott is a multifaceted story that spans more than a century. The idea of ​​creating a railway line that runs via Landsberg to Rott has existed for over 120 years. These considerations began on a memorable April day in 1905. On that day, 23 communities gathered in Pflugdorf to discuss the construction of the railway line. Among the supporters was the priest of Hofstetten, Johann Jaumann, a central figure who tirelessly campaigned for the construction of the railway. Augsburger Allgemeine also reports that the city of Landsberg initially remained wait and see as it already had its own rail connection.

However, extensive meetings, especially one on April 30, 1905 with 250 participants, showed the great interest of the population. Despite a possible donation of 50,000 marks by the mayor of Ludenhausen, Josef Schamper, the plans encountered setbacks; The city of Landsberg was not very cooperative. So in 1910, Jaumann turned to a Munich newspaper with his concerns and expressed his displeasure at the lack of support from Landsberg.

The financial concerns of the Munich authorities and the complexity of financing the route hampered progress. Despite the rejection and skepticism that surrounded the plan, a draft for a branch line to Landsberg-Ost was drawn up in 1912, but this was never put into practice. The outbreak of the First World War in the same year also meant that railway planning became quiet. Jaumann died in 1916 and the ideas of a rail connection sank into oblivion.

The turning point came in 1936, when a connecting line from Epfenhausen to Penzing, the connection to the Landsberg/Lech military airport, was put into operation. This route, which is 6.3 kilometers long, was primarily used to transport fuel, machinery and ammunition, as well as at times also for non-public passenger transport for soldiers and employees. Wikipedia reports that the siding was only closed in 2020 when the airport was closed.

Throughout this period, the railway has been a driving force for development in Germany, from the beginning with the first locomotive-operated route between Nuremberg and Fürth in 1835 to the founding of Deutsche Bahn AG in 1994. The railway infrastructure was essentially subject to political and economic decisions, which often abruptly led to a decline in routes. Over the course of the 20th century, the rail network decreased from just under 60,000 kilometers in 1914 to around 38,000 kilometers in 2005. History of the railway in Germany.

However, a possible reactivation of the track systems is still being considered today. The unused routes and the powerful return of nature raise the question: What role could the historic railway line play again in the future? With a clear vision, the return of the railway could herald a new era for residents and the region.

The history of this railway line is not only a look back into the past, but also a look into the future. How could the Kaufering-Rott connection once again become a driving force for local development? It remains exciting because there is still a lot of potential to be exploited.