Fight for the future: Will the Dresden diesel trains be history soon?

Fight for the future: Will the Dresden diesel trains be history soon?

Neustadt in Sachsen, Deutschland - in Dresden, it is bubbling in the area of ​​local public transport. The shortened timetable of the Saxon steamship company (SDG) ensures worry folds and ambiguities about possible personnel savings. The company's operations manager was unavailable on Tuesday, which further increases the uncertainty. Incidentally, the planned switch to more environmentally friendly train connections in the diesel network is also endangered. Currently, the diesel vehicles that have been in use since 1999-the Desiro railcars of the 642-2031 series are at the end of the lifespan, and in the long term, a far-reaching investment in the infrastructure is needed to switch from 2031 to battery trains.

But the problems don't stop here. The Free State plans to withdraw from the financing of this ambitious project. This could be sensitive to the entire project, even if the association assembly has decided to pre -finance most of the planning costs. A common solution for sustainable local transport is urgently sought, emphasizes VVO boss Burkhard Ehlen. Talks with the Saxon Infrastructure Ministry are on the agenda.

sustainability in focus

Especially in times of rising CO2 emissions and overcrowded inner cities, sustainability in public transport is becoming increasingly important. In Germany, around 20 percent of CO2 emissions are eliminated to the transport sector-and the trend is rising. The switch from the car to bus and train could save up to 1.5 tons of CO2 per person per year. A single articulated bus can replace about 40 cars and thus relieve the streets, which is of considerable advantage for the quality of life in densely populated areas. reports that the advantages of sustainable public transport go beyond the environment and promote mobility for all population groups.

Investments in these systems not only recruit themselves for climate protection, but also bring great benefits to the economy. Every euro that is put into public transport generates a benefit of 3.70 euros. In addition, innovative drive technologies such as electrical and hydrogen buses play a decisive role for an environmentally friendly future in traffic. Fraunhofer ISE emphasizes that research is indispensable on sustainable mobility solutions and many facets comprises.

Why the switch to acute technology is important

The challenges should not be underestimated: the limited range of vehicles, high acquisition costs and regional gaps in the charging infrastructure must be overcome. The planned switch from diesel to battery trains is particularly important - here a comprehensive change is necessary to achieve the EU climate goals. From 2031, new railcars are no longer allowed to rely on diesel drive, which increases the pressure to find suitable alternatives.

But how is the Dresden diesel network, which includes the routes from Dresden to Königsbrück, Dresden to Kamenz, Heidenau to Altenberg and Pirna in Neustadt in Saxony, ? The path to more sustainable mobility could be accelerated by creative solutions and cooperation between various actors. The goal remains clear: create the foundations for investments by the federal and free state and thus successfully design the turnover of traffic.

The clock ticks, the challenges are clear - and yet: there is something in the world of public transport in Dresden. The switch to environmentally friendly mobility could not only reduce CO2 emissions, but also create future-proof jobs in the region.