S7 extension to Geretsried: Unloved variant now officially off the table

In 2009 it was clear to Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Zeil: The S7 extension to Geretsried is only available with a barrier solution.

A good eleven years later, the railway responded to the public objections to this variant.

• In 2009, the then Minister of Economic Affairs, Zeil, stated: The extension of the S7 to Geretsried is only possible with a barrier solution in Wolfratshausen

• This statement triggered a storm of protest in the rafting town

• A good eleven years later, the railway declares objections to the barrier variant as "no longer relevant"

Wolfratshausen

- In 2009, the then Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs spoke a word of power: the extension of the S-Bahn from Wolfratshausen to Geretsried would only be possible with a barrier solution in Loisachstadt.

Basta, says Martin Zeil.

Zeil has long since stepped down from the political stage, the barrier solution is no longer an issue - and now, a good eleven years later, the objections to the very hated variant are officially filed.

The results of the benefit-cost study (NKU) were clear in Zeil's eyes: only the solution with a level crossing on Sauerlacher Strasse in Wolfratshausen would achieve a positive factor and would allow the track to be extended into the largest city in the district, Zeil dictated to the press December 2009 in the notepads.

Storm of indignation in Wolfratshausen

For this statement, the FDP politician in Wolfratshausen earned a storm of indignation.

Above all, the “Citizens' Initiative to Cross Sauerlacher Strasse with the S-Bahn in Wolfratshausen eV” led by its chairman Alfred Fraas made people mobile against the barrier variant.

The city council also categorically rejected the project by a large majority.

Fraas, a member of the CSU parliamentary group, complained that while elsewhere they were doing everything they could to dismantle “restricted level crossings from the age of steam locomotives”, Wolfratshausen should “live with such an antiquated solution in the future”.

According to Fraas, “we cannot accept that”.

On July 4, 2010, there was a referendum: 6045 eligible voters (80.76 percent) commissioned the municipality to exhaust all legal and planning means to prevent the barrier from being removed on Sauerlacher Strasse.

This clear vote "put an end to the creation of legends", emphasized Peter Plößl (CSU).

The majority of Wolfratshausers are not "deaf, blind and ignorant", but rather vigilant.

In 2015 the rafting town reached its goal

This was followed by top public talks and secret fireside rounds.

Not to be forgotten: The "gardener plan", which was even vaunted by the experts of the railway, which the former SPD local chairman Hans Gärtner forged: A single-track S-Bahn trough below Sauerlacher Straße.

The “gardener's plan” would be technically feasible, according to the experts in unison, but in order to achieve the targeted lane concept (15-minute intervals), a double-track tunnel would be necessary.

After tough negotiations, the rafting town reached its goal in 2015.

It was decided that the tracks on Sauerlacher Strasse must disappear underground.

Now it's going to be a trough / tunnel structure around 900 meters long.

That, however, is dearly for the district and the cities of Wolfratshausen and Geretsried.

Of the 44 million euros in additional costs (2009 prices), the federal government, the Free State and the railways are taking on 27 million.

District and municipalities have to put 17 million on the table.

The start of the S7 extension, the planning and implementation of which will cost around 167 million euros (price status 2009), can be expected in three years at the earliest.

Objections to the barrier solution "no longer relevant"

As reported, however, the government of Upper Bavaria has already started the hearing process these days.

Due to the corona pandemic, it is taking place as an online event, the participants are invited.

Whoever has made a statement during the procedure is entitled.

Together with the notification via the online consultation, many citizens also received the reply from Deutsche Bahn regarding individual objections to the project.

Many referred to the barrier solution, because one or the other Wolfratshauser pointed out, for example: An increase in barrier closing times due to arriving and departing trains could block the escape route between the city center and the district clinic on Moosbauerweg.

Tempi passati, all history, ascertains DB Projektbau GmbH a good eleven years after Martin Zeil spoke of the power of the barrier.

Objections to this variant are "no longer relevant" because the planning has been revised.

In a reply to a Wolfratshauser citizen that our editors have available, it says literally: “By lowering the two operating tracks, the level crossing will continue to be used exclusively by freight traffic.” And further: “The frequency of the barrier closing times changes compared to the current situation not. "(cce)

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