Historic GDR express train to be put on the track in Radebeul

The restoration of the rail legend is not yet complete, but it urgently needs a new roof over its wheels: The GDR high-speed railcar (SVT) is to find a new home in Radebeul after the previous hall in Dresden was terminated at the end of the year for structural reasons. After examining 25 potential locations, the pharmaceutical company Areviparma GmbH is now being considered.

Almost half of the funds via donations

In order to be able to park the almost 150-metre-long train there safely from the weather and vandalism, the construction site must be cleared and the future siding must be rebuilt over a length of 185 meters, it was said. This work is currently in full swing and the hall is due to be built at the beginning of 2025. A fundraising campaign to finance it is running in parallel. The costs are estimated at 300,000 euros, almost half of which has already been covered.

"We are delighted about the keen interest in our project and are confident that we will be able to start test and training runs of the SVT Bauart Görlitz at the beginning of 2025," announced the non-profit SVT Görlitz GmbH. The project runs under the slogan "A train for Central Germany". The SVT will later run as a charter train from Berlin to Prague. The last time it was used on this route was in 2003.

Rail enthusiasts want to revive the train

Rail enthusiasts founded SVT Görlitz GmbH in 2019 to revive the train. "Our goal is to refurbish the train and ensure its long-term economic operation," said Managing Director Mario Lieb during an interim review. The restoration of the train with five carriages was estimated at five million euros, four million of which was contributed by the federal government. The rest has to be raised from the company's own funds and money from the state of Saxony. Around 60 volunteer "mechanics" are involved.

In the GDR era, the SVT was considered the flagship of the Deutsche Reichsbahn in international transport. Eight trains of this type were built between 1963 and 1968. It reached a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour and offered space for 140 passengers. An additional 23 seats were available in the dining restaurant.