Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – In addition to long planning and approval procedures, the Federal Government’s rail commissioner, Michael Theurer, believes that public protests are the main reason for the brakes on rail expansion. “We are making great efforts to reach a consensus on the ground, but that takes time. The truth is that the upgraded and new lines regularly cause great resistance locally,” said the head of the Southwest FDP of the “Schwäbische Zeitung” ( Monday).
“On Sunday, most people are in favor of goods being shifted to rail. But if they are affected themselves, there will be demonstrations against freight routes from Monday to Saturday.” This is the case at the Brenner inlet, in the Lüneburg Heath, where the issue is a better connection to the port of Hamburg, also between Hanover and Bielefeld. “Actually, almost always. But what is needed is a consensus across society to strengthen rail.”
