Regensburg scraps city train plans after public vote backlash
Regensburg has adjusted its transport strategy after residents turned down plans for a city train network. In a June vote, 53.7% of participants opposed the project, prompting officials to rethink mobility solutions. The city will now concentrate on buses, cycling, and digital traffic management to meet its transport objectives by 2040.
The decision to abandon the train came after a public ballot in June. Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer labeled the outcome disappointing, as the rail system was intended to drive the city’s transport transition. Without it, officials must now rely on alternative measures.
The new approach focuses on bolstering the existing environmental network. Buses will run more frequently, cycle routes will expand, and pedestrian access will improve. Digital traffic data collection and AI-assisted mobility concepts will also play a significant role, as discussed at the 18th Regensburg Mobility Workshop in October 2025.
To accelerate planning, the city has established the Impuls Mobility Regensburg project group. This team will coordinate mobility issues swiftly and efficiently. The Planning and Building Department will take on additional staff, utilizing resources initially allocated for the train project. Director Florian Plajer emphasized that mobility remains the city’s most pressing challenge.
The Regensburg Plan 2040 will still proceed, but without the train. Early priorities include completing the main cycle network and making buses faster. Officials assert that the transport transition remains achievable—just through different means.
The rejection of the city train has propelled Regensburg toward a new mobility strategy. Buses, cycling, and digital tools will now form the core of transport planning. The city aims to demonstrate that its 2040 goals can still be met without a train system.
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