Light rail financing: State gave the green light

The first trains have been ordered, and test drilling for the regional light rail will be carried out in the Linz city area until the end of March. Tangible things are now also happening in terms of financing – at least at the country and city level.

The Linz local council will vote on the financing agreement with the state tomorrow, Thursday, and a majority is considered fixed. The state government gave the green light on Monday. The contract in question regulates the mutual participation of the city and the state in the light rail and the Linz trolleybus line 48.

No toll for bridge

Expressed in numbers, this means that Linz will participate in the light rail with 7.5 percent or a maximum of 50 million euros; the costs for the Linz section are currently 667 million euros. In return, the state contributes 40 percent to the Linz trolleybus project. The investment volume here is 59.3 million euros, the state contribution cap is 23.7 million euros.

As reported, there was a long struggle over the 35-page financing agreement: for months, those responsible at the state and city levels were unable to come to an agreement because they disagreed on key issues. However, at the beginning of December, the long-awaited compromise was presented, led by Governor Stelzer (VP) and Linz Mayor Klaus Luger (SP). With the agreement that has now been reached, it is now “exactly clear who will take over which part,” said Governor Stelzer and State Mobility Councilor Günther Steinkellner (FP).

First test drilling for the light rail in Linz
Image: (State Upper Austria)

This also means that the state does not have to pay any tolls for using the new railway bridge, says Steinkellner. This had previously been one of the contentious points. Conversely, Linz Linien would not have to pay any payments for the use of the planned foreland bridge over the Donaulände, which is used by light rail and trolleybuses.

Stelzer and Steinkellner agree that the project promises added value across generations; they see it as strengthening the educational and scientific location. The construction of the regional light rail is intended to make a fast connection between the main train station and Mühlkreis station (S6) a reality; another branch (S7) is also intended to make the area of the JKU and the planned digital university accessible. In addition, an extension to Gallneukirchen or Pregarten is planned.

Positive signals from Vienna

However, the financing question has not yet been finally clarified after the approval of the state and city – the agreement with the federal government is still pending. This should cover 50 percent of the costs. There is already a declaration of intent, but the necessary 15a agreement between the state and federal government is not yet in place. The signals from Vienna are positive, can be heard from the country house.

According to the Ministry of Transport under Leonore Gewessler (Greens), the contents of the 15a agreement are already in the final vote; for example, details on schedules and costs still need to be clarified. The collaboration is going very well and the schedule remains “extremely ambitious”. But all sides would work to ensure that the agreement could be reached before the National Council’s summer break.