After the 2008 failure of the Transrapid, Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) is looking to give Germany’s maglev technology a fresh start. He says the government will now support the development of new, modern maglev trains that could compete with U-Bahn and tram services in local transit. The “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition) reports that a ministerial spokesperson described the system as a “ready‑to‑use and competitive alternative to conventional rail‑based transport”, noting it offers clear advantages in difficult topography. These claims stem from a 2021 feasibility study commissioned by former Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU).
The ministry is currently working on opening the Municipal Transport Financing Act (GVFG) for discussion within the federal government, in line with the coalition agreement’s aim to promote innovative solutions such as maglev. The act would allow up to 90 percent of public‑transport infrastructure projects to be financed with federal subsidies, with roughly €2 billion earmarked for this purpose this year.