AfD plans cable car through Berlin: news from the transport sector

AfD plans cable car through Berlin: news from the transport sector

A closed meeting of the Berlin AfD parliamentary group recently took place in Vienna, which discussed plans for the construction of a new cable car in Berlin. The proposed route should run from Wasserstadt Spandau to the Schumacher district on the site of the former Tegel Airport. The AfD expert Rolf Wiedenhaupt described this connection as quite sensible, as the existing local public transport (ÖPNV) is inadequate in this area. Wiedenhaupt also highlighted the advantages of the cable car: it saves space, causes little disruption to forests and allotments and is barrier-free.

The AfD has therefore called on the Senate to commission a feasibility study for the project. This is not the first time such plans have been discussed. Parties such as the SPD, CDU and Left have proposed similar cable car projects in the past, but these were never implemented. The Senate Transport Administration's skepticism towards cable car projects is not new. In previous surveys, the BVG rejected participation because the existing means of transport were already at capacity. In addition, the IGA cable car, which cost 14 million euros, already indicated that the city does not want to pay for further projects in the future.

The Senate and the feasibility study

Regardless of the AfD's plans, the Berlin transport administration has not yet advertised or awarded the feasibility study for cable cars. This information was recently requested by FDP MP Felix Reifschneider. The transport administration's response says that updating the local transport plan for the period 2024-2028 is currently being prioritized. Development trends at the federal level should be awaited, in particular an upcoming study by the Federal Ministry of Transport on the integration of urban cable car projects.

Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing sees cable cars as a reliable and sustainable transport alternative. There are currently cable cars in Germany only in Berlin, Koblenz and Cologne, but they are not integrated into the public transport network. The BVG and the transport administration continue to reject the integration of the existing Marzahn cable car into local transport. A contract between the Gardens of the World and the operator Leitner was recently extended by ten years; VBB tickets are not valid.

Cable cars as part of local transport

The integration of urban cable cars into public transport could be promoted by a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. The aim of this study is to create guidelines for the implementation of cable cars in local public transport, which should be available within two years. Experimental approaches show that cable cars could be a promising addition to existing local transport, especially in urban areas.

However, the general resistance phenomenon “Not-In-My-Backyard Syndrome” remains a challenge for the implementation of such projects. At the same time, the example of the cable car in Koblenz shows that acceptance of cable cars increases when they are part of the local transport system. However, as current developments in Berlin show, the various political parties, including the Greens, are skeptical about cable cars. The ongoing moans are a clear call to action for the Berlin Senate, which must decide how the future of urban mobility in the capital will be shaped.

Berlin courier reports on the AfD's plans, while Daily Mirror the current contract inquiries from the Senate are discussed. A detailed study on the integration of urban cable cars can be found in the Local transport practice be read.