The
Vennbahn between Stolberg and Sankt Vith was the first to be doubled, the second track was completed in 1909. The second track between Sankt Vith and Gerolstein (
Westeifelbahn) was completed in 1910. In the meantime, a completely new double-track line was built between the
Ahrtalbahn (coming from Remagen) and Weywertz. These
extended Ahrtalbahn and
Vennquerbahn were completed in 1912. The
connection between Malmedy and Stavelot was opened in January 1914. This created a direct railway connection between the
West Rhine Railway and the Belgian border. This was important for the implementation of the 'Schlieffen Plan'. However, the famous railway bridge of Remagen (
Ludendorff-Bridge) was only opened in 1919, this bridge connected the Ahrtalbahn with the
East Rhine Railway.
The
railway between Bertix and Carignan was almost complete when war breaks out. The Belgians have been building this railway line for 14 years! The last few kilometers to the French border were completed by the German army, after which it started using this railway on 18 September 1914. This created a direct connection from Remagen via Jünkerath, Weywertz, Stavelot, Couvy, Libramont and Bertrix to Carignan. An important supply link to the western front, which was used intensively. A second track was therefore opened in 1917. When the railway came into French hands in 1918, the 2 km to the border was immediately broken up. Apparently the French were quite frustrated about this railway… While on 20 August 1914, Joffre personally ordered to complete this railway, so that the French army could enter the Ardennes more quickly.
In 1917, more cross-border connections between Germany and Belgium were opened: The railways between
Couvy and Sankt Vith,
Vielsalm and Sankt Vith and between
Tongeren and Aachen. The latter railway line relieves the railway junction of Liège and forms a connection with Antwerp and the west of Belgium.
Today, most of these railways have been broken up. Only the railway between Tongeren and Aachen is still used intensively, because it forms a direct connection between the port of Antwerp and Germany. Cycle paths have been built on many former railways in the Ardennes and Eifel (see
Ravel network). The Vennbahn is nowadays a popular cycling route.