The plans for the construction of a long-distance railway tunnel under Frankfurt city center meet with the approval of the parties in the Hessian state parliament.
Comments from the CDU, Greens, FDP and Left Party speak of an important project for the development of the economic and financial metropolis of the state and an important project for the traffic turnaround in Hesse.
The Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) warns against neglecting the above-ground expansion of local public transport with reference to the expensive tunnel project.
Ralf Euler
Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung, responsible for the Rhein-Main section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
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In a feasibility study presented on Monday, Deutsche Bahn came to the conclusion that a double-track long-distance railway tunnel with a new through station under the current main station could be realized.
The implementation of this major project, currently valued at 3.6 billion euros, would make long-distance transport more stable and flexible, while regional transport would be faster and more reliable, comments the transport policy spokesman for the CDU parliamentary group, Markus Meysner.
The aboveground sack station would then be completely reserved for regional trains, argues Meysner.
"A real added value for the steadily growing Rhine-Main region."
The four additional underground platforms would be in addition to the existing aboveground boarding options, emphasizes Karin Müller, Member of the Green Parliament.
In this way, the capacity of the main station can be increased from the current 1250 to 1500 trains per day.
The parliamentary group leader of the Left Party, Janine Wissler, is also pleased with the result of the feasibility study and speaks of a courageous step.
"If we want to get serious about the traffic turnaround, then a massive expansion of the rail infrastructure is key."
"Eliminate concerns early on"
The FDP state chairwoman Bettina Stark-Watzinger calls on the black-green state government to support the tunnel project. “Anyone who uses the railways as a climate-friendly means of transport must also be prepared to create the necessary infrastructure and to push a mega-construction project.” Above all, citizens must be massively promoted for support and concerns must be resolved early on. The current terminus is causing many delays, says Stark-Watzinger. "People shouldn't avoid Frankfurt, but rather come to the city."
Heiko Nickel from the regional association of the German Transport Club points out that Deutsche Bahn has been "saved up" since going public in 1994. The planning of an expensive tunnel under Frankfurt is therefore also a result of the failed rail policy of the federal government in the past 20 years.