In the current discussion about the closing times of railway crossings in Speyer, the state government has not shown any further approaches to shortening them. This challenging situation is causing incomprehension, especially among residents who suffer from the long waiting times and the associated noise.
On November 10, 2023, the state government responded to a request from Michael Wagner, a member of the CDU, and confirmed that the Schützenstrasse level crossing is closed for almost 30 minutes every hour. Wagner makes it clear that safety at railway junctions is a top priority, but cannot understand why such long closing times must remain in place in times of advanced digitalization. Despite the latest technologies and a modernization of the signal box technology on the route from Wörth to Schifferstadt carried out in 2022, the government sees no potential for improvement.
Technological challenges and security considerations
The cautious attitude of the state government is based on the statements of Deutsche Bahn AG, which confirm that all possible optimizations of the closing times have already been applied. It is pointed out that the closing times vary depending on train traffic and are strongly dependent on the volume of traffic on the roads. The construction of the crossings, both at the old and the new crossing, has been carefully designed to ensure safety for pedestrians and motorists.
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In his inquiry, Wagner asked several specific questions about calculating the closing time. In its answer, the state government is strongly guided by the specific circumstances such as the position of the half-barriers and the signaling system. For example, the Schützenstrasse level crossing is integrated into the station area and requires special precautions to guarantee traffic safety. The route to Alte Schwegenheimer Strasse, on the other hand, is secured by a half-barrier system, where the closure is triggered by the approach of the trains.
The state government refers to the Railway Crossing Act, which provides a legal basis for possible changes. However, this leaves open the question of how concretely these measures could be implemented in the coming years. Further technical alternatives to reduce closing times, according to the state government, would have to be discussed as part of feasibility studies initiated by local city council members.
A central aspect of the discussion remains the need to offer residents short-term relief from the existing noise pollution. Wagner acknowledged that the issue will be addressed at the next meeting of the city council, which underlines the urgency of the matter. In the meantime, residents continue to face unacceptable conditions - the level of noise and traffic pollution is obvious.
With regard to the digital infrastructure, it should be noted that previous investments in technology have not led to a noticeable optimization of closing times. So the question remains: How long will the citizens of Speyer have to live with these burdens while the possibilities of digitalization are not fully exploited?
The ongoing issue surrounding the closing times at the railway crossings in Speyer not only raises questions about the practical implementation of new technologies, but also highlights the need for a dialogue between the state government, Deutsche Bahn and the affected population in order to find more effective solutions.
Although decision-makers emphasize compliance with safety standards, citizens remain dissatisfied with long waiting times and the constant flow of traffic. The city administration is being called upon to deal with the situation more intensively and to initiate any well-thought-out measures that may be necessary.
– NAG
Source: die-nachrichten.at