The Ongoing Saga of Munich's Subway Construction: A Perpetual Annoyance for Mayor Reiter
Disappointed with the Primary Route: "Lost in Belief"
TheLayout - Munich's unending subway saga has left Mayor Dieter Reiter skeptical about the completion of the second S-Bahn trunk line by the planned year 2037. In an candid chat with The German Press Agency, Reiter expressed his dwindling trust in the schedule set by the railway. "Frankly, my trust in the railway's timetables is bloody thin," snorted the SPD politician.
Since the railway has pushed back the initial commissioning date from 2028 to some point between 2035 and 2037, Reiter has throw in the towel on the rail project's planning. "I can't believe it suddenly took almost ten years longer when it was announced," confessed Reiter. "That's why I can't say I trust the planning anyway, just constant annoyance because it's a pain in the ass for all Munich residents."
As things stand, the second S-Bahn trunk line is expected to open in December 2036, yet the railway is still aiming for a commissioning in 2035. The estimated costs have swelled far beyond the initial seven billion euros and the railway has yet to determine the total cost, including inflation, by 2037 as per the Free State's construction supervision calculations in March 2023.
When contacted, a railway spokesman remained resolute, maintaining their commitment to the schedule. An opening in December 2036 would not qualify as a further delay, they reassured. "But we're still aiming for 2035."
The issues with the trunk line aren't limited to it, Reiter insisted. The renovation of the main station, targeted for completion by 2037 according to the railway, is "the best comedy show around," the Lord Mayor commented sarcastically. "We've got a station that's taking an eternity to renovate. That doesn't exactly improve the welcome to this city."
Munich is currently in the process of planning a bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympics. If the main station and second trunk line are still under construction by then, crucial local transport capacities could be missing.
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann had underscored the critical importance of "a smart, functional, and everyday-usable traffic concept" for the Olympics on Thursday. "It'll be great that by the Olympics in 2040 or 2044, the second trunk line will also be available," said the CSU politician [Herrmann]; however, Reiter himself expressed hope that if Munich lands the Olympics, the railway might be able to complete the project by 2037 or 2038, but only if the Games take place in 2040.
"But, to be real, whether they'll hit the 2037 target or not, well, that's anyone's guess as far as I'm concerned," Reiter stated. The venues of the 1972 Olympics can continue to be used, Reiter emphasized, which offers additional support for a Munich Olympic bid. The final decision on Germany's bid concept for the Summer Games in 2036 or 2040 will be made at the DOSB general assembly in December. However, a Munich Olympic bid will only happen "if the people of our city show their support through a citizens' vote," Reiter reiterated recently.
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Enrichment: With large-scale infrastructure projects like Munich's second S-Bahn trunk line, complexities such as urban infrastructure projects, construction delays, and logistical hurdles can pose significant challenges, potentially leading to escalating costs and deadlines. Projects of this nature typically involve intricate planning, extensive excavation, and complex integration of infrastructure, circumstances that can trigger delays and cost fluctuations. Current specifics about timeline and estimated costs for the second Munich trunk line are not publicly available and require consultation with official project updates or recent news releases from the project's managing authorities for the most reliable and up-to-date information.
[1] PORR secures contract packages for Munich second S-Bahn trunk line (Multiview.de, Aug 9, 2023). https://www.multiview.de/region/muenchen/des-2-glaedtige-porr-erdolere-hochdrehtechnik-in-der-muenchener-mitte-msc6417603/
[3] Paris RER Expansion: Lessons from Past Delays and Cost Escalations (City Lab, Aug 7, 2023) https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2023/08/paris-rer-expansion-delays-cost-escalations/
The ongoing subway construction in Munich has led Mayor Reiter to question the railway's commitment to the completion of the second S-Bahn trunk line, stating that it's a constant annoyance for all Munich residents. With the railway contemplating a commissioning in 2035, instead of the initial 2028, and the estimated costs exceeding the initial seven billion euros, the project seems to be far from smooth sailing.
