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Heidelberg (dpa) - A French initiative wants to revive the night train route between Frankfurt, the Rhine and Barcelona.
According to a study, the route via Lyon, Alsace and Mannheim has potential, the association's spokesman announced on Wednesday.
However, passenger and freight cars would have to be combined and new train models designed that could withstand speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.
The French night train association “Association Objectif Train de Nuit”, which emerged in 2019 from a group of citizens who are committed to the revitalization of night train routes in Europe, assumes a potential of around 164,000 passengers per year.
That was the result of a feasibility study.
Night trains have been experiencing a renaissance for some time.
Because not only the Corona crisis has changed people's travel behavior.
The debate about climate change has also accelerated the trend towards night on the rails.
The route of the connection to and from Catalonia could lead from Barcelona via Montpellier, Avignon, Lyon, Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg and Mannheim to Frankfurt.
"That would be the central piece of the puzzle for the night train network between the metropolises of Europe," said the Green politician Cem Özdemir from Stuttgart.
Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) described night trains as “good news for rail travelers, for Europe and for the climate”.
Night trains could become a trend, especially among young people who like to travel internationally but do not want to fly for reasons of climate protection.
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Nevertheless, the unresolved financing question remains for the project between Barcelona and Frankfurt.
"A pure passenger train would not be economically viable at the moment," said a spokesman for the association.
"But it would be worthwhile if a combined model can be implemented."
Deficits in the initial phase would have to be borne by the railway companies and the regions, the association admitted.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210217-99-477726 / 2
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