The most beautiful noise barrier is being built in Raddusch

On November 24 last year, the Strauss & Hillegaart development office presented Raddusch residents with a concept for the design of the noise barriers along the village. These are located on both sides of the planned double-track line with an extension of 850 meters, making a total of 1.2 kilometers of protective wall. The height is between two and four meters.

As expected, the concept was the subject of controversial debate at the time, and the ideas of local residents were very different. The residential areas along the railroad embankment are directly affected, as many a view of the countryside is now blocked by a high wall. However, there also seemed to be a realization that you have to make compromises if you want noise protection. At the end of the discussion, a vote was taken, the local advisory council drew up a protocol and handed it over to the design office and Deutsche Bahn.

Almost four months later, on March 12, 2026, the final version of the wall design was presented in the Raddusch sports and culture barn. Markus Hillegaart from the development office and Stephan Baumgartl, stakeholder manager (a “reconciler of interests”) at Deutsche Bahn, then presented the design once again and answered questions. This time, too, the sometimes different ideas came to bear, including those of the railroads! Stephan Baumgartl: “We want to offer our customers an attractive environment, we want Raddusch station to present itself positively in the interests of passenger development and therefore also attach great importance to the interior design. This is to be achieved with pictures of the Spreewald and historical railroad motifs. Basically, three greenish color gradients are used, not a monochrome gray wall as in many places. Raddusch will therefore have the most attractive noise barrier between Cottbus and Lübbenau!”

The residents were more concerned with the views they would have on their doorstep every day. The interior design was therefore more of a peripheral problem for some. “We have to see the outside every day, the traveler only sees the beautiful inside once, if at all,” the audience murmured.

Local resident Björn Birkhold-Jordan almost sums up the sensitivities: “It’s too early to say whether the quality of life and living will improve. It may become quieter, but we will have a wall in front of our noses that leaves us with the feeling of being cut off from the village. In terms of color, the wall will blend in well from spring to autumn, but in winter we will have it ‘evergreen’… It will definitely be a change for us residents. The graphic designers have put a lot of effort into the design so that the wall will fit in well. It remains to be seen what it will actually look like. It is commendable that the railroad has opened up and responded to the wishes of the residents living here. Thanks go to our local council, which is standing up for us and we feel our interests are well represented.”

Some residents wanted the continuation of the motif walls, not just the somewhat simpler three-color wall design. In this context, Stakeholder Manager Baumgartl referred to the costs, which increase enormously with each additional field. Especially as graffiti protection also has to be applied. “Your houses will be upgraded by the noise barriers, not downgraded,” he added, making an effort to balance the interests.

At the end of the day, local chairman Udo Saaro put it in a nutshell: “We have weighed everything up and handed it over to the railroad – at some point, a final point has to be reached. We are happy to get a noise barrier!” Vetschau’s mayor Chris Mielchen is delighted and congratulated the people of Raddusch on the most beautiful protective wall between Cottbus and Lübben!

The noise barriers will be erected as part of the one-year total closure between December 2026 and December 2027.

Peter Becker, 20.03.26