The planning work for the new regional light rail system in Linz is progressing: in coordination with the federal government, the state of Upper Austria has now provided the financial means for the preliminary project planning of a further section. Specifically, it is about a four-kilometer stretch between the new railway bridge over the Danube dam to the Johannes Kepler University.
So far, the planning consortium of the two companies ILF and Schimetta had been working on the connection between the Mühlkreis station in Linz-Urfahr and the Linz main station, the future S6. It turned out that the section of line that branches off at the railway bridge to the JKU and from there should lead to Gallneukirchen and Pregarten as the S7 should already be planned.
Optimize interfaces
The expansion of the project should ensure that in the future the interfaces between the S6 and the S7 are sufficiently taken into account, according to a broadcast from the state. Planning is now being carried out for all planned route sections in the Linz city area. “All aspects relating to the current location development of the TU Linz in the Auhof area will also be included in the planning. The goal here is the optimal coordination of these two major projects,” said Transport Provincial Councilor Günther Steinkellner (FP).
After the legal basis had been created, the federal government promised a financial contribution. “With the regional light rail system in Linz, we are building the future of public transport in Upper Austria,” said Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens).
For the time being, the additional planning services will be financed by the state government’s Upper Austria plan. “The project will relieve thousands of commuters and connect the city and rural areas in an environmentally friendly way,” says Governor Thomas Stelzer (VP). The plans are expected to be submitted in the second half of 2023.
Linz’s city politicians also welcome the expansion of planning. “It makes sense to award the preliminary planning for the quite challenging sections of the route now, because the expansion of the express trains to the surrounding communities is existential for Linz,” says Mayor Klaus Luger (SP). “Rapid planning is particularly important for the university location,” said Deputy Mayor Martin Hajart (VP).
Source: Nachrichten
