The Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning

Top News 11 August 2022 New life for decommissioned railway lines

BBSR study detects positive effects on the development of rural area



The revitalisation of decommissioned railway lines in rural areas contributes to improving mobility and upgrading regions, thus making them more appealing as places to live, locations for companies and destinations for tourists. This is the conclusion of a study published by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR).

According to the results of the research, reactivation projects have a positive impact on the population development of a region, as the advantages of living in the country can now be combined with the employment and leisure offers available in surrounding towns. The projects studied clearly confirm this conclusion. The revitalisation of the railway lines therefore also relieves the pressure on the housing markets in large cities. Residential and business locations in rural areas become more attractive and ensure a lasting demand on the local housing and real estate market. A reactivated railway line can also become a local brand, enhance the profile of a region and raise its attraction as a tourist location. Traffic volumes on roads and railways are relieved, especially in conurbations and tourist regions. The reactivation of railway lines as an alternative to the construction of new roads or railway routes can help reduce the growing fragmentation of the landscape and the consumption of land to create new traffic routes. Reactivation also contributes to making regions accessible without harming the environment.

"Since 1994, more than 5,000 kilometres of railway lines have been closed down in Germany, yet only slightly more than 1,000 kilometres of railway lines have been reactivated during the same period. The revitalisation of lines has a signal effect. It is an investment in the future sustainability of a region," says Dr Markus Eltges, Director of the BBSR. "Apart from structural policy motives, the federal states can strengthen railways as a means of transport by reactivating decommissioned railway lines, which is an important part of the transformation of mobility."

The study carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH WPG (PwC), indicated that the federal and state governments need to simplify and accelerate planning processes in order to boost reactivation projects. In addition to studies only dealing with economic feasibility, potential impacts on the development of a region should always be included in the decision process for reactivation projects. Furthermore, the federal states and regional planning authorities should call for tenders for premium-quality transport services in a competition procedure. The focus must be on turning stations along the railway lines into mobility stations in order to strengthen connecting mobility and to bundle offers such as stations for car and bike sharing possibilities.

The publication "Spatial effects of reactivated railway lines in rural areas" is available at www.bbsr.bund.de.


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