Train operations - Pro Bahn advocates for tourist trains in Lower Saxony.
According to the passenger group Pro Bahn, passenger trains should operate in Lower Saxony and Bremen to accommodate cyclists in the future. They suggest running additional trains with ample space for bicycles along popular routes, similar to what's done in Bavaria. As the popularity of cycling has increased, opportunities for taking bicycles on public transport have not significantly improved, says Malte Diehl, the regional head of the group in Lower Saxony and Bremen.
Lower Saxony is well-known for its cycling culture, and excursion trains could significantly help with this. Trains that are used for boosting the regular service during the week but not needed on the weekend can be used for these purposes, proposes Pro Bahn. In the long run, specially equipped trains would be preferable.
The association imagines connections between Hanover and Norddeich or Bremerhaven as potential routes. These trains would need enough staff to assist with bicycle transportation as well as available space for bikes onboard. Besides trains, they also think there should be more buses with bike trailers on tourist routes.
The group also advocates for better information on allowing bicycles on trains and standardized tariffs for bikes on trains, as well as increased bike rental availability at stations popular with tourists. "Most of the proposed measures can be implemented cost-effectively and quickly, making life easier for all passengers," Diehl states. Any cyclist who has spent hours waiting at the station for an empty space on a train to park their bike might decide against traveling by train and bike ever again.
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- The passenger association Pro Bahn is pushing for dedicated passenger trains in Hanover and Bremen, particularly focusing on catering to cyclists, as they see an opportunity to enhance railway tourism in Lower Saxony.
- The association draws inspiration from the successful bicycle-friendly rail traffic in Bavaria and suggests replicating that model in the region, considering the growing popularity of cycling.
- Malte Diehl, the regional head of Pro Bahn in Lower Saxony and Bremen, underscores the need for more bicycle-friendly trains, pointing out that despite the increased popularity of cycling, facilities for transporting bikes on public transport have not significantly improved.
- The association proposes utilizing underutilized trains on Sundays and weekends for excursion purposes, and eventually acquiring specially equipped trains with ample space for bicycles on popular tourist routes like those connecting Hanover to Norddeich or Bremerhaven.
- In addition to better railroad services, the passenger group also advocates for improved information regarding bike transportation on trains, standardized tariffs for bicycles, increased bike rental availability at popular stations, and the addition of more buses with bike trailers on tourist routes.
- Pro Bahn believes that most of these proposed changes can be implemented in a cost-effective and timely manner, thus ensuring a smoother traveling experience for both cyclists and other passengers, promoting the growth of tourism in the region.
Source: www.stern.de
