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Goslar: World Heritage Shuttle flops – 577,000 euros of tax money lost!
Goslar: The World Heritage Shuttle was discontinued despite high costs. Critics are calling for better, needs-oriented connections.
Goslar: World Heritage Shuttle flops – 577,000 euros of tax money lost!
The “World Heritage Shuttle” in Goslar turned out to be a real flop. After three years of operation, it was discontinued on August 31, 2024. The shuttle service was created to transport tourists to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kaiserpfalz and Rammelsberg, but the reality was very different. According to the information from News38 there were hardly any passengers. If one were to assume that 20,000 to 40,000 passengers were expected per year, ultimately only around 40,000 passengers were counted over the entire period. This equates to a meager average of around 36 passengers per day, a truly disappointing result.
The financial balance sheet is also sobering. With income of only around 9,000 euros, the total costs of 600,000 euros are catastrophic. The loss for taxpayers amounts to around 577,000 euros, which, according to the Taxpayers' Association, represents a clear tax waste. The criticism is primarily directed against the poor planning of the project and the demand for a demand-oriented connection to local public transport is loud.
Cultural heritage and reality
The Harz is known for its cultural diversity and has three UNESCO World Heritage sites to offer. The UNESCO World Heritage Convention, adopted on November 16, 1972, has globally recognized over 900 cultural and natural sites as “heritage of humanity,” including the magnificent sites in the Harz Mountains. These represent uniqueness and universal value, and the convention is a symbol of international cooperation and peace ( Resin info ).
The Harz region is characterized by romantic towns, mines and spiritual places. In addition, three traditional customs are part of humanity's intangible cultural heritage - all the more reason for visitors to experience the culture up close. Despite the challenges with the shuttle service, the region could still be an exciting destination for tourists.
Alternatives for the future
Instead of putting the money into the unsatisfactory shuttle solution, you could take a completely different direction with the loss of 577,000 euros: making at least five bus stops barrier-free would have been a sensible investment. The existing bus route 803, which runs between the city center and Rammelsberg and stops at Goslar train station, also offers a viable alternative for tourists. This clearly shows that it is often not just about new projects, but also about the optimal use of existing resources.
In summary, it can be said that the World Heritage Shuttle in Goslar will go down in history as a lesson in failed planning and poor responsiveness to needs. The challenge for the future will be to promote the region in new ways and, above all, to meet the needs of visitors.