Munich/Berlin (dpa/lby) - Contrary to initial statements, the federal government wants to contribute to the emerging additional costs for the second S-Bahn trunk line in Munich. "The federal government is still willing to support the project with up to 60 percent of the eligible costs from funds from the GVFG federal program if the funding requirements are met," says a letter from Michael Theurer (FDP), State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics Traffic Committee of the German Bundestag, which is available to the German Press Agency in Munich. The "Münchner Merkur" (Friday) also reported on the letter of July 6, 2022.
Theurer, who is also the federal government's representative for rail transport, puts a statement by the ministry's press office into perspective. At the beginning of the week, a spokesman said on request that the financing agreement for the main route did not contain any provisions in the event of cost increases. "According to this declaration, the responsibility for ensuring the overall financing of the project lies with the Free State of Bavaria."
Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) immediately contradicted this and emphasized that the federal government "of course" had to stand by its promise and assume 60 percent of the eligible costs. This basically includes everything that is necessary to realize the construction.
Last week, the news caused a stir that the Bavarian Ministry of Transport assumes that the costs for the construction of the second railway tube will rise from 3.85 to up to 7.2 billion euros. In addition, the opening of the central route through the city center could be delayed from 2028 to 2037. The construction is a joint project by Deutsche Bahn, the Free State of Bavaria, the City of Munich and the Federal Republic of Germany, among others.
For its part, Deutsche Bahn has not yet published any figures or details on the project. "The Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) has not yet received any official and reliable information on cost increases and delays in the second S-Bahn trunk line in Munich." However, possible cost increases and extensions of construction time would have to be represented and justified by the project developer of Deutsche Bahn AG.
