Challenges for the Greens: Closing a route exacerbates troubles for Rufus
The small city of Ludwigslust in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is currently navigating significant changes in its regional transport system, with the closure of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line for renovation from August 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026.
The closure has led to a shift in traffic patterns, with rerouting and the use of replacement buses to maintain connectivity between Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. The RE85 line offers a direct train service via Schwerin and other stops every two hours during the construction period. Over 170 buses cover 28 local routes to replace suspended train services, with local schedules being adjusted in cooperation with transport authorities.
However, the impact on demand-responsive transport like call bus and on-demand bus systems is not explicitly addressed. Stefan Lösel, managing director of VLP, questions the necessity of buying a Germany ticket during the track renovation, as alternatives like car travel are available. The on-demand bus system in the district is currently experiencing around 1,000 trips a day, with a potential for 20,000 trips or more.
Felix Banaszak, federal chairman of the Greens, recently visited Ludwigslust to learn about the impact of the renovation on the region. Banaszak sees the call bus system in the district as well-positioned but with an ever-growing financing problem. He expressed concerns about whether the renovation will be perceived as creating something new or if it will first be experienced as a loss.
Banaszak, who arrived in Ludwigslust by electric car after traveling by train, was visibly impressed by the potential of the on-demand bus system. He is interested in finding reliable local transport options in the region and could potentially advocate for distributing the revenues from the Germany ticket nationwide based on postal codes as a federal politician.
The Germany ticket, introduced in 2023, offers a flat-rate monthly ticket for local and regional public transport across Germany. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern participates in the national scheme, facilitating travel and fare simplification, supporting public transport use. However, specific details about how ticket revenue is distributed or shared within Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s local transport networks are not provided.
Regular traffic in the district is line-based and is only well-utilized during school times, which is disadvantageous for rural areas and the elderly population. The behavior of the 2,000 rail commuters of the city of Ludwigslust is uncertain when the vacation season is over.
Despite these challenges, there are positive developments in the region. The region is planning a €204 million project to reconnect the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula to the regional rail network by 2028, suggesting ongoing infrastructure investment. The seasonal train connection at Mukran Port to Bornholm saw a significant increase (+43%) in passenger numbers in 2024, indicating growing demand and integration of regional rail with ferry connections.
In conclusion, the Hamburg-Berlin rail renovation is causing widespread changes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's regional transport system, with the potential for increased travel time and complex replacements. The impact on local demand-responsive services like call buses and on-demand buses is not explicitly addressed but likely involves adaptation to replacement and rerouted services. The Germany ticket is actively used in the region, facilitating travel and fare simplification, supporting public transport use. However, there is no detailed public data on how Germany ticket revenues are distributed within Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Ongoing regional rail improvements and passenger growth on routes like Mukran Port to Bornholm highlight ongoing modernization and usage increases.
- In light of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line's renovation, the finance industry might need to adjust ticket pricing strategies, such as the Germany ticket, considering the use of alternative modes of transportation like cars and demand-responsive services, such as call buses and on-demand bus systems, becoming more prevalent.
- The renovation of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line in 2025-2026 is anticipated to impact the industry sector, particularly the transportation and finance sectors, as the changes in the regional transport system might lead to increased costs for travel and necessitate innovative solutions in both sectors to maintain connectivity and passenger satisfaction.
