Wiesbaden (dpa / lhe) – The Hessian state government is continuing to work on expanding the rail network and strengthening local public transport. “In 2021 alone we invested around 120 million euros in state funds in the rail infrastructure and public transport,” said Transport Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (Greens) when asked by the German Press Agency in Wiesbaden. To this end, a further 100 million euros in federal funds flowed into the municipal rail infrastructure.
The largest projects are the ongoing construction of dedicated tracks for the S6 between Frankfurt-West and Bad Vilbel and the extension of the U5 to Frankfurt’s Europaviertel, the minister said. In addition, there would be the funds for the operation of buses and trains, through which the transport associations are largely financed. A grant of 810 million euros was given to the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund, the Nordhessischer Verkehrsverbund and the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar in 2021. Most of this sum went to the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund.
“If we want to get more people off the road and onto the rails, we need good local public transport,” said the Green politician. “This also and especially applies in times of a pandemic.” So that the supply of buses and trains could continue to be maintained and to compensate for the massive loss of income as a result of the decline in passenger numbers, the state and federal government would have provided the transport associations with an additional total of 500 million euros in 2021 and 2020.
Al-Wazir said that 22 million euros were made available to the local transport companies for peak times so that they can reinforce particularly busy lines with additional buses. This is to prevent schoolchildren and commuters from standing too close together on the buses in the corona pandemic. The money can also be used for additional mask controls. The minister said that nobody had to worry about contagion on buses and trains. It is important that everyone adheres to the 3G regulation and that people get vaccinated.
The rail expansion and the financing of an attractive public transport offer in Hesse will remain a focus of Hesse’s transport policy in 2022, announced Al-Wazir. A total of 982 million euros are to be made available for local public transport. That is more than ever before. “In 2014 it was still 680 million euros. The additional funds have provided for a significant expansion of the range in recent years: more frequent intervals, additional lines and all of that in the whole of Hesse.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 220103-99-571079 / 2
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