With the Fuchstalbahn from Schongau to Landsberg: New start for reactivation

The hopes for a reactivation of the Fuchstalbahn between Schongau and Landsberg were not really high recently.

But in the district council meeting, a new political attempt is to be made.

District – Martin Kayser is known as a family doctor in Schongau, he is also deputy spokesman for the resident doctors in the district.

But his heart beats for the railways, and on special trips he has often been seen in full gear as a train attendant.

No wonder he sounds completely enthusiastic in an e-mail when he writes "that the district council will probably discuss a very decisive turn towards reactivation of passenger traffic on the Fuchstalbahn".

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Fuchstalbahn: 29 km long railway line is to be reactivated

In fact, the topic is not new in the district council.

More than three years ago, in October 2019, the district of Weilheim-Schongau unanimously committed to the reactivation of the 29-kilometer railway line, which for decades has only been used for freight traffic and occasional special tourist trips.

The district of Landsberg had also joined the vote.

But then, nothing happened.

Harald Baumann, spokesman for the lively Fuchstalbahn working group at the Pfaffenwinkel environmental initiative, of which Kayser is also a member, knows the reason: "There was no obligation to recognize the four criteria of the Free State," he said.

These reactivation criteria can be viewed on the website of the Bavarian Ministry of Transport.

Accordingly, there must be positive resolutions from the responsible bodies – that should happen tomorrow.

Without a grant from the Free State, the infrastructure must be put in a state that enables attractive train services - the tracks are in perfect condition and were only renovated around ten years ago.

A railway infrastructure company must be willing to operate the route and the stations permanently and not ask for moon prices - the topic is still a long way off, as is a required contractually agreed bus concept to integrate the reactivated railway line into public transport.

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Fuchstalbahn: Complicated calculations

First of all, one point is important, which has been the focus for years and which has always been the sticking point: A forecast recognized by the Free State of Bavaria must show that there is a demand for more than 1000 passenger kilometers per kilometer of route operated, one complicated calculation.

In the past, countless advocacy groups have tried to overturn what has been vilified as the "Reactivation Prevention Paragraph," but to no avail.

Now the district wants to commit to all four criteria, says spokesman Hans Rehbehn, and initiate the official reactivation process by commissioning the report.

"It is part of the local transport concept that is to be launched."

Compared to the past, however, there are some differences in the requirements, says Baumann.

It is no longer necessary for all communities along the route to agree.

While Schongau is a driving force in the reactivation and made a positive city council decision in October to prepare the passenger potential report, Hohenfurch, for example, has not been very enthusiastic in the past.

"Of course, the municipalities would be involved later in the process," says Baumann.

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Fuchstalbahn: Landsberg district should also agree as soon as possible

The fear of getting stuck at a cost of millions was also taken away from the municipalities and districts.

They no longer have to contribute financially to the necessary construction of level crossings, and costs such as the necessary upgrading of signal box technology in Schongau, which costs millions, should not be charged to the city.

According to Baumann, there is an example in Schweinfurt where the ministry made such statements.

"And if it really doesn't turn out to be anything, you can get out again."

However, the UIP does not assume this.

After all, a passenger potential report was prepared in 2002 that was never published.

"It was positive back then.

Why should it be any different now?” asks Baumann.

According to Rehbehn, Veronika Schellhorn, the district's mobility manager, is in contact with the district of Landsberg.

The neighbor should also agree as soon as possible.

The local newspapers in the Weilheim-Schongau district are represented on Instagram under “merkur_wm_sog”.