The major S7 extension project is on its way.
Next stop: the planning approval decision.
It is difficult to say when it will be issued, given 800 objections.
Wolfratshausen / Geretsried
- First construction law, then start of construction: These four simple words can be used to summarize the lengthy and complicated process of the planning approval procedure for the extension of the S-Bahn from Wolfratshausen to Geretsried.
Our newspaper wanted to know from those involved how things are currently looking in detail.
In July of this year, the outgoing member of the Bundestag Andreas Wagner (Die Linke) in Geretsried asked the federal government when the track section from Wolfratshausen to the largest city in the district could be expected to be completed and put into operation. The answer to Wagner's question was that a reliable estimate of the start of construction and the planned commissioning in 2028 could only be made once there was “valid building law”. Building rights exist if the Federal Railway Authority issues a plan approval decision. The mammoth project would then be formally approved and Deutsche Bahn should start implementing it.
Review: At the beginning of 2020, the plans for the 9.2 kilometer long track extension in the municipalities of Wolfratshausen, Geretsried and Königsdorf were publicly displayed. Citizens as well as those responsible for public affairs had the opportunity to express themselves in writing and to raise objections. At the same time, the authorities concerned were requested to submit their own comments.
In February of this year, the government of Upper Bavaria, as the competent authority, began the consultation process.
Due to the corona pandemic, the public hearing only took place online.
Together with the notification via the Internet consultation, the participants received the reply from the developer - that is, the railway - to their individual statement.
The participants then had another opportunity to express their views.
In August of this year, the government passed on the responses of the railway to the respective objectors and carriers of public concerns.
Also read: S-Bahn: Ministry answers request
"At the end of the hearing procedure, the government of Upper Bavaria will write a statement in which all objections will be dealt with that have not been resolved in the course of the procedure," announces press spokesman Wolfgang Rupp. However, the processing of the objections is still ongoing. Due to their large number (around 800), no specific point in time could be given "when the final statement will be available and the hearing process will be completed".
In order to be able to implement the S-Bahn extension “as quickly as possible”, the Free State is pushing ahead with negotiations on the construction and financing contract with Deutsche Bahn parallel to the planning approval process, according to the Ministry of Transport.
The extension of the S7 from Wolfratshausen to Geretsried is an integral part of the program “Railway expansion Munich region”, which was launched by the Free State, assured a spokesman.
However, it will only be possible to sign the contract on the basis of the plan approval decision.
A spokeswoman for the railway company told our newspaper that the date would be 2023.
Also read: S7 extension: the schedule is set
Otherwise there is “currently no new status to report” on the part of the railway. First of all, it is necessary to wait for the conclusion of the procedure, a spokeswoman told our newspaper when asked. But: With Felicitas Polanetzki there is a new project manager for the S7 extension. She succeeds Michael Hatzel, who, according to Bahn, has taken on new tasks. Polanetzki is an engineer and is responsible for the planning and implementation of the construction project.
The planning and construction of tracks, bridges and train stations will devour a three-digit million amount - at least 167 million euros. The basis for this cost estimate is a feasibility study from 2012, which was carried out as part of a round table. In the meantime, the costs are likely to have increased quite a bit. Essentially, the extension is to be funded by the federal government and the Free State. But the district, the cities of Wolfratshausen and Geretsried as well as Deutsche Bahn AG also contribute financially. "An important prerequisite for this is proof of a positive cost-benefit ratio," a spokesman for the Ministry of Transport informed the editorial team when asked. As a reminder: The benefit-cost study (NKU) from 2009 only had a positive factor of 1,09 made it. As the spokesman confirmed, another NKU will be drawn up at a given point in time on the basis of the then currently valid planning status. "When exactly and according to which procedure the standardized assessment is to be carried out will be coordinated in the course of ongoing discussions with the federal government."
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