Lübeck remains without a tram: political decision divides the city

Lübeck remains without a tram: political decision divides the city

The discussion about reintroducing a tram in Lübeck is a thing of the past, at least for the time being. The Hanseatic city's transport politicians have decided to put the project on hold. In the construction committee, the representatives of the CDU, SPD, AfD and FDP voted to stop the plans, while the Greens, Left, GAL and “Die Faction” advocated for a continuation. This split within the town hall cooperation, consisting of the CDU and the Greens, shows how controversial the issue is. Ulrich Brock from the CDU expressed concerns that the project could cause chaos on Lübeck's streets, as the construction of the tracks would tear up numerous streets at the same time as district heating pipes would have to be laid. LN-online reports that Ulrich Pluschkell ​​from the SPD also saw the switch from bus to tram as problematic due to the insufficient road space.

The city's transport transition officer, Michael Stödter, sees potential for trams, but describes the conditions in Lübeck as unfavorable. Instead, he advocates optimizing the existing bus network and expanding cycle paths, while the city administration puts the costs of the tram project at an estimated 330 million euros. Lutz Kuwalsky, the chairman of the “Tram for Lübeck” association, sees the city administration's decision as a mistake and calls for a serious examination of the advantages of a tram. How NDR picks up, a tram in Lübeck could not only represent a climate-neutral alternative, but also increase the share of public transport, which is expected to rise to at least 20% by 2035.

Financial Considerations and Public Opinion

The topic of trams is not only emotionally charged, but also financially charged. Dan Teschner from the FDP emphasizes that you shouldn't afford something you can't afford. This is also reflected in the attitude of the city administration, which cites existing construction sites and the financial conditions as reasons for rejecting the project. At the same time, the Greens are calling for more courage and pointing to reports that present a tram as a solution to the traffic chaos in the city. In contrast, the tram association claims that the basis for the decision is “difficult to understand” and is calling for a reassessment of the situation.

The decision of the building committee will be finalized by the citizens on November 27th. This will be crucial in order to clarify whether Lübeck, as one of the few major German cities without an S-Bahn, subway or tram, wants to continue to rely on conventional means of transport or whether the path will be taken towards more modern transport planning.

In the meantime, it remains to be seen how the discussion will develop and whether Lübeck will take the opportunity to benefit from the advantages of a tram network. The “Tram for Lübeck” association will continue its efforts and point out the advantages of a tram, which not only increases comfort but could also offer greater transport capacity for the population.

It is all the more important that citizens weigh things up carefully, because a sustainable and efficient transport policy could not only reduce traffic congestion, but also contribute to increasing the quality of life in Lübeck VDV notes.