German government’s cabinet approves draft amendment to the General Railway Act, aiming to regulate the use of former railway areas.
The German Federal Ministry of Transport announced on Wednesday that the cabinet has adopted a formulation aid for a draft bill to amend the General Railway Act. The amendment is intended to regulate the use of former railway areas, the ministry stated.
According to the Federal Minister of Transport, Patrick Schneider, the current state of affairs is unacceptable, as many urban development projects are being blocked, despite there being no need for the areas in terms of traffic or a long-term perspective for railway operations.
While it is necessary to ensure that sufficient areas are available for a growing rail traffic in densely populated areas, the previous legislative amendment has gone too far, the minister said.
The formulation aid aims to offer a compromise proposal that enables the preservation of railway infrastructure in the context of potential reactivations, while also striking a balance with other concerns, such as municipal urban planning. The further process now lies in the hands of the factions.