Pro Bahn criticizes planned public transport cuts in Chemnitz

The passenger association Pro Bahn Mitteldeutschland criticizes the city of Chemnitz's plan of action to reduce costs in local public transport. The cutback plans, on which the city council is to decide on Wednesday, envisage a reduction in the timetable offered by Chemnitzer Verkehrs AG (CVAG), particularly on bus routes. According to the corresponding draft resolution, the city wants to save a total of around 2.9 million euros.

"Local public transport is not a service that can be cut at will, but part of the municipal services of general interest," said Markus Haubold, Chairman of Pro Bahn Mitteldeutschland. It must also be available in the evening and at night - for example for employees working shifts, said the chairman.

Night services to start earlier and end later

The plans include, among other things, starting night services for all lines earlier and ending later at weekends and on public holidays from the timetable change in December, so that in future there will be a reduced service from 10.45 pm, fewer lines will run and travel times and transfers will increase. Among other things, fewer buses will run during the summer vacations and the service will be adjusted "selectively" on several lines during periods of low capacity utilization.

Pro Bahn points to recent increases in passenger numbers, among other things. "If you want to encourage people to switch to buses and trains, you can't make the system less attractive at the same time." In the explanatory memorandum to its draft resolution, the city administration admits that the measures would reduce the quality of the city's local transport services. At the same time, the "majority of journeys made by all passengers" would remain unaffected. No job cuts are planned. Rising operating costs, particularly for staff, fuel and energy, would make the measures necessary.