If at all, then only tram fans in Mainz could be interested in the track systems, which can almost be called historic, that have been underground in Finthen for 45 years: i.e. since the line was commissioned.

On the other hand, these rails, which have really reached the end of their service life despite repeated repair work, are no longer usable for regular tram traffic, said Jochen Erlhof, Managing Director of the transport company, also known as Mainz Mobility.

He presented what is to happen in the near future on the “branch” leading from the Elbestraße to the Finther Römerquelle.

Markus Schug

Correspondent Rhein-Main-Süd.

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According to this, thanks to federal funding and municipal support, a good 14 million euros are expected to be available to completely renew various sections of track with a total length of around four kilometers.

It's not quite certain with the federal funding, all those involved had to admit when visiting the construction site at Gonsenheim's Juxplatz.

But there are definitely positive signals.

The Mainz local transport operators hope to benefit from freshly filled funding pots from the Federal Ministry of Transport.

A "showpiece route" in a "tram district"

Municipalities that invest more than ten million euros in the modernization of existing tram tracks can expect subsidies of up to 50 percent of the eligible expenses in the future.

In addition, the city, which is now much better positioned due to unusually high trade tax income, is also ready to participate in the financing of this important infrastructure project if necessary.

That's why intensive work has been going on since last weekend on Breite Straße in Gonsenheim to remove the old track systems, including catenaries and masts.

The declared goal is that after the end of the school holidays, i.e. at the beginning of September, as many road users as possible can use the shopping street, which experience has shown to be heavily frequented, again without restrictions.

The Mainz traffic department head Janina Steinkrüger (Die Grünen) spoke of a "showpiece route" in a "tram district" with a view to the section to be renovated in the middle of Gonsenheim, which was last completely renovated around 25 years ago.

According to the estimates of the planners, who between Elbestraße and the terminus still have to replace several meters of old and worn grooved tracks "that have reached the wear limit" in stages.

In addition, grass is to grow across the city on several lines between the tracks: for example in the Zaybachtal near the Römersteine ​​and in the upper town.

All in all, the previous ballast bed between the sleepers will be replaced by lawns over a length of 3.6 kilometers, as requested by many citizens and because it is more climate-friendly.

According to Erlhof, this will cost the city, which hopes not least to reduce noise, around five million euros.

Mayor Michael Ebling (SPD) pointed out - and not for the first time - that the state capital can currently afford more than it used to and therefore wants to "give something back" to the citizens.

The municipality, which until recently was still highly indebted at almost 1.3 billion euros, has recently made exorbitantly high trade tax revenues - even if this cannot be officially confirmed in the town hall for reasons of tax secrecy.

The Mainz-based and currently exceptionally successful corona vaccine manufacturer Biontech is probably responsible for this.