Riesa in danger: SPD is fighting for the ICE stop and jobs!

Riesa in danger: SPD is fighting for the ICE stop and jobs!

There's a lot of excitement in Riesa at the moment, because Deutsche Bahn's planned timetable change from December 2025 is causing a lot of excitement. The decision to drastically reduce ICE stops in the city could have fatal consequences for the important transport hub between Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz. The SPD district association Meißen sounds the alarm and vehemently calls for the existing stops to be retained.

The chairman of the SPD, Andreas Schurig, has already sent a letter to the responsible decision-makers to present the arguments for reversing the decision. “Riesa must not be left behind in the transport network,” says Schurig, who is clearly in favor of strengthening the connections between the city and the surrounding area. Over 5,300 people have signed an online petition to maintain the ICE stops in Riesa, showing how important access to long-distance transport is to citizens.

Riesa as an important hub

The city of Riesa, which has around 30,000 inhabitants, sees itself as a central point in the region. A strong rail network could support the local industry, including the establishment of ESMC in the north of Dresden, which, according to Schurig, will create thousands of new jobs. The long-distance transport that connects Riesa with other large cities also relieves the busy RE50 regional express.

However, those responsible at Deutsche Bahn calculate that only around 30 passengers get on or off per ICE stop in Riesa. This number appears to provide the railway with a justifiable basis for the deletion. But critics see it differently: The Pro Bahn passenger association and numerous local politicians warn that such decisions could further isolate rural regions such as Riesa. The mayor of Oschatz, David Schmidt, also supported the petition and emphasized the immense importance of the ICE stop for connections to other regions.

Economic impact

The planned changes to the timetable stipulate that ICE trains will only stop in the direction of Leipzig in the morning and in the direction of Dresden in the evening. Users, especially daily commuters, could be severely disadvantaged with this reduction. If the decision does not change, the Upper Elbe Transport Association (VVO) would like to reduce payments, as the use of long-distance transport from Riesa is currently very important for around 30 commuters every day.

It remains to be seen how those responsible will react to the numerous protests. The pressure on Deutsche Bahn is constantly growing, and the people of Riesa remain hopeful that the concerns of the citizens and the region will not be ignored. With the petition, the population shows emphatically that the ICE stop in Riesa is a matter close to their hearts and that they want to defend themselves against the impending changes.