Criticism of Dresden's public transport savings plan: "painful cuts"

Criticism of the impending cuts to local transport services in Dresden due to a funding gap of 18 million euros is mounting. The Left Party is calling on Lord Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP) to change course when drawing up the budget. "The mayor's short-sighted red pencil policy threatens to cause enormous damage and will cost the city dearly in the long term," said André Schollbach, parliamentary group leader on the city council, according to a press release. While the utility company Sachsenenergie in Dresden is making record profits, the transport companies are threatened with a clear cut.

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in Dresden criticized the decision to adhere to the ban on new debt. According to a statement, Dirk Ebert, Chairman of the DGB city association, said that the savings being discussed at Dresden's public transport company (DVB) were "completely misguided and short-sighted". He warns of an impending transport collapse. According to projections, the cutback plans would result in an additional 1.8 million car journeys in Dresden. Ebert also criticized the loss of 150 jobs at DVB.

City council discusses cuts

In a topical hour at the request of the Green parliamentary group, the city council will discuss the impending service cuts on Thursday. Ulrike Caspary, spokesperson for mobility for the Green parliamentary group, also warned of a traffic collapse in a press release. "We need expansion, not cuts," she said.

In addition, the vote on an urgent motion by the CDU city council faction is still pending, but is not on the agenda for Thursday's meeting. The Christian Democrats are calling for the route network to be maintained in its entirety and for savings to be made, for example by adjusting the timetable.

DVB services would have to be reduced by ten percent

Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe described the impending cuts as "painful" in a press release. 18 million euros are missing from the federal and state governments, and the service would have to be reduced by ten percent if the city council approves the savings plan. The list of cuts is long and mainly affects suburban areas:

• Bus routes 73 and 76 as well as the Alita cab service would be discontinued without replacement.
• A number of other bus and streetcar routes are facing reductions in frequency and route cuts.
• Two ferry services would also be discontinued - including the Johannstadt/Neustadt ferry, which crosses the Elbe next to the Carola Bridge, which is closed due to the partial collapse.
• The popular mountain railroads could only be operated in summer.

Demonstration before city council meeting

The DVB want to demonstrate against the cuts on Rathausplatz before the start of the city council meeting. They have registered a rally with 1,000 participants.

A petition to maintain and strengthen local transport services on the state capital's website already has more than 21,000 signatures. Among the first signatories are the alliance "#wirfahrenzusammen" of the trade union Verdi and the climate movement Fridays for Future as well as the Left Party Dresden.