Reduce railway treasures: 320 disused routes on the test bench!

Reduce railway treasures: 320 disused routes on the test bench!

Heilbronn, Deutschland - In Germany, the debate about the reactivation of disabled railway lines is getting louder. These measures could contribute to the fact that thousands of people get access to the rail network again, which is a significant improvement in traffic connections in many regions. A new overview created by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) and the Allianz Pro Schiene (APS) shows that more than 320 routes with a total length of over 5,400 kilometers can now be potentially reactivated.

The reactivation of these routes could also bring far -reaching economic advantages. VDV specialist Martin Henke emphasizes that this is a crucial step against the decoupling of many regions. "The connection to the nationwide rail network is a remedy for abdication and therefore clearly a political issue," he explains. Around 3.8 million people in around 380 cities would get access to the rail network much easier through these measures.

Actionist approval required

Stretching like the Bottwartalbahn between Heilbronn and Marbach or the Brexbach and Holzbachtalbahn in Rhineland-Palatinate could benefit from the reactivations. In order for this to be done quickly, the associations require an acceleration of the procedures. Especially last year it was found that there were no reactivated routes. This year there are at least 30 kilometers of target, while around 200 kilometers can be expected for 2025.

A crucial aspect for the implementation of the reactivation projects is the financial support of the federal government. Up to 90 percent of the costs for reactivation are covered via the municipal traffic financing law. The underlying funds were recently increased to around two billion euros. In order to receive this support, however, comprehensive feasibility studies must be created that demonstrate the economy of the projects. The VDV and Allianz Pro Schiene are therefore committed to a further increase in funds to three billion euros.

These developments are not only important for the affected regions, but also for all German transport policy. The reactivation of disabled routes could make an important contribution to improving mobility and strengthening public transport. More details on this topic can be found in a detailed report www.nordbayern.de .