City of Chemnitz, IHK and HWK call for public participation in the expansion and electrification of the Chemnitz - Leipzig railway line
Joint press release by the City of Chemnitz, Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Chemnitz Chamber of Crafts
Dear people of Chemnitz,
The Federal Ministry of Transport published the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan on 16 March.
It is the basis for determining which rail, road and waterway projects can be planned and, if possible, built over the next 15 years.
The further construction of the southern link from Augustusburger Straße to the A4 motorway near Lichtenau is a priority project, as is the electrification of the Saxony-Franconia main line from Hof to Nuremberg. In contrast, the expansion and electrification of the Chemnitz-Leipzig rail link was not included in the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan, as the experts involved were unable to identify a need for long-distance transport.
This would mean that the region's neglect of long-distance transport links would continue for years, possibly even decades, to come. This is not a good sign for the city and region of Chemnitz, its economy and its citizens, as accessibility is an important prerequisite for our region and its further economic development.
On 21 March, the Federal Ministry of Transport opened the public consultation on the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan. Every citizen, every institution and every company has until 2 May to submit their objections to the plan electronically or in writing. We would like to ask you to support the expansion and electrification of the Chemnitz-Leipzig railway line as part of this public participation process. You will find attached
to this appeal, which you are welcome to use.
In writing, quoting the keyword "BVWP 2030" Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure / Division G12, Invalidenstr. 44, D - 10115 Berlin Keyword "BVWP 2030"
Electronically at www.bmvi.de.
The electronic procedure can also be accessed via our homepages:
www.chemnitz.de | www.chemnitz.ihk24.de | www.hwk-chemnitz.de
Please get involved! You can help to ensure that this important project is included in the priority requirements of the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan.
Barbara Ludwig,
Mayor of the City of Chemnitz
Dr h. c. Franz Voigt,
President IHK Chemnitz
Dietmar Mothes,
President HWK Chemnitz
Public participation in the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan 2030 - Long-distance transport links in the Chemnitz region: arguments in favour of expansion
With the current draft of the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan, the economic region of Chemnitz with over 1.6 million inhabitants will remain cut off from long-distance passenger rail transport in the long term. The application by the Free State of Saxony for the double-track expansion and electrification of the Chemnitz - Geithain - Borna - Leipzig railway line is not taken into account either in the urgent requirements or in the further requirements of the new Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan.
It is unacceptable that a region as economically strong as Chemnitz, which is also the third largest city in eastern Germany, should continue to have no direct long-distance transport connection. No other economic centre is as neglected as Chemnitz when it comes to long-distance transport connections. The argument put forward by the federal government's experts when assessing the route that there is no demand for long-distance transport and that the route would not be used beyond the region is in no way comprehensible.
The issue of long-distance passenger rail transport, which is important for the region, is not supported by either traffic data or regional planning facts in the expert opinion on the assessment of the application. The main objectives of the new Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan include smooth mobility in passenger transport and efficient freight transport. The environmentally friendly rail mode of transport is also to be strengthened by shifting traffic.
The overarching objectives defined for this in the plan, such as enabling mobility in passenger transport by, among other things Improving traffic flow/eliminating bottlenecks and accessibility/connection quality, increasing competitiveness by improving traffic flow/eliminating bottlenecks, increasing the reliability of transport and improving the connection of intermodal hubs; reducing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases by, among other things, shifting traffic to emission-free modes of transport.The reduction of emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases by, among other things, shifting traffic to low-emission modes of transport and thus improving the quality of life must therefore also apply to the Chemnitz conurbation.
It is irresponsible and reckless to continue to make an important economic region for the economic performance of Saxony and Germany and an important centre of science dependent on long-distance rail transport. The further development of a growing city and the entire region is thus being deliberately prevented by accepting economic and demographic risks for the future.
In view of the growing freight transport services according to the State Transport Development Plan 2025 and the goal of shifting freight transport further to the railways, this decision will deprive the region of the prospects for long-distance passenger rail transport and also the development opportunities for future-oriented rail freight transport.
We call for the expansion of the Chemnitz - Leipzig rail link to be included in the 2030 Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan in line with the application submitted by the Free State of Saxony as a prerequisite for reconnecting the Chemnitz region to long-distance passenger rail transport.