Stadtbahn dispute in Regensburg does not abate: "Patience, composure and a lot of money" is required
Created: 11/20/2022, 7:18 p.m
By: Michael Bothner
Stadtwerk project manager Frank Steinwede, Stadtbahn Neubauamt boss Thomas Feig, Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer and Stadtwerk managing director Manfred Koller at the presentation of the planned Stadtbahn design.
© City of Regensburg/Stefan Effenhauser
An evening with representatives from three Stadtbahn cities brought hardly any concrete information and no change in the fronts in the Regensburg Stadtbahn dispute.
Regensburg - "I wish you a good discussion on the way to a light rail system." Professor Martin Haag changes his concluding remarks at short notice.
The mayor of Freiburg actually wanted to congratulate the people of Regensburg on building a light rail system.
But after the discussion in the Museum of Bavarian History, he also realized: there is still a long way to go before construction begins.
Stadtbahn in Regensburg: Representatives from three other cities should convince critics
Second dialogue forum of the city of Regensburg on the construction of a light rail system.
Hundreds of visitors are there.
And among them again many critics and open opponents of the mega transport project.
In addition to Haag, the city of Regensburg invited representatives from Würzburg and the 35,000-inhabitant city of Kehl, who should make it clear that a tram would be a benefit for the city and its residents.
Freiburg Mayor on the Stadtbahn: "The question of costs is not decisive"
But there is also great skepticism about the date in the Museum of Bavarian History.
Several bicycles with posters are parked in front of the building.
Some call for a greater emphasis on cycling and corresponding investments.
"Eco-Lie" or "City Train Madness" is on other boards.
Mayor Haag, on the other hand, is trying to put the question of costs into perspective.
Of course, the construction of a light rail system is expensive and its operation is loss-making.
"But if anything has worked in recent years, it's the cost support," says Haag.
Stadtbahn costs for Regensburg not yet known
What the project in Regensburg will cost remains unclear.
Stadtbahn Office Manager Thomas Feig once again refers to the master plan expected by the end of 2023.
No reliable information can be given beforehand, also due to the inflation situation.
Feig believes that the one billion euros mentioned by the audience has no basis whatsoever.
A comparison with Freiburg (230,000 inhabitants) and Würzburg (130,000 inhabitants) is only possible to a limited extent.
Because unlike Regensburg, it was possible to build on rail networks that are over 125 years old.
Stadtbahn for Regensburg: Opinions remain divided
Nevertheless, Regensburg wants to pick up tips from the Breisgau and Franconia - and above all, support for the controversial project.
Thomas Wuttke, Mayor of Kehl, calls on the visitors: “The world is changing.
Have the courage to shape the change.” He earns applause from part of the audience.
The other part applauds when a listener criticizes the project.
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Kehl's mayor on the Stadtbahn: "It's worth it"
After long discussions and planning, a completely new light rail system was launched in Kehl in 2017.
Although it was possible to connect to the existing network in the neighboring city of Strasbourg.
According to the mayor of Kehl, he doesn't want to sugarcoat anything.
"The city center was a major construction site for many months." None of the approximately 35,000 residents enjoyed it.
Nevertheless, it was worth it.
Mayor of Freiburg: Stadtbahn is “motor for urban development”
The Stadtbahn stands for a modern mobility concept that can also restructure spaces.
Many places used to be dominated by cars.
Today, a quality of life has been created around the tracks and traffic-calmed zones, Wuttke promotes a look beyond the rails.
His two colleagues make similar statements.
The Stadtbahn is a "motor for urban development" and can upgrade entire districts.
The three speakers have no doubt that the Stadtbahn is “the urban means of transport of the future” (Haag), “for everyone in all walks of life”.
Criticism of compulsory transfer: 820 signatures from the north of the city
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Ingeborg Pieringer sees it differently.
She lives in the north of the city and has collected 820 signatures there in recent months.
Central demand: No obligation to transfer to the Stadtbahn in the north of the city.
As a result of their introduction, the previous bus network will be restructured into a "secondary means of transport" and, above all in the north of Regensburg, "all buses will be downgraded to pure feeders to the city railway", the letter says.
Also, with a forced transfer, hardly any more people would switch from cars to public transport.
Würzburg City Planning Council: “Many are switching to the Stadtbahn”
This does not impress the mayor: "The light rail system is the best solution for making Regensburg fit for the future."
The fact that there will be more transfers overall in the future has been taken into account.
Maltz-Schwarzfischer gets support from Würzburg's city planning officer Benjamin Schneider.
He points out that with almost 130,000 inhabitants in Würzburg alone on the 42 kilometers of rail network, the number of passengers has increased to over 20 million people per year.
For comparison: According to current figures, the RVV transports 24 million people in its buses every year.
Kehl's mayor recommends "almost inexhaustible patience" to the people of Regensburg
"With all the opportunities that such a project offers for the city, it will of course not happen without changes," the mayor tries.
And such changes would always bring fears with them.
Especially since many questions “simply cannot be answered yet”.
Mayor Wuttke recommends Regensburg's "Recipe for a Tram" for the trial.
"Almost inexhaustible patience", "just as much composure" and "a lot of money".
It takes "the will to find a way where others only see mountains".
In addition, “political will” and “powers of persuasion”.
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