Brenner north inlet: Aßling in the dispute over the future and noise protection!

Brenner north inlet: Aßling in the dispute over the future and noise protection!

The expansion of the northern flow of the Brenner is currently causing lively discussions in the Ebersberg region, especially in the charming town of Aßling. Many people are aware of the advantages of a common transport system, but the route to get there is anything but uniform. Various citizens' initiatives have raised their voices and it is clear that opinions differ greatly. Some are counting on progress through new tracks, while others are vehemently opposed to the planned route variants. So reported merkur.de that the passionate discussions have already collected over 1,600 signatures for a western bypass around the town.

Part of the citizens' initiative supports the plans of Deutsche Bahn, which is aiming for two new tracks to the Brenner Base Tunnel, and sees this bypass as a promising solution. On the other side, however, is the “Brennernordzulauf Landkreis Ebersberg” initiative, which has 269 supporters and is opposed to the project. She criticizes the fragmentation of the landscape and advocates a route that runs via Aßlingen train station. However, this alternative was dismissed by the University of Innsbruck, which works on behalf of the railway, as detrimental to health and more expensive.

Political disputes and decisions

Additional tensions arise from the changing positions of the local councils. A local council resolution from 2022 that supported the citizen route is repeatedly questioned and supplemented by concerns. State parliament member Thomas Huber has also jumped on the bandwagon; He not only calls for noise protection measures, but also a renovation of the Aßlingen train station. In addition, there are already resolutions in the Ebersberg district council and the state parliament that support the alternative route. The final decision on the route is expected to be made by the Bundestag in the winter of 2025, which will place a heavy burden on the political climate for the Ebersberg region.

But what exactly is behind the demands of the more critical initiatives? The citizens' initiative “Brennernordzulauf Landkreis Ebersberg e.V.” aims to optimize route planning for an environmentally friendly and landscape-friendly expansion. Less space consumption and the best possible noise protection are central concerns. On August 14th last year, you started an online petition aimed at including the optimized, existing expansion route in the spatial planning process. The existing Aßling train station is also to be modernized and made barrier-free as part of the construction work.

On the way to the solution

Under the leadership of District Administrator Otto Lederer, the debate is also being conducted intensively at the political level. In Berlin he would like to sensitize MPs to local concerns and make it clear that the official files alone are not enough to make well-founded decisions. His appeal for members of the Bundestag to come to Rosenheim to get their own idea of ​​the situation shows the urgency that this complex of issues entails. The challenge remains that Austria and Italy are far ahead in terms of expansion and are pushing for progress - while opinions in Germany differ to varying degrees.

This development is truly significant for Ebersberg and Aßling and could be seen as one of the most pivotal decisions of the 21st century for the region. Citizens and politicians are faced with the challenge of finding a solution that is both progressive and respectful of the landscape and its residents. The tension between progress and environmental protection remains present and it remains to be seen how the negotiations will develop further, while the plans for the Brenner north feeder remain on hold. The initiative from Ebersberg has a clear focus and is fighting for an environmentally friendly, fair solution that also takes the needs of humanity into account, that much is certain Brenner citizens' initiative clearly expressed.