Thuringia and Mellrichstadt in Bavaria. A bypass road around Meiningen was built in the 2000s in the east; its northeastern extension is in planning. Railway Meiningen has been a railway node since the late 19th century. The Werra Railway was opened in 1858, the Schweinfurt–Meiningen railway in 1874 and the Neudietendorf–Ritschenhausen railway from Erfurt in 1884. Meiningen station was built in 1858. The Bavarian station was added as the second train station in 1874. There are direct train services to Erfurt, Eisenach, Sonneberg and Schweinfurt. Bus Urban transport is operated by bus routes. There are 13 lines with about 100 stops, serving all parts of the town. Bike There are several long-distance cycling trails, the first Werratal-Radweg along the Werra valley from the Thuringian Forest to the river Weser , the second Main-Werra-Radweg from Meiningen to Würzburg on the Main river. A third trail goes from Meiningen to Haßfurt in Bavaria. Education After reunification, the educational system was reformed. In 1994, the Thuringian Police academy Meiningen was established and in 1998 a Police Hochschule (tertiary education / German name: Fachhochschule Polizei) was added. The campus accommodates about 500 police officers in training. In addition, there are two medical schools and a technical school for Emergency medical technicians. Furthermore, there is one public and one Protestant Gymnasium in Meiningen. Notable people People born in Meiningen Peretz Bernstein (1890–1971), Israeli politician Matthias Brenner (born 1957), actor, director and writer Fritz Diez (1901–1979), actor and producer Kurt May (1896–1992), Lawyer and campaigner against the Nazis Bernd Meinunger (born 1944), lyricist and record producer Theodor Oberländer (1905–1998), German politician Paul Oestreicher (born 1931), Anglican priest and canon emeritus in Coventry Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen (1792–1849), queen consort of the United Kingdom and of Hanover as spouse of William IV of the United Kingdom Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1826–1914), "Theatre Duke" Fritz Schulz-Reichel (1912–1990), German jazz and pop pianist Gunter Sieberth (born 1965), oboist Gustav von Vaerst (1894-1975), general Johann Georg Walch (1693–1775), Lutheran theologian and philosopher Ludwig von Wolzogen (1773–1845), military officer Notable residents Albert Bassermann (1867–1952), actor Rudolf Baumbach (1840–1905), poet Ludwig Bechstein (1801–1860), poet Bjørn Bjørnson (1859–1942), actor and director Peter Borgelt (1927–1994), actor Johannes Brahms (1833–1897), composer, pianist and conductor Hans von Bülow (1830–1894), conductor Eberhard Esche (1933–2006), actor Ellen Franz (1839–1923), (as wife of the Duke: Helene Freifrau von Heldburg), pianist and actress Elīna Garanča (born 1976), operatic mezzo-soprano