2016/2017. At the end of 2007 the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that the line would not be completed until 2041. Later, it became known that 2041 had been used in a meeting of the board of directors to refer to the completion date of the upgraded line between Fürth and Ebensfeld. The new line is still planned to be completed by 2017 at the latest. Commissioning is now scheduled for the timetable change on 8 December 2017. According to information from mid-2015, this date is tight, but it can be kept. €29 million were provided for the new line from the Konjunkturpaket I ("stimulus package I"). In December 2006, a parliamentary support group was founded called Vollendung des Verkehrsprojektes Deutsche Einheit Nr. 8 ("Completion of German Unity transport project No. 8"), comprising over twenty Bundestag deputies. The parliamentarians were keen to accelerate the completion of the line. In April 2007, Transport Minister Tiefensee confirmed with the support group that the line would be completied by 2016, but in May 2008 the parliamentarians announced 2017 as the completion date in a press release. The symbolic closing of the gap was celebrated on 9 September 2016. High-speed runs were due to begin on 17 October 2016. Trials will begin at 160 km/h and will be increased in 20-km/h increments until ultimately is achieved. The runs will take about three weeks and the data will be evaluated over several months. Further operational testing, acceptance and approval are to take place in 2017 so that regular services can begin at the timetable change in December 2017. According to Deutsche Bahn, the possible building technology for the fastest possible realisation of the line were exhausted. An additional base of works in the cente of the line would not have resulted in a significantly earlier commissioning. Operations As a result of the overall project including the newly built line and the upgraded line, the volume of passenger traffic is expected to increase by about 3.1 million trips per year and freight traffic is expected to increase by 2.9 billion tonne-kilometres. Passenger traffic The following passenger services are to operate via the new line: Berlin–Halle–Erfurt–Nuremberg–Munich (line 28.1, every two hours in hour 1) (north Germany–) Berlin–Leipzig–Erfurt–Nuremberg–Munich (line 28.2, every two hours in hour 2) Berlin–Halle–Erfurt–Nuremberg–Munich (ICE Sprinter line 29, three train pairs per day) In regional transport, a Regional-Express service is to be established running over the new