Dispute over Brenzbahn: Heidenheim sets ultimatum - what happens now?
Dispute over Brenzbahn: Heidenheim sets ultimatum - what happens now?
Heidenheim, Deutschland - The planned expansion of the Brenzbahn between Heidenheim and Ulm ensures tensions between the districts of Heidenheim and Alb-Donau. In a recent dispute, the Heidenheim district has set an ultimatum to the Alb-Donau district to make an opinion on the planning costs by June 10th. This reports SWR .
District Administrator Peter Polta from Heidenheim sees the expansion a "historical opportunity" and emphasizes the increased funding amount of the state of Baden-Württemberg, which could drive the process. In contrast, the Alb-Donau-Kreis recognizes low traffic benefits from the project and lets the ultimatum pass. Nevertheless, the Alb-Donau-Kreis agreed to participate in the planning costs with around 118,000 euros by 2024.
financing and cost structure
The total costs for the expansion of the Brenzbahn are estimated at around 600 million euros. According to district of Heidenheim , the country could only take over 147 million euros and the municipalities 57 million euros would contribute. The Heidenheim district council has also decided on a solidarity contribution of 667,000 euros.
Transport Minister Winfried Herrmann made it clear that the Brenzbahn was not endangered, even if the Alb-Donau-Kreis makes only a low financial contribution. Nevertheless, the Alb-Donau district accuses the Heidenheim district of a lack of solidarity, since it has not participated in public transport projects in other circles in the past.
meaning of the project
The expansion of the Brenzbahn is not only important for Heidenheim, but also for the entire East Württemberg and the Danube-Eller region. The advantages that could arise from the project include an hourly express connection and a semi -hour between Heidenheim and Aalen, supplemented by an electrified railway line. These points were highlighted by District Administrator Polta.
The Alb-Donau district, represented by District Administrator Heiner Scheffold, has questioned the infrastructural advantages. At this point, Georg Brunnhuber, a former CDU member of the Bundestag, also warns of the possible failure of the project if no agreement can be reached between the counties.
For the electrification and expansion of the Brenzbahn, the state government of Baden-Württemberg has provided additional financial support in order to significantly relieve the planning costs. The country takes over 50 percent of the rail project editions that are funded by the federal government, as well as the full costs for electrification, provided that these are not already covered by federal funds. This has been recorded in a joint declaration of intent since the end of 2020, as in the report of DetailsOrt Heidenheim, Deutschland Quellen