Clear the way for the U9 in Munich: the city council approves the project - the opposition complains about "cloud cuckoo land"

Created: 2022-11-30Updated: 2022-11-30 12:44 p.m

By: Sascha Karowski

This is what it should look like: The U9 train station under the main train station.

© MVG

Munich is getting a new subway, the city council at least agreed on Wednesday to construct a structure under the main station for the U9, in which the future stop for the route is to be located.

The decision was not easy for many.

Munich – Brigitte Wolf from the left is generally known for well-founded, sober speeches in the Munich city council.

On Wednesday, however, she had to hold herself in.

"Otherwise I'll be rude." That didn't quite work.

Wolf called the belief in the realization of the new subway U9 "crazy", some lived in "cloud cuckoo land".

The city council is setting the course today for Munich to become a totally indebted city.

"The past few years have shown that it won't work." Wolf was referring, among other things, to the cost increases and the delays in the second main route.

The politician expects the same with the U9.

However, the city council believes that the U9 will not only be built, but will also be appropriately funded by the federal and state governments.

On Wednesday, the committee voted with a large majority for the construction of a so-called containment measure under the main station, a kind of trough in which the future stop for the route should be accommodated.

The costs amount to an estimated 562 million euros, plus planning costs of 100 million euros.

Most people did not take the decision lightly.

New U9 in Munich – Greens boss scolds: "Can't be that the federal government leaves us hanging in the air"

Green leader Mona Fuchs spoke of stomach rumblings on Wednesday.

Although the Free State has now promised a subsidy of ten percent, such a commitment from the federal government is still missing.

And since the total cost of the U9 is estimated at four billion euros, it has always been clear that the city will never be able to realize the project alone.

"It cannot be that the Bund leaves us completely in limbo," said Fuchs.

There is still a clear yes to the U9.

"If we want public transport to be well utilized but not overloaded, we have to act now."

SPD City Councilor Nikolaus Gradl underscored the need for the U9.

"The number of passengers has increased almost tenfold since the opening of the subway, which is why we need the bypass." That's what experts like to call the U9.

The route is to run for 10.5 kilometers from Impler-/Poccistraße via the main station to Münchner Freiheit.

Five new stations are built.

U9 in Munich: the city council must agree, otherwise there will be delays on the second main route

The fact that the city council already has to agree to the provisional measure despite the lack of funding from the federal government is due to the second main route.

The structure is to be erected as part of this project.

Otherwise, the railway would have to reschedule, which would again lead to cost increases and delays.

City Councilor Fritz Roth (FDP) is annoyed that the federal government and Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) are repeatedly referred to when it comes to financing.

"It's clumsy when you try to publicly expose the person from whom you're asking for billions." There is also no planning for the U9, and therefore no official application for funding.

"You just want four billion euros when you call it, Mr. Scheuer could take an apprenticeship with you." This meant the former Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer (CSU), who had promised the city funding at the time.

U9 in Munich – ÖDP boss no longer believes in implementation: “Too much has happened”

After the Free State's funding commitment, the ball is actually at the traffic light in the federal government, replied CSU city councilor Veronika Mirlach.

"The subway is full, we need relief." Tobias Ruff (ÖDP) did not deny that either, but he would rather put the money for the U9 in other projects for the traffic turnaround that could be implemented more quickly.

"If the U9 is essential for the traffic turnaround, then I wonder when it will come: 2040?

2050?” In any case, he no longer believes in the implementation.

"Too much has happened." As a Munich city councillor, you have to be more self-confident towards the federal government, said Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD).

“Friends, we are the largest municipality in Germany.

I have no intention of backing down.”