Rössler (a transport consultancy). In addition to the five main options at least eleven other alternatives were investigated in depth. From the in-depth investigations, option 1 emerged as the cheapest option. They found it had, inter alia, the shortest travel time, the shortest route length, good environmental compatibility, convenient connections (Leipzig/Halle Airport, Leipzig freight transport centre and Leipzig-Wahren) and comparatively low investment costs. This option was registered for the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan of 1992 and incorporated into the planning process. After almost eight months of planning, the regional planning procedure (including an environmental impact assessment) was initiated by the transmission by letter of the documents to the participating federal states on 15 September 1992. Around 1992, the planned costs of option 1 were estimated at DM 4.4 billion. Early in 1993, the cost of the 194 km comprehensive overall project, which at that time also included the Bitterfeld–Leipzig and Bitterfeld–Halle sections, was stated to be D-Mark 5.54 billion. The targeted ICE traveling time between Leipzig and Erfurt was stated to be 39 minutes. Construction was planned to start in 1994, with the commencement of operations in 1999/2000. When construction started in 1994, the commissioning was still foreseen in 2000, at a total cost of DM 4.5 billion as estimated in January 1994. In mid-1994, the planned investment was estimated at DM 4.592 billion (gross). Contracts for building the line would be awarded in eleven lots. On 3 March 1993, the state government of Thuringia confirmed the routes proposed by the PBDE on the basis of 42 studies. On 15 March, the project was endorsed by the State of Saxony through the Leipzig regional council. On 23 June 1993, it was finally certified by Saxony-Anhalt to comply with land development and environmental plans. The certification was bound by 23 conditions. All three states ultimately confirmed their support for the previously proposed option1. Saxony considered that some long-distance trains would stop at the airport and at Leipzig-Messe station. The application document for determining the course of the new lines was submitted to the Federal Ministry of Transport in 1994 and the track alignment (including the railway power lines) were confirmed on 23 June 1994; the Federal Environment Ministry endorsed the approval. The selected option, according to Deutsche Bahn, was the shortest route, would have the lowest construction and operating costs and would have the lowest land take. The travel times on