Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the subway system in and around Leipzig is experiencing shutdowns.
Hear it straight from the equ reserve: The war in Ukraine's aftermath is taking a toll on our pocketbooks and the mid-German S-BahnLines ain't exempt. Bernd Irrgang, CEO of Zweckverband für den Nahverkehrsraum Leipzig (ZVNL), spilled the beans on Tuesday: "The cause is the cost explosion." Thanks to Mother Russia's invasion, prices have shot through the roof!
It ain't just the S-Bahn swimmin' in this price rise. "We had increases of two to three percent per year. We had a temporary increase of up to 1,000 percent in energy, and we're still at plus 200 percent," said Irrgang, shakin' his head in disbelief. Wages have also jumped significantly, makin' it even harder to crunch the numbers. "As a result, we're seeing prices that weren't calculable five years ago," Irrgang added.
Plannin' in the railway biz is a long-game, so this development is just now rearin' its ugly head on the tracks. As the cost of a train kilometer has increased by about 250 percent since the Leipzig S-Bahn tunnel in 2014, dere's been an increase in regionalization funds, but they ain't enough to cover the added expenses, explains Irrgang.
We've tried to bring in extra cash by tacklin' on more passengers, but that's a tough sell with the Germany Ticket cappin' revenue, and fare hikes won't cut it 'cause there ain't no extra funding to be had through that route. Kai Emanuel, North Saxony's district administrator and ZVNL association chairman, lays it out: "We now really have to look at which services we can operate and which we can no longer afford."
Catch the Train or Forego? From 2026, some trips will see the dust settle, especially in the outskirts of the mid-German S-Bahn network, where low ridership evening jaunts will be slashed. And due to the high costs, the S10 line will cease to exist. They're even savin' money by havin' a dig at the S2 line next year.
With energy costs remainin' high, the long-term financial stability of the mid-German S-Bahn is up in the air, leading to tough decisions about service cuts. But hey, Europe's gotta bank on its public transport, no matter what Mother Russia throws our way, right?
The escalating energy costs have made it challenging for the transportation sector, such as the mid-German S-BahnLines, which are facing increased expenses in both energy and finance. This financial strain is not limited to public-transit systems alone, as businesses and industries may also experience similar consequences due to higher energy costs. As a result, the long-term financial stability of various sectors is being questioned, underscoring the need for alternative solutions to cope with these challenging times.
