Image: Volker Weihbold
The planning of a local train from Linz via Gallneukirchen to Pregarten and the connection of the Mühlkreisbahn to Linz Hauptbahnhof are the goals of the express train concept that the state of Upper Austria is pursuing with the two branches S6 (Upper Mühlviertel) and S7 (Localbahn Pregarten). ARGE “PRO Mühlkreisbahn” is now concerned that a dispute has broken out in the past few days between Linz Mayor Klaus Luger and Infrastructure Minister Günther Steinkellner about the traffic routing of two new bus lines that Linz wants to run parallel to the Stadtbahn route. This unites all mayors along the Mühlkreisbahn.
appeal for togetherness
In view of the financial and traffic-related volume of this project, there is no question for this platform that the best must be created for Linz and the Mühlviertel. Andreas Lindorfer, Mayor of Rohrbach-Berg: “We want the best connections for our citizens, who travel to Linz every day to strengthen the economy. Mutual recriminations are useless. The city regional train needs to be put on track!”
The fact is that many people from the Upper Mühlviertel and from the Gallneukirchen area travel to Linz every day. The economy in the greater Linz area lives to a large extent from these people. These would have deserved that their routes could be managed without traffic jams and in an environmentally friendly way. Rapid transit and inner-city transport should complement each other. There should be no competitive situation and certainly no delay in the rapid transit concept.
unity in the region
“I am very happy that all mayors and decision-makers along the Mühlkreisbahn have recognized the importance of the railway line for the future of our region,” says Klaus Falkinger, spokesman for “PRO Mühlkreisbahn” and mayor of Kleinzell. A project is currently being worked on to increase the use of the railway. With a good connection to Linz’s main train station, for example, the catchment area for tourism can be expanded. “There is no alternative to the Linz Stadtbahn in combination with the Mühlkreisbahn. We also see this as an opportunity to enable the gentle development of nature by rail. That is why there must be no standstill in planning and implementation due to controversial perspectives,” says Elisabeth Höfler, Mayor of the market town of Aigen-Schlägl.
Source: Nachrichten
