The Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning

Research Project: Spatial effects of reactivated railway lines in rural areas by means of ex-post analysis

Project briefing

  • Status Completed
  • Project duration June 2021 – November 2021
  • Programme Region gestalten

The research project analysed the spatial effects of rail reactivation in rural areas. For this purpose, an inventory of possible effects was made to subsequently verify them with the help of indicators using trend analysis based on three selected successful reactivation projects.

Furthermore, success and failure factors were derived for reactivations of railway lines based on qualitative content analyses of the three successful and three further (not yet implemented) projects. Based on this, practical recommendations were formulated for public and private sector actors .

Background

In the context of creating equal living conditions in Germany, the connection of rural areas to rail passenger and rail freight transport represents an important factor influencing the quality of life of citizens and the location quality of companies. At the same time, as an environmentally friendly means of transport, rail transport makes an important contribution to achieving the Paris climate targets and the shift to sustainable transport that this requires.

Since 1994, more than 5,000 kilometres of track have been decommissioned in Germany, while at the same time only slightly more than 1,000 kilometres of track have been reactivated. In recent years, however, a rethink has begun. For example, Deutsche Bahn AG, by far the largest rail infrastructure operator in Germany, announced in 2019 that it would no longer decommission any railway lines and would set up a task force for line reactivation.

An essential prerequisite for the funding of rail reactivation projects is proof of benefits exceeding costs, provided in accordance with the standardised evaluation method. However, not all effects of rail reactivation projects are considered in the evaluation.

Objective

Against this background, this research project pursued the objective of investigating the spatial significance of the reactivation of railway lines and the associated positive effects for rural areas in the form of an ex-post analysis.

In addition to the structured recording of conceivable effects, the analysis included the actual effects and interrelationships of effects of various exemplary rail reactivation. Based on this, success and failure factors were derived and recommendations were developed for action by public and private sector actors.

The contractor was PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH WPG (PwC), Düsseldorf.

Contact us

  • Dr. Bernd Buthe
    Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development
    Division RS 5 "Digital Cities, Risk Prevention and Transportation"
    Phone: +49 228 99401-2332
    Email: bernd.buthe@bbr.bund.de

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