The reactivation of a railway line in Swabia that was shut down more than 30 years ago is getting closer. According to the district of Augsburg, there is a positive cost-benefit study for the route between Gessertshausen and Langenneufnach, the so-called Staudenbahn. “The report reveals that the Staudenbahn would not only be a benefit in terms of transport infrastructure, but would also have real added value for the entire region,” said District Administrator Martin Sailer on Monday when the paper was presented with Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter.
The route was gradually shut down from the 1980s. An action alliance was later formed to put the allegedly unprofitable connection back into operation. A private railway company has been running on the Staudenbahn for almost two decades. So far, however, these are only weekend and holiday trips. The route is now to be upgraded for daily passenger traffic. It should also be electrified. The district parliament factions rejected the operation of diesel railcars from economic and ecological points of view, reported the district office. The electrification of the route can be funded with up to 90 percent from federal funds.
For the reactivation, the district of Augsburg wants to enter into a long-term cooperation with a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm (SWU). The Ulmer should act as a technical consultant and partner. “The SWU already have the necessary know-how from other reactivation projects and for this reason, among other things, represent an ideal cooperation partner for us,” explained Sailer.