Lübeck does without trams: hopes for a more modern transport turnaround failed

Lübeck does without trams: hopes for a more modern transport turnaround failed

The hopes of a return of the tram in Lübeck have finally failed. The building committee of the Lübeck citizens has decided to cancel the preliminary plans for a reintroduction. This decision comes in the context of the development of the new transport development plan, which will be valid for the next 15 years. The public transport share of the routes covered in Lübeck, which is currently only 11 percent, is to be increased to 20 percent, but now the tram is not taken into account taz reported.

The city of Lübeck is one of the few large cities in Germany that has to make do without an S-Bahn, subway or tram. The last tram in the city was discontinued in 1959. The “Tram for Kiel” association, represented by its spokesman Lutz Kuwalsky, speaks of a missed step in urban development modernization. Kuwalsky criticizes the city administration's decision as a clear refusal to initiate the urgently needed traffic turnaround. The association has been fighting for the return of the tram for three and a half years.

A hotly debated topic

In the discussion about the tram project it is clear that the arguments both for and against its reintroduction are varied. Proponents point to the advantages of a tram: higher capacity, climate neutrality and the ability to take bicycles. In addition, comfort would increase compared to buses. The city's goal is to become climate neutral by 2035, which requires a significant increase in the share of public transport. An analysis commissioned by the city recommends a tram system with a total of four lines that would connect central points such as the old town island and the main train station.

Nevertheless, the city administration sees the planned costs of an estimated 330 million euros as a decisive disadvantage. CDU MP Ulrich Brock in particular cites the financial burdens that already exist due to the expansion of the district heating network as an argument. For the citizens of Lübeck, the fact that the decision against the tram could result in additional costs for the renovation of bridges in the long term remains a central issue.

Alternative solutions

Instead, the city administration prefers to optimize the existing bus network in combination with using the existing rail routes for a “Regio-S-Bahn”. Transport transition officer Michael Stödter sees potential in rail-based offers, but considers the conditions in Lübeck to be unfavorable. Torsten Fürter from the FDP is also skeptical about the idea of ​​a tram and suggests alternative “on demand” solutions.

In this context, the Lübeck Greens in particular are signaling their disappointment with the decision and continue to emphasize the need for a tram. They argue that without the tram, the city cannot sustainably solve the existing transport problems. While some politicians such as Ulrich Brock from the CDU advocate a positive vision for transport planning, the issue of the tram remains an emotional debate that highlights both the social and ecological aspects of transport in Lübeck.

Given the changing transport transition in Germany, which aims to strengthen trains and buses, it remains to be seen how public opinion and political decisions will develop in Lübeck. A further increase in traffic congestion in the city could reignite the discussion. According to Statista, an increase in the number of public transport users was already recorded in 2024, laying the foundation for future considerations and measures.