Following the announcements of drastic cuts to local public transport services by Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB), the CDU parliamentary group in the city council has tabled an urgent motion to preserve the existing transport network in its entirety. The aim of the motion is to close DVB's funding gap without restricting the mobility of Dresden's residents - especially in outlying areas.
The discussion was fueled by yesterday's announcement by DVB that certain lines could be cancelled or frequencies reduced for cost reasons. This would particularly affect less frequented routes that often serve the outskirts of the city.
Core points of the urgent motion
The CDU motion demands that the Lord Mayor immediately submit concrete measures to the City Council to safeguard public transport throughout the city. The following guidelines are crucial here:
- Limiting the financial burden: The total loss compensation for DVB by the state capital Dresden and Technische Werke Dresden (TWD) should be capped at a maximum of 159.5 million euros for the 2025/26 double budget.
- Maintaining the route network: The existing network, especially in the outskirts of the city, should be maintained as far as possible. Adjustments should only be made selectively.
- Savings through optimization: Savings should be achieved through frequency adjustments, route optimizations or mergers, but not through route cancellations in peripheral areas.
- Transparency in expenditure: The CDU is calling for full disclosure of all DVB's non-public transport activities and a detailed presentation of planned investments.
DVB should continue to be one of the best public transport providers
Despite the current financial challenges, DVB AG remains a model company in a nationwide comparison. In the Customer Barometer 2023, DVB was ranked fifth out of 42 transport companies in Germany and Austria. The overall satisfaction of Dresden passengers rose again and now stands at 2.26 on a scale of 1 (completely satisfied) to 5 (dissatisfied). This is an improvement on the previous year (2.29).
The high quality of the line and route network, the comfort in the vehicles, the friendliness of the staff and the timetable information were particularly emphasized. Dresden achieved podium places for ten performance features, including six second places and four third places.
Background and impact
Public transport is a central component of mobility in Dresden. It is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to the car, especially for residents in outlying areas. However, if the route network were to be thinned out, many people could be cut off from connections, which according to the CDU would "effectively lead to a two-tier public transport society in the city". Commuters could increasingly switch to cars, which would have a negative impact on both traffic and the city's carbon footprint.
The CDU emphasizes that DVB's current financial difficulties are primarily caused by external factors such as rising costs and funding cuts at federal level. Nevertheless, it is essential that the city takes countermeasures with clear priorities and targeted measures in order to secure public transport as the backbone of urban mobility.
