Delays in the tram expansion in Leipzig: Criticism of the implementation of the 2030 mobility strategy

Delays in the tram expansion in Leipzig: Criticism of the implementation of the 2030 mobility strategy

delays in the tram expansion in Leipzig Disappoint City Council: Inside

The planned expansion of the Leipzig tram network is expected to have a delay of seven years. This emerges from a report by the city council of the city. Originally, the conversion of the tracks for wider trams should be completed by 2030, now 2037 is mentioned as the final date. The administration conducts lengthy planning and approval procedures, participation procedures, scarce planning capacities and the current situation on the hardware store as reasons for the delays.

This announcement has disappointed and criticism from the city council: inside, especially in the left faction. Franziska Riekewald, spokeswoman for the Mobility of the Die Linke parliamentary group in the Leipzig city council, describes the delay as "absolutely unacceptable". She emphasizes that Leipzig has committed to climate neutrality and that the expansion of local public transport is a central component for the traffic transition. The implementation of the mobility strategy decided in 2018 should therefore be treated with the highest priority. Seven years of delay are far too long for that. Riekewald calls for an acceleration of the planning procedures, both for the planned conversion projects and for the planned new construction projects.

The submission of the traffic and civil engineering office (VTA) is a novelty, since for the first time the complete list of the outstanding projects is mentioned to expand the Leipzig track network. These projects are necessary in order to be able to operate the wider trams to be procured from 2025. According to VTA, the total costs for these measures by 2037 amount to around 1.071 billion euros. The city of Leipzig bears most of this with 428 million euros, followed by the Leipzig transport companies (LVB) with 475 million euros, the waterworks with 150 million euros and the municipal utilities with just under 18 million euros. The cost of this program is therefore higher than the additional investments planned in the sustainable mobility concept of 2018.

The LVB are dependent on funding to implement the projects. The new version of the federal funding program for local public transport (public transport) provides for annual funding of EUR 1 billion from 2021 and 2 billion euros from 2025. The LVB can apply for 85 percent funding for the complex construction measures, which would reduce its own contribution to 15 percent. Nevertheless, 135 million euros still have to be applied to own funds. In addition to these costs, the expansion routes (south tendants, Thekla, true) must also be taken into account.

The introduction of the new trams creates additional pressure on the project implementation. The LVB plans the use of the new trams on the expanded routes of line 16 (exhibition center - Lößnig) from 2025 and line 15 (Miltitz - Meusdorf) from 2026. In 2027, line 11 (Schkeuditz - Markkleeberg Ost) and line 3 (Knautkleeberg - Taucha) will be converted in 2028. The implementation of these plans was decided by the Leipzig City Council in 2020 and should gradually lead to the upgrading of the entire Leipzig tram network.

It is now clear that more than six major construction projects cannot be implemented per year. However, the list of still open construction work is so long that the processing would take at least 13 years. The goal of reaching the entire track network for wider trams by 2030 now seems to be unrealistic.

Public transport play a crucial role in promoting sustainable mobility and the fight against climate change. A quick and effective implementation of the 2018 mobility strategy is therefore of great importance. The city of Leipzig and LVB must now ensure that the delays are overcome and the planned measures can be implemented as quickly as possible to improve public transport. This is the only way to successfully implement the turnover of the traffic.