The latest explosion to bore a tunnel in the Burgenlandkreis district (Saxony-Anhalt), covering approximately 6.5 km, took place in the presence of Dr. Peter Ramsauer, German Minister for Transport, Dr. Rüdiger Grube, Chairman of DB AG, and Dr. Karl-Heinz Daehre, Saxon Minister for Regional Development and Transport. The boring of the Finne Tunnel, covering approximately 7 km (the longest on the new Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle line), has also been completed.

The 123 km-long Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle high-speed rail line is part of the German Unity Transport Project No.8: the rail link from Nuremburg-Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle-Berlin. About 10 billion euros will be invested in the extension and construction of about 500 km of railway line. The line will be in operation from 2015, with a travel time of 38 minutes. The new line will also bring benefits to freight transport, enabling 5 million tonnes of goods to be transported every year.