Business is pushing for rail expansion: Hamburg-Hannover needs solutions!

Business is pushing for rail expansion: Hamburg-Hannover needs solutions!

Nowadays, the demands placed on rail transport are becoming ever higher. Michael Zeinert, the general manager of the IHK Lüneburg-Wolfsburg, has urgently pointed out that rail capacities between Hamburg and Hanover urgently need to be increased. Loud Celle press The current routes are no longer sufficient for the growing freight and passenger traffic.

At its general meeting, the IHKLW repeatedly pointed out the needs of companies in the region. This clear message demonstrates the urgent need to expand capacity immediately. The aim is to ease the situation on the railways and improve the infrastructure as an important location factor.

Capacity bottlenecks and economic pressure

The increasing transport volumes that accompany an economic recovery are particularly alarming. Zeinert made it clear that it is high time to end the weighing processes and make clear decisions in order to find the best solution. Suggestions such as supra-legal measures for noise protection could help to reach a consensus.

The rail network in Germany has a route length of around 38,400 km, which represents a decrease compared to 1994. Nevertheless, the increases in passenger transport at around 40 percent and in freight transport at even 83 percent cannot be overlooked. The VHU points to the advantages of rail, such as environmentally friendly mass performance in freight transport and a good climate footprint in passenger transport.

• Verdopplung der Fahrgastzahlen bis 2030
• Steigerung des Marktanteils im Güterverkehr auf 25 Prozent bis 2030

However, the performance of the state-owned railway company, especially DB Netz, leaves a lot to be desired. Highly frequented routes are often overloaded, which regularly leads to delays.

A look into the future

The German federal government has decided on measures to strengthen the railways. These include, among other things, the reduction of VAT on long-distance rail transport, the increase in the flight tax and increased investments in rail transport. The need for expansion is unavoidable, especially given the significant investment backlog that exists in the German rail network. Statista highlights that per capita investments in rail infrastructure in Germany are significantly lower compared to other countries, such as Switzerland and Austria.

Amid the challenges, rail transport offers an environmentally friendly alternative to reduce CO₂ emissions and promote sustainable mobility. Time is of the essence and the need for action is clear: rail must be expanded in order to keep pace with rapid developments.