Görlitz is facing a local transport crisis: What will happen to the tram?

Görlitz is facing a local transport crisis: What will happen to the tram?

In Görlitz, local transport is facing groundbreaking decisions. The insolvency of the road construction manufacturer HeiterBlick from Leipzig not only affects its own projects, but also affects the modernization of public transport in the region. One wonders what will happen next, especially since the monitoring committee for the Lausitz district approved a whopping 68 million euros for important improvements in November 2021. The city planned to replace the outdated trams with modern, barrier-free low-floor trams and build new stops to achieve better connections. But the road there could be bumpy.

As the Saxon informed, Heiterblick's insolvency means that the completion of the trams planned for Görlitz, Leipzig and Zwickau is at risk. Mayor Octavian Ursu commented on this and emphasized that the coordination with the co-clients in Leipzig and Zwickau will be continued intensively. In this situation, it remains to be hoped that the planned vehicles can still be delivered promptly.

The state of affairs

HeiterBlick GmbH has filed for insolvency under self-administration, which means that business operations will initially continue. They receive support from an administrator while a restructuring process is initiated. The aim is to stabilize HeiterBlick GmbH sustainably. Footnote for investors: Current plans could be significantly delayed by these developments.

The discussion about the suitability of a tram-based local transport system for Görlitz has also gained momentum. The question here is whether the city and its citizens would be better served in the future with the old trams or a modern local transport system. As a result of these events, the *city of Görlitz* also had to deal with infrastructure challenges. The demand for expansion and modernization to meet increasing demand is becoming louder and louder.

The future of public transport in Germany

According to this VDV The use of local public transport has decreased due to the consequences of the corona pandemic and the energy crisis. In order to get public transport back on track, not only innovative bus concepts are required, but also investments in the infrastructure. It has been calculated that there will be a backlog of around 64 billion euros for municipal public transport infrastructure by 2030. A massive increase in funding is therefore essential.

Overall, it is clear that local transport in Görlitz, as in many other cities in Germany, is facing major challenges. It remains to be hoped that both the trams and the modernization of public transport will soon become reality in the planned form. One thing is clear: a functioning infrastructure is crucial for the mobility of citizens and the future development of the region.